Blaze

Hiding in the back of my cage, I sat quivering while watching the huge beast enter and then grab one, and occasionally two, of my siblings and then they vanish. The monsters slip in, and slide back out, leaving before I can whimper a goodbye to my brothers. My family was being picked apart by these monsters as the day passed. I was the lucky one, the last one remaining. Our cage was cold and the stench left was the only thing left of my brothers and sisters. I'm the last of my family, only thing left are the memories. Hiding behind the remaining parts of our flattened bed, I shook and moaned. My brother Billy had spent hours tearing and pulling the stuffing out of this bed. Now I curl up behind it so frightened my bones hurt.

Feeling weaker every passing day, I had no appetite and felt no energy to move for a drink of water. Sleeping occupied my day and night, however I couldn’t tell day from night. There wasn't a window to see the light, just a bulb dangling from the ceiling above. My cage door opened and closed often, interrupting sleep, but no one entered except for the occasional food and water being tossed in clanking to the floor.

Mourning the loss of my family, missing them with my whole heart, I slept. Dreaming of the tug-a-war that I played with my siblings, the fights we would have over food, and when we slept we piled high on this single unstuffed square pillow thing. We didn't have much, but we had each other. My brother Ted ate most the food, a meal or two was missed because of him, but I sit here now aching for Ted.

The rattling of the door opening was followed by soft voices, two strangers entering my cage and sat. Without opening my eyes I knew they were monsters, I acted as if I were sleeping, but couldn't stop my body from stiffening. My hair on my back stood straight up and I forced myself to be brave and open my eyes.

Two sets of eyes were staring at me. The humans seem to whisper to one another as they sat looking at me. My eyes slowly focused on the two, they didn't seem to be monsters at all. One girl, one boy, sat smiling at me. I stood slowly and walked slower towards them hoping for a better smell, as I wondered why they decided to come here and invade my cage.

My nostrils flared trying to sort the strange new smells. The closer I inched my way, the smells got stronger. She had something very yummy in her fingers, she called it a treat. The boy had a new ball on a rope toy, like the one I played with Ted, but this one was new and wasn't shredded and the ball wasn't bald and broken. When they lifted their hands I crawled backwards and ran to my hiding place. Never taking my eyes off of them, scared they might capture me and take me out to the monsters that lived outside. The most curious thing was, these two intruders smelt like heaven to me.

The strangers left and I curled up for my nap. The floor seemed colder and harder than usual. I closed my eyes but my mind kept running with thoughts of these strangers that entered my cage. The girls smile was warm, friendly and her smell was what I imagined mothers would be. I don't remember my mother, but when I dreamt of a tender touch and wonderful smells I felt it was mother. The boy smelt of the earth, I bet he plays outside with friends and even chases balls. What were they doing in my cage? Were they thinking of taking me to the monsters outside?

The days and nights got longer and the cage got colder. What is my purpose, why am I here? Where did my family go, as I cried and howled to the light up above?

The cage door creaked open, making my body sit, my hair raised as I backed away slowly from the opening door. Two sets of blue eyes smiling down on me. Gentle, kind as they moved slowly to sit on my floor. It's the boy and the girl from days before. I can smell them; I can taste the treat with only the memory. The boy holds the same toy and this time offers it to me. I sniff and my whole body gives in to their kindness, to their light and warmth they bring into my dark cold life. I grab the toy with my teeth, whipping it left and right, then chase it, I'm so dizzy, and I sit. They laugh; I halt and look at them tilting my head from side to side. Fright, then flight is what the old me would have done, but this laughter was pure and welcoming. So, with the toy in my mouth, I pranced over to them letting them rub their paws all over me. It felt good, it smelt wonderful and an instant joy rang throughout my body. We played for hours before they left, and I cried howling to the ceiling and whimpering off to my cold corner.

Suddenly the door sprang open. The same boy and the girl walked back in placed a collar around my neck and he lifted me into his arms. I wasn't scared for the first time, my hair didn't stand up on my back and I was shaking but it wasn't fear. I was shaking with excitement! My body wiggled as they giggled. We walked out into the light of the bright ball, they call the sun, and with their arms around me I could tell I found my new family.