Generations by SDerkins

Generations, part 9

The training changed once I stopped being frightened of the bombs and noise. They wanted me to use my nose to locate things below the ground surface. At first it was electric wires and such but then I had to learn the scent of anything manmade. It was then I realized that they had plans but for me or other dogs? The collection of dogs in the kennel was growing but with only one trainer, mine, they had little or no training. I wonder why the Army was taking so much time accepting the idea of training dogs at their base? Well, it wasn't my concern. I was here to prove that the training was possible and nothing more. I was blissfully unaware of all the political concerns of America or the tensions and debates involved. I had been living in the forests when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. I admit that I was ignorant of the entire war.

Then a scent on the breeze caught my attention. My sons. What were they doing here? I looked around at the tree line but earned a rough pull on the leash from my trainer.

"Come on girl, keep your mind on this," he hissed. He knew his CO was watching from his office window. I hesitated and tried to look once more before reluctantly returning back to hunting for training mines. I hurried through my search, hoping they would let me finish early.

I felt the corporal relax and knew without looking that his supervisor was no longer standing at the window.

"What is it, girl, huh?"

I turned towards the barbed wired fence and towards the scent that was so familiar to me. I stopped and stared into the brush and waited, giving an impatient growl when they took too long to appear. At my gruff tone they scurried out from the shadows and sat down, mouths open and doing their best to look obedient.

I very well couldn't have a full conversation with them so kept my question brief to sound like a set of whines to my human trainer.

"Why?" was all that I asked.

My eldest of the litter answered for both of them, giving me a puppy yelp. From that, I knew they had been drawn to what I was doing and thought it looked like fun. I curbed the impulse to shake my head like the humans do in disbelief. Then the corporal spoke.

"Hey, they have the same markings you do. I bet they're your pups, huh?"

I licked his face. What a smart human. Next thing I knew my sons were brought to the kennel and given something to eat while Corporal Sweeney's commander spoke with Caroline on the phone. They convinced her to 'sell' my sons to the Army, figuring that she owned them since she owned me, their mother.

"Now you've done it," I hissed at my sons. "You've joined the Army."

Instead of a look of concern on their faces I saw excitement. Sheesh, boys.

The next day Corporal Sweeney began training my sons plus two other new recruits in canine handling. Since we were the experienced pair, we showed the others the ropes while they watched and learned. I think my sons were learning faster than the humans were.

My boys were still energetic and excited at the end of the day. They gobbled down their meals then wrestled playfully before being locked up in their cages. Was I ever that young? I plopped down onto my bed and tried to sleep in spite of their excited whisperings. I doubt if they even slept because they were wide-awake when I forced my eyes open and stretched. They bound out of their confines happily while I walked over to my bowl for breakfast and morning potty.

They kept us very busy that morning and we got little time to talk. It wasn't until after the humans turned in for the night did they looked at me in concern. They wanted to know why I was so unhappy. So I told them.

"Then go home," they told me.

I shook my head, telling them it was impossible. I was worried that they'd try and purchase me as well. All I wanted was to go back to Caroline.

My youngest gave me a look and told me that I was stupid.

"They know you are very old. Act it, mother," he told me.

Why hadn't I thought of that?

The next morning a walked stiffly from my cage, slowly making my way towards my breakfast. The corporal petted my head and wondered what was wrong. I whined pitifully. I was going to milk this for all I was worth. A short time after we began on our obstacle course I began limping, favoring one paw. I was examined but they saw nothing wrong. I kept limping. The corporal took me to the veterinarian but he saw nothing wrong but it never occurred to him that a dog could fake an injury. He suggested letting me rest for a few days and see if I was still limping.

I was locked up in my cage, bored, but if I got discharged back into Caroline's possession it was worth every monotonous minute.

I was still limping a week later and the sergeant shook his head. "She's just getting too old. Send her back to her owner. We have the younger dogs and they're learning fast."

Twenty minutes later the corporal saw me running to Caroline, my limp gone. I'm sure he was scratching his head but he wouldn't say anything. Who would believe him? He drove away while I greeted my human partner and my daughter. Life was good once more.

* * * * *

I got home none too soon. The very next morning an old truck arrived to pick the three of us up, driven by Caroline's father-in-law. Luna and I hopped into the back. I let out a sneeze at the scent of hay and manure. Lovely, just what I wanted--to travel for two days in the middle of a southern summer in the back of a smelly farm truck.

The ancient truck chugged along at a whopping thirty miles per hour on the back roads of southern Arkansas as we headed for Jedi's parents' home in a rural area. We passed through quite a few towns so small that if we had stopped to scratch we would have missed them. Well, the good thing about towns in these parts was that they didn't fuss much about me and Luna sitting on the diner steps to get out of the sun. We even got an occasional scrap of food from people leaving. I suspect the scraps were a bribe so we wouldn't bite them but I didn't mind.

Finally we reached a small farm. Luna wanted to leap out and chase a passing chicken but I growled her name and reminded her that she couldn't hunt any animal on the property. She made and ugly face at me disgruntled at this rule and hopped out of the truck.

Jedi's mother ran out to greet Caroline, throwing her arms around the very pregnant woman. Jedi's father, Ralph, picked up the suitcases and headed inside while the women got acquainted. I was following the two women when they went inside and the screen door shut before I reached it. I whined but Caroline was too distracted by the constant chatter of the older woman so I debated on opening the door myself or remaining outdoors. Since Ralph basically ignored us on the trip I could only assume he didn't have much use for dogs. In fact, we might have gone the entire trip without anything to eat or drink if Caroline hadn't been so insistent that we be kept care of.

I stayed on the porch. At least it was cooler than the yard. I settled down and watched as my daughter investigated everything. When she disappeared around the barn I lowered my head for a nap. I was just dozing off when Ralph opened the door with a big metal bowl full of water. He placed it near me without a word then headed for the truck. The ancient truck went to the large barn door where it was no doubt stored when not in use. I lapped up some water then returned to my nap, listening to the drone of female voices from the kitchen.

The wonderful scent of frying chicken perked me right up and I wondered if I could possibly get a piece. I peeked into the screen door but I was shooed from it by Jedi's mother. Damn it, now I knew I was out of luck. Once again Ralph came outside with a metal dish, this time filled with dried dog food. It smelled nasty, like old gym socks and powdered soap. The bag of food must have been really old and from under the kitchen sink. I turned my nose up at it and headed for the woods. There had to be something better for dinner and no one would miss a rabbit or squirrel in these parts.

I spotted Luna in the shadows. She was gnawing on something small, perhaps a rodent of some kind. I let her know I would return once I found myself something to eat and to remain there.

It didn't take me long to find my meal. I practically stumbled over a fat possum that was getting a drink at the tiny pond. It put up a good fight but I was a much better hunter. I returned to where Luna was resting and got down to eating, even giving some of my prize to my daughter.

We rested there in the shade rather than returning to the house. I was sure that we'd hear Caroline if she called for us but doubted she would. She was exhausted and would no doubt go to bed once she had dinner. I was hoping they gave Caroline a room on the ground floor rather than up the stairs. I wanted to sneak into her room and that would be difficult getting to a second story window.

The sun set not much later and I watched the windows of the farm. When all the lights were extinguished (no modern lights as yet, they were too cheap to update their farm) I began investigating all the ground windows. Thankfully, they had put together a small bedroom for Caroline in what must have originally been the parlor. The window was lifted open with no screen to prevent me from entering. I slipped inside, followed by Luna, and settled onto the tiny rug next to her small twin bed. Caroline was sound asleep but that was okay. I just wanted to be near her. The sound of crickets sung us to sleep and pale moonlight shined through the curtains.

Generations, part 10

I felt so sorry for my human companion. Caroline had so little to do except to sit in a chair while life passed her by. Her in-laws were busy with their daily chores and only checked on her every so often. Luna and I tried to entertain her with our antics but Ralph got angry with us for upsetting his livestock. Under the threat of being chained to a tree, we shuffled to a spot away from his eyes and waited for opportunities to return to Caroline.

Jedi's parents, I decided, were very boring people. They worked and they slept. Other than their trips to attend church they had no social life. They didn't read or visit with people nor did anyone come to the farm. I could only assume they discouraged people so no one could bother them. We had more of a social life living in that shanty camp so long ago. It was a relief when Ralph drove his wife to town to pick up a few perishables for that evening's dinner. Luna and I crawled from our hiding spot and rushed to Caroline, eager to play.

At first we had her toss a petrified apple for us to fetch but she tired quickly. We settled for a game of tag and wrestling while she watched, laughing at our behavior. We were so busy with our roughhousing that we didn't see her struggle to her feet. Maybe she had needed to visit the outhouse but the point was now moot.

A startled gasp of shock made us freeze in place. I looked at my human and saw her looking in surprise in the direction of her feet. A puddle was forming on the aged wood and the scent of birthing fluids struck my nose. Caroline wasn't the only one now feeling panic. Caroline was the only human for miles and Jedi's folks wouldn't be back for a while since town was a good six miles away. We rushed to her side and she used my sturdy back to ease back into the rocking chair, panting from the effort.

I ordered Luna to head for town. Maybe she could prompt Ralph and Gertie to return sooner. She took off quickly, her powerful Wolven strides carrying her fast out of sight. Caroline whimpered, bringing my attention back to her. Her teeth were clenched in pain and I felt helpless. When the pains eased off my human attempted to get to her feet. It was then I knew that something was terribly wrong. She turned pale and crumpled to the aged porch. The sight of her unconscious in the hot sun was too much for me to take. She needed to be inside and given help but I couldn't do that in my true form.

I forced myself to begin the changeover, gritting through the agony of pushing myself too fast. Muscles and bones were stretched to the limit and I could hear my own cries of pain through the haze that threatened to make me pass out. Mercifully, the pain receded and I panted, half drained and exhausted. I took a deep breath and forced myself to my human hands and knees to check on Caroline. She was clammy and I feared that the child and she were both in danger.

My balance was still precarious but I needed to get her inside. Carefully, I lifted her into my arms and took a shaky step towards the door. A few more paces and I had to deal with opening the door while holding her. After several failed attempts I got the screen door to swing open and rushed inside before it could close.

Her tiny bedroom was just down the hallway and I placed her gently onto the coverlet. Her eyes fluttered open and she looked confused but didn't speak at first. Then she weakly asked who I was.

"Does it matter? I'm here to help you."

"Naked?" she asked. I could almost hear the laughter in her voice. In spite of how bizarre this must be, she found it funny that a nude woman was helping her in her time of need. I opened her closet door and grabbed an overly large sundress and slipped it over my head. It would have to do. It was tight across my shoulders but beggars couldn't be choosers.

Caroline cried out as another labor pain hit her. It seemed wrong that such strong pains would occur so early in childbirth. Perhaps she had been feeling mild ones all morning and had said nothing to anyone.

"I need to call a doctor," I told her before she could protest. I left the room and went to the kitchen where the candlestick telephone stood on a small table. Never having used the human device, only seeing it being used, I repeated the steps I had seen and wiggled the small flap as I held the receiver to my ear. A woman's voice spoke, asking me whom I wished to call. I'm sure my voice was filled with the panic I felt when I said a doctor was needed at Ralph's farm. The operator must have known everyone in the area and didn't ask for where the farm was.

"Is Caroline in labor?" the kindly voice asked.

"Yes!" I practically screamed my answer and the woman spent time calming me down and told me that the doctor would be there soon. She asked me to hold for a moment then her calm voice returned to reassure me that the doctor was on his way. I then hung the earpiece onto the phone, not realizing how rude that was, not saying good-bye or thanking her but I didn't care. I rushed back to Caroline's room.

I told her the doctor was on his way and to not worry. I could only wonder how I could tell her to keep calm when I could hear the panic in my own voice. I held her hand and neither of us spoke much until another labor pain struck. Then, of all times, she asked my name. I could only stare at her blankly as my brain tried to come up with a plausible lie.

I suppose I hesitated too long and Caroline somehow came up with an excuse for my reluctance.

"You look a little bit oriental. Are you from the relocation camp?"

I hardly looked Japanese but perhaps with my nearly black hair and olive skin she thought I was. It was a good excuse though. I couldn't very well tell her that I was her pet dog, not at a time like this.

It didn't take much acting to appear frightened and she took my silence as the truth. I took pains to not look at her with raised eyes since I didn't want her to notice that they were blue and not Asian in shape. If she took a better look at me she'd realize her mistake then I'd have to come up with some other story.

She asked me a few other questions that I gave vague answers too and I was relieved when the sound of an engine could be heard. It wasn't the same sound as Ralph's farm truck so it had to be the doctor. I promised to return in a minute and rushed out of the room.

An older man carrying a black bag was coming up the steps when I opened the porch door. He held out his hand and shook mine briefly.

"I'm Doc Forrester. Where's Caroline?"

"This way, Doctor. She's in her room." I escorted him to her tiny room. Once he greeted her, he began removing items from his bag and politely asked me to wait outside. When he didn't ask me to return then I knew I wasn't needed yet I hesitated to leave. There was a possibility he would need something and I should remain just in case. Then I heard the sound of the farm truck and knew Jedi's parents had returned.

I slipped out the little used front entrance and headed for the woods. I watched from my hiding spot as the truck came to a stop. Luna was in the back of the truck, clearly enjoying the ride. She had her front paws on the side rails and her mouth was parted in carefree abandonment. That was a kid for you. Well, I shifted my position so my scent would carry to her and waited.

Luna nearly shot from the truck bed like a torpedo and headed my way while Ralph and Gertie hurried into the house.

My daughter was very proud of herself. She had found the older couple with no trouble and even had managed to convey that they were needed at home. I didn't tell Luna that I actually believed that Ralph was just going to drag her home and tell his daughter-in-law that the pup was a nuisance and had to go.

I told her to settle down and keep watch while I changed over. I began the painful process then made myself comfortable in a shady spot under a tree in cool grass. I knew that first babies always took a while with humans and we'd have a long wait ahead of us.

*****

The sun had set and no sign of the baby as yet. The doctor was still inside the farmhouse and of course Luna and me had been forgotten. Our bowls were empty so we headed for the woods to scare up some dinner and to drink from the tiny creek.

I waited patiently in the dark shadows of a bush near the creek, knowing that sooner or later some thirsty animal would come along the game trail. My daughter was waiting by another one, waiting for her dinner upstream from me. I heard a shuffle from her direction and the squeal of an animal before it was silenced. I sighed; feeling even hungrier knowing Luna was now eating.

I had to wait about another half an hour before my ears detected the footfalls of an animal. I listened carefully, realizing that it wasn't a small animal but a large creature. I sniffed the air and my hackles rose. Cat, a large one. There were still a few in the area but not many. They normally didn't come this near to human settlements. I let out a low growl to let it know I was near and the cat's steps paused. We each listened to the night sounds for long seconds then it retreated. Once I knew it was gone I left the animal trail to search for another. The cat's scent would prevent any prey from using it for several hours.

I trotted past Luna and she made a sound of amusement, not quite teasing her mother for not catching anything as yet--but close. I growled as her and disappeared into the darkness. A new path and a brief wait and I killed wild turkey that had been startled into revealing its hiding place. I don't mind turkey, don't get me wrong, but bird feathers are nasty when they get stuck on your tongue.

The bird was huge and I even had some leftover to share with Luna. When we both were finished we cleaned up in the stream and settled down for a long nap near the house. The doctor's car was still parked in the yard and the lights in Caroline's room shined brightly. I could hear her cry out from time to time and from the sound of things the baby might make an appearance soon.

I slept with one eye open, snoozing lightly while listening to humans inside. Outside, nature's creatures sang in the night, blissfully ignorant of the drama inside the farmhouse.

In the hours of the false dawn, I finally heard the doctor's coaching, telling me it was time. I got to my feet and stood on my hind legs at the window. Gertie and the doctor was there but not Ralph. I'm sure he was snoozing in his favorite chair or in bed--not that I cared. Caroline had a death hold on her brass headboard as she strained to push her baby from her body.

"The head is out Caroline, just a little more and you have it," he encouraged her as the push pain eased.

My poor Caroline. Her hair was plastered to her head from sweat and she was pale as could be. She was exhausted and near the end of her endurance. I whined from my vantage spot. Caroline must have heard me.

"It's okay girl. Go lay down, Elk," she told me just as another pain made her cry out.

Oh sure, I was going to lay down and not see this. I remained riveted to my post at the window and watched as she put all her effort into pushing the rest of the baby out. Then the baby nearly shot from her body as the shoulders passed through and the sound of Caroline's efforts changed from pain to relief.

The doctor cleared the baby's mouth then gave it a swat, a barbaric practice in my mind, and began cleaning the baby of birthing fluids.

"Congratulations, Caroline. You have a son. Gertie, hold the baby while I tie off the cord, will you?" He set out to sever the baby from the cord and helped Caroline deliver the afterbirth while Gertie held her grandchild. The elderly woman had to finally put the baby down and helped the doctor remove the soiled bedding and cleaned up Caroline. Once Caroline was settled comfortably into the freshly made bed she was handed her child.

"Have you decided on a name yet?" the doctor asked.

Gertie answered for Caroline. "He's going to be named after his father. It's only proper."

I could see that Caroline wanted to argue. Naming a kid Jedidiah Wilber had been the last thing she had wanted but Caroline was too beaten and tired to argue. She knew Gertie would get her own way or make everyone's lives miserable until she got her way. She only prayed that she and Jed would not live near his folks once he got out of the service.

The doctor used the pitcher of water to clean his instruments and placed them inside his bag.

"What ever happened to that young women who was hear before?"

"Woman?" Gertie asked, confused.

"Yes. A striking young woman. She was taller than I was and had the prettiest ice-blue eyes I've ever seen. She greeted me when I got here."

"Well, I have not the faintest idea who you're talking about Doctor Forrester. Caroline? Dear? Who is he talking about?"

Caroline looked just as confused. "I'm not sure myself, Mother Gertie, She was just here when I needed help then disappeared."

The doctor hummed then closed his bag. "Well, I need to get home and get some shut-eye. I'll check on you and the baby after lunch, alright Caroline?"

He left the house and drove away. Once I was certain that Gertie had gone to her own bedroom for some sleep I snuck inside.

Caroline was still holding her baby and I crept up to the bed, sniffing the air.

"Hi girl. Did you come to see the baby?" She reached out her hand and patted my head as she boasted how beautiful her child was. I guess he was all right for a human. I think Wolven puppies are cuter.

"What a strange day, huh, Elk? I wonder who that woman was..."

Caroline looked at me strangely.

"Ice-blue eyes," she whispered.

The End

Yes, I know, this is a terrible place to leave readers hanging but I really want to get back to the Mother Earth Series.