Brave Dogs
It was quiet. I was at that stage where my mind started to drift into sleep and the dreams would come, unbound, like a waterfall. In some forgotten corner on my awareness, I felt the warm breath of Aggie as she lay there, curled up in a ball, between my feet. As the dreams intruded further into my awareness, I could feel here shift and move. I became more awake as I sensed her slide off the bed and knew that she had rested her two front paws on the floor and was savoring a long stretch. Then I heard her growl. It was a low, quiet rumble reserved for those occasions she wasn’t quiet sure what she sensed. I came fully awake and opened my eyes but not moving my body or alter my breathing in case someone was in the house (the ninja that I am). In the darkness I could see Aggie walking slowly towards the bedroom door, her black form outlined by the dimmed light from the dining area. She moved closer to the door and peered out into the hall. I felt my heartbeat raising because I could tell by the way she walked that something was out there. Images of buglers or the evil undead (is there good undead?) flashed across my mind as I tried to control my breathing. Aggie walked slowly out of the the hall, into the living room, and growled louder. Then there was movement and Aggie barked furiously (fearfully?) and ran back, my heart-rate doubled and I sat up quickly. Then there was more barking, from Dash. Who was in the living room. On the chair. Apparently Aggie had seen him laying there and hadn’t realized it was him. It took about 15 minutes for her to stop shaking, while Dash looked on, wondering what had happened. Stupid dogs.