Chapter 2: Uninvited guests

Sophie's POV

After finishing yet another day of online lectures I get ready to do some chores around the house. Starting off I prepare the ribs I’m making for dinner and shove them into the preheated oven. Humming to a song by The Chainsmokers I then head to the washroom where I take all my clothes from the washing machine and pile them in the laundry basket. I started the washing machine during lunch to make sure it would be finished by now, I don’t want to leave my clothes to dry out overnight.

Grabbing the basket I head for the back door in the kitchen to reach the garden, using my hip to push the door open since I need both my arms to not drop the heavy laundry. I continue singing quietly to myself, knowing fully well I’ve probably messed up half the lyrics by now, though not caring at all.

I put the basket down and start hanging my clothes out to dry. There’s a lot of clothes since it’s been a little over two weeks since I last did my laundry. Lately there’s been so many exams I haven’t had time to catch a break. Finally I’m mostly done though I still have three weeks of classes with some important assignments and seminars left to complete. 

Being busy thinking about how to finish my graduation paper I pay no mind to the low growls as I hang up my underwear. Stuck in my own mind the laundry is finished before I know it and I take the basket back with me, leaving it just outside the door underneath the roof of the house before I head back inside. 

Whimpers and rustling bushes make me turn around in the doorway only to jump in fright when two huge dogs appear from the forest, both completely obsidian black. They are slowly walking towards me, whining and whimpering as I try to decide whether to stay or run before I’m turned into dog chow. 

After a painfilled whimper I sigh to myself. I’ve always been bad at ignoring people who’re suffering, despite the risks I might put myself in, and apparently I’m no different with animals.

“Guess it’s on me if I get eaten.” I mutter as I take slow steps towards them.

As if sensing my thoughts the dogs stop and sit down, allowing me to close the distance between us at my own pace. Slowly I squat down in front of them, looking them over to find both of them with one open wound each. These definitely need to be cleaned with alcohol and wrapped with gauze.

“I’ll get the first aid kit. Stay.” I tell them, raising an eyebrow as I wait a few seconds to see if they’ll move before I run back inside to grab the kit from under the sink.

Heading back outside I find the dogs where I left them. Plopping down in front of them I open the unusually large first aid kit and rummage through it until I find cotton swabs, tweezers, alcohol disinfectant, anesthetic ointment and a few rolls of clean gauze.

“If you decide to have me for dinner later I should just tell you now there’s no point, I’m all fat and no protein so you’ll only gain weight in bad places. See?” I say, poking my thigh making it jiggle a little in my light grey yoga pants.

The wolves growl making me jump and snap my head to look at them but it seems they’re not going to attack so I guess they must’ve growled at something else.

Taking a deep breath I pick up a cotton swab with the tweezers and douse it in alcohol before turning to the dog with the wound on his chest. I hesitantly reach my free hand forward to brush his fur away from the wound but stop once my fingers touch the silky smooth fur.

A warmth spreads through my body along with pleasant tingles traveling down my spine. Looking into the dog’s unusual silver eyes I feel like something snaps in place inside me, almost like a rubber band. The dog watches me in a way that almost seems human and for a second I forget where I am.

Shaking my head I snap out of it and brush as much fur as possible away from the wound, concentrating on my task rather than the mysterious sensations I just felt.

“This may sting a little.” I say automatically before I dab the alcohol-soaked cotton over the lightly bleeding wound.

The dog doesn’t even whimper as I clean his wound, though I still try to be as gentle as possible without being sloppy. After the wound is cleaned I can see scratches made from claws clearly but thankfully the wound isn’t serious enough for me to need to send him straight to the vet. Putting the dirty cotton swab down next to the other ones I put some ointment on my fingers and gently rub it over the wound. Finally I finish by wrapping three rolls of gauze around the dog’s chest and lean back to study my handiwork.

“Not too shabby.” I comment, patting myself on the back for having treated my first animal patient.

Turning to his friend I find the second dog already sitting with his injured side to me and I start the process again. And again once my fingers touch impossibly soft fur there’s another rubber band snapping into place. My body is humming as if on its own high frequency, covered in a blanket of warmth.

With a shaky breath I continue working, removing the fur from the wound. Disinfecting, covering the wound with ointment and wrapping it with two rolls of gauze. Soon enough I’m finished and I have to say I’m impressed with myself, I’ve never treated an animal before but even I can manage something this simple.

“Had you been human I'd have been able to do a much better job though.” I mumble to myself as I pack up the first aid kit and the used materials. “Take care, now. Careful not to get in any more fights.” I say as I start heading back inside, only to notice the dogs following me close behind.

Having my hands full I enter my house, return the kit and throw away the dirty materials I’ve used before turning to face my two uninvited guests.