Dial Coyote: Ch17 (Homecoming)

Dial lay still, there was no point trying to speak out to her but he was happy she now knew his secret. Though what had shocked him was that she had a secret all her own. To think that she could always talk to animals but he must be the first one who was smart enough to talk back. Or rather listen and write words back. The animal inside him had subsided again and he was mostly harmless again. He felt vulnerable and afraid but submitted to the care of Dee provided. He trusted her deeply. Why a moment ago he had been so hostile was beyond him. It was like the pain in his body needed a culprit to blame, and she was conveniently in front of him. Thankfully he was able to contain his rage. Though it had been the revelation of Dee’s own ability that seemed to almost activate his logic again, and put the savage beast to sleep inside once more. With so much new to think about, his brain took over again.

“I don’t understand… you are in pain… you are covered in blood but there is no flesh wound… where did this blood come from?” Dee approached and carefully examined him.

Dial noticed that she was still a bit cautious. Most of this caution was the shock that Dial had just written in the Sand to her like a human. He could not speak like a human but he understood them and could at least write like one to a limited fashion. She had worried it was Tony’s blood only Tony had just texted him and he was just fine. Dial started trying to write but he was in too much pain to move his arms much. He could not find the right words.

“No; do not move… you may make it worse. Let me call Rosie for assistance and then I will prepare the animal stretcher to help carry you with. When I am ready I need to ask you some questions to help figure out what is wrong. If you understood me clearly blink twice for yes.”

Dial thought that was a very clever idea, a form of communication with just his eyes. He blinked twice.

“Good… and for no blink three times. Now let me call Rosie; I cannot lift you by myself without moving you and you are in great pain.”

Dee went back and grabbed her phone which she had left on the ground. She dialed Rosie and started to explain what was going on. Dial could hear her clear enough due to her panic, though the truck engine was rather loud.

“No…, I understand there are no more vehicles…, take the bike, and be careful use a headband flashlight to see with. Should be in plastic box next to the bike in the machine shed... I understand. Yes… Have tony… Oh ok I will have to call him and let him know. I understand…do not tell the doctor… he has no way to get in tonight; we can handle this as best before morning. No injuries on his skin, may be a broken bone or two so we will need x-ray…ok see you soon.”

Dial managed to twiddle his claws in the sand and spelt out Tony Help? while he waited. It did not hurt too much if he was delicate but it was taxing. He knew he would be of help as he could talk with him but with his cast he would have trouble. It occurred to Dial he may also need a cast and was not looking forward to the possibility. His ears perked up when Dee mentioned Tony. He could not tell what about. He was unsure what a bicycle or an x-ray was. His mind seemed a little duller than before. Not as dull and basic as before he bit tony. Just that a few things about humans seemed to have been forgotten. Was it something fox or that strange coyote did? She said she saved him from death but to go easy, clearly he had not gone easy. He ran himself down to injury out of its own fear and anger. Dee looked over and again told him not to move. When she figured out what he had spelt and why she calmed his mind.

“Hush dear hush… do not move please, don’t want to lose you or have a crippled coyote if it is preventable, you need to hold still, let’s play a game of it. I know it hurts but you need to relax. Tony? He is off at the fire pit and I will need to call him to get the lab ready for you as there are precautions to worry about. That way Rosie can leave immediately and come here to help. It has been about six hours since I left. You are lucky I found you and very lucky you did not miss me or get hit by me. Looks like you would not have been able to walk anymore for the evening.”

Dial blinked twice, as Dee un wrapped a bundle with three empty syringes and some small bottles. HE detested needles and other things that reminded him of the darks he once was shot with. He had once thought them bees that stung him. When Dee noticed how concerned he looked she was quick to reassure him.

“Now do not worry, I have three needles here but I don’t think I need any of them, just a precaution. You do not have any bite marks on you so the rabies shot should not be necessary. Rabies is a nasty virus that can kill animals and humans if not treated quickly after infection. Promise me if you ever get bit you will rush to find us so we can save your life. Do not take chances.”

Dial did not like needles at all; he glared at all three but whimpered in a bit more pain. He had been bit by a dog but healed by the white coyote so he was uncertain what to think.

“Buddy can you do me a favor? The other two are a sedative and a pain killer. But the sedative is only used for animals or humans that can’t stay still. You are smart enough to be a good boy and hold still and not move? If you move or squirm it will make your injury worse. You can hold still right? If so we won’t need the Sedative”.

Dial blinked twice for yes.

“Good thank you for holding still, it’s your own best interest and helps me help you. it will hurt a bit at times but the more you can stay still the better. Now the last needle is a pain killer but you seem to be in severe pain and it is very mild. It will not take away all your pain and we ended to examine you. Since you can intelligently reply to us we need you to be able answer questions for us. Can you endure the pain for now? After we examine you we have stronger pain killers we can give you later”

Again dial blinked to confirm, it may be difficult but he would certainly try his best to be patient and endure some pain for the greater good.

Dee called tony as she planned then proceeded to grab some mushy hay that had been left behind from last year’s harvest. It was mucky but would be a soft floor for the metal truck bed. Dial watched fascinated and when he realized what she was up to he found it a most wise and clever idea to plan ahead. Then Dial watched as she placed a thin blanket down. It was thin but strong material. The hay was for padding. The stretcher itself was nothing more than a tin cloth like the shirt Dee had been wearing so it would hurt to lay on the metal truck bed. Dial finally understood what she was doing and thought it was good thinking. She was spending the wait doing what she could to make him more comfortable.

“Ok I am done for now, I am a bit confused so I have many questions for you that will have to wait until later. Are you… feeling bad about earlier?”

Dial blinked yes.

“Do not worry, you may be very intelligent but you still have an animal’s instincts and a cornered animal or one in pain often will react defensively or aggressively. I will have time to be amazed by you later, I need to treat you and ensure you survive and heal.”

This impressed dial…he pondered what she had told him earlier. He guessed that she had an entire life to come to terms with being able to talk and have animals understand her words. However limited minds of most animals meant that they could not understand more than the most basic of things. Almost like trying to reason with a small child. He was so much more advanced though, but she was able to cope with even more weirdness he had provided her.

“This is going to be hard without help though which is why I need Rosie help lift you delicately. When the time comes you will feel some pain but we will gently lift you over, do not use your muscles and legs to stand up or help us, we will do the work and you are much lighter than a human being so we should do just fine and we have done this many times. The pain will only be for an instant and we will help ease you into a rest position with your arms forward on your belly. That way when we lift you it will just hold to your left and right side of your body. You cannot be curled up sideways as you are now. We will drive slowly with the truck so that it is not rattled too much but it is an old truck so...”

Dial whimpered as he wanted her to come closer and felt she was being a bit timid of him. She did not pick up on it and thought he was either whimpering about pain or guilt. He wished he could just tell her to come and pet him and not fear him or be so on guard. It was strange but he had a bit of a crush on her and watching her take charge and care for him this way made his heart throb stronger. Though it only made it ache more as he wanted her to hug around him the way a canine would just to comfort him but she was too busy and timid to have done it. He did not know if it was the injury making him needy, if he was lonely, or if somehow he felt a bit of love. Even so what to do about any of it right now was a moot point as he just needed to get better first.

“Whimper” Dial signed longingly for affection.

“Poor thing… cheer up”

Dial tried to grin like a human but did so in a pleasant and not creepy fashion.

“I suppose you really can keep up with me… it is very odd because I am talking to you like a human patient but you seem to be responding like one. I need a better bed side manner I suppose. Most animals would not know or care about the technical stuff so I simply tell them simple things. Relax, calm, will not hurt, and do not fear. You may have noticed how nice I tend to be with you and others but generally am a bit social with you all too. I get to know different ones personalities.”

Dee came closer to him and started to pet at him gently. Just enough for him to feel but not rough and no big rubs, just a soothing motion. Dial licked at her other arm as best he could and she was a bit perplexed.

“You are a strange one… I will need to have some time to think on you and get used to you… I don’t know quite how to deal with you. Right now you act just like a friendly dog, yet you were thought raised by humans”

Dial blinked three times.

“No? You must be wild born then?”

Dial again confirmed it with two blinks.

“Very curious; then I thank you for your hospitable nature. Or rather, thank you for your friendliness. You must have been so scared being locked up as you were. You seemed to want to trust us right away. If you were this intelligent… yet it seems humans also mistrust you still which is unfair if you are a big kind softy who would not hurt us either. Though to be fair most humans who would get close to a wild coyote would get bitten, and that is if the coyote did not run first. So it is a very unique situation. Do not worry dear… Rosie will be here soon. Wait… Does Rosie know about you?”

Dial blinked yes.

“I am willing to bet then that tony must also…”

Once more Dial blinked. When the David’s name was mentioned he blinked for no. The two had a small conversation this way for the next five minutes though nothing catastrophic was learned. Dee simply sensed dial wanted comfort and was using small talk to keep him busy and pass the time waiting. Dial knew there would be much to talk about later but for now he just relaxed. He was so tired he nearly slept if not for the pain. Soon there was a flash of light in the distance and then sound followed it and Rosie arrived. She knew Dee to be friendly but something about how close she was with him without her guard up painted the picture to Rosie. The cat was out of the bag, no use pretending Dial was ordinary.

“My gosh… you are… how did you know he is…”

“It is ok Rosie…I know the big secret now too. Dial told me”

“He told you? I mean…. Did he talk English or do you mean that you can understand him talking as well?”

“No… he wrote in the sand? He can speak?”

“Not that I am aware of, but tony seems able to understand his barks like English…have no clue why I can’t I thought you may also, I suppose only tony then. I taught him how to read and write but for some reason he seems to have advanced far beyond what I taught him. So many questions but let’s take care of him first.”

Agreed…let’s just get him home, plenty of time for questions later. I will have a hard enough time explaining this to David.

“David does not know”

“No… and no I mean… how the coyote who was supposed to be locked up safely got injured. I have no idea what to tell him”

“We will think of something.”

Rosie moved over to the other side of the stretcher and very slowly and carefully moved dials limbs

“WHINCE”

“Hush hush I know I know Dial…do you think you can endure or do you want the sedative?”

Dial looked over at the needle and felt it far more painful than anything he was feeling… strange as it may seem. He blinked no and closed his eyes to endure the pain. It was painful but the women were very delicate and careful with him. Before he knew it he was lying on his belly and the women lifted him up. The metal handle bars raised up by his shoulders, and then a snug tight hammock was formed to hold him. Then they lifted him up and it actually did not feel too painful. Before he knew it he was in the back of the truck bed and Rosie started driving slowly home. Occasionally a bump hit and his body ached and he whinnied but he endured. Soon they arrived and approached the truck.

“There you are, you had me very worried… poor fellow…”

“TONY!”

Dial barked and then shook...he would have to not do that again as his whole body ached from even barking.

“Do not excite him…”, Dee said protectively.

“I don’t think I did anything but it would seem he is excited none the less. Pall you need to take it easy. Can you try to whisper…” Tony replied.

Dial looked up at Tony like he had the white coyote; though it was Dee who had saved him he just had wanted Tony so much. Something deep inside told him that Tony was who he had worried he would never see again. He wanted to pounce on him and lick at him endlessly grateful. He tried to move instinctually but whinnied in pain after hardly lifting an arm.

“Oh tony…I will try but it hurts very badly”

“I have missed you as well buddy, I was worrying for you like a brother when you did not return after your run, seems you got into trouble. Dam my arm wish I could have went with you.

“Tony so much happened…”

Dial felt his ribs throb a bit sore.

“Ack… it hurts…”

Just take it easy, we can talk more after we fix you up. I am sure you have a lot to talk about. And these two have many questions. They will have to wait though for everyone as after you get fixed up you will need to rest and heal a bit.”

“Wow this is amazing… you are actually talking with him? All I hear is whines…this will be very useful”

“What do you need me to do?” Tony asked.

Rosie stepped out and handed Tony the keys. And spoke to him with seniority he respected deeply.

“I need you to clean up the evidence the drive the Junker and the truck in tow and clean up. Get rid of any evidence. Not like we need to be too worried but best not leave clues where people may ask. We need to do this quick and without a mess and Dr. Miller cannot find out anything. As for the coyote… we can brain storm later but we need to get him examined quickly. I trust the lab is ready so we will take him over while you finish up here. Thankfully he is not bleeding so repair should be fast and capable without need for surgery or stitches. But we won’t know till we x-ray his bones and examine his muscle tissue. However meet us at the bathing station; I need to get this blood of him as best as we can before we take him in. He needs to be sterile more for clean up than anything else.”

“Yes Sir!” tony responded with respect urgency and haste as he switched palaces with Rosie and Dial was loaded out.

Dial waited patiently as he was lifted down to an area he had not seen yet. He passed several cages and some of the animals were woken up and started making noise at him. One of the wolves started to howl and that seemed to get others vocal. Even the cougar moaned its low bass moan. Dial got a glimpse through the front of the shoot of where they were heading. One of the wolves was directly across and watched with great interest with its tail wagging a little. It seemed almost excited to see the coyote. Dial had never got to stare at a wolf so long before. If not for the bars he worried a wolf would come and attack This one almost seemed bored and playful and whined though hit may simply be wanting attention of the humans or had been a bit fearful.

“Who is that tony?”

Tony looked around instinctually for a human until realizing Dial meant the wolf. Dial then realized that Tony must have been already redefining words that used to only mean human. Words like, who, suddenly include animals, as though animals were suddenly people too. Though Dial knew he was unique and tried to not take much insult of being not much more than an animal with a big brain. Being around humans for even the last hour was starting to request his brain to this world. Running alone had made him feel like a coyote and fox made him feel like he had always been a clever talking coyote with a big brain.

“Who is that? What the wolf?”

It was weird as Dial noticed for the first time that he was changing his own behavior to fit those around him. Or maybe it was just that he shifted to be what the environment needed him to be. He had recalled being overly and unnaturally friendly to simply get attention and be noticed in his old cage. Thankfully he would never go back in it unless he wanted to. Strange though as now Dial saw the other animals like prisoners. He almost pitied them and wanted to have a conversation and get to know this wolf only it would not understand him. Clearly Tony did not need to redefine every animal; this wolf was just a wolf not a person. Tony had just called it a what, an object, not a person. Though Dial felt it was simply poor word choice. Though it seemed unnaturally friendly as well like it knew no fear of humans, which is what captured Dials curiosity.

“I thought all animals here were wild? Or wait… you did say some were domestic… is this one like that? I have never seen a wolf act so dog like before.”

Dial did not realize it but he was projecting his thoughts directly into Tony’s brain…he had done this before but now seemed to have done it accidently. The connection between them is what made it possible at all.

“Oh gosh… I forget you did that…”

“Dee looked over at tony.”

“Oh… I hear dials thoughts if he projects them… it’s a bit weird but usually he barks and it simply translates into English to me for some reason. He just asked about Mint.”

“Weird… another question to be asked later”

“I don’t have many answers either… “Dial barked and felt sore from it”

Dial was lifted on top of a large metal slab, with a drain and a rubber hose which was suspended by rope and a floor drain. It was more of a sanitation station than a bathing area. This was where water basins and buckets of feces were washed away safely. So that soap and bacteria ridden water would not be running off into the ground where it could make animals sick. If one animal had a condition they were careful not to let it get in the soil where boots could track it into a cage of a healthy animal and risk infecting them. Even rain did its job of that so the pens had cement bottoms and walls above ground level to contain and any run off went into a drain. It was a well designed facility even if it was very rough and gritty. Some of the funding came from Dr. Miller through performing on call services and being compensated well by commissions. He was one of the best, Dial knew. He was unsure the particulars but seems that it helped the facility function well despite its current money troubles and lack of much cheap labor.

“Oh my… that is all a bit scary but do not worry I will be brave”, dial whined a bit softly. “After the night I have had I doubt many things here will be so scary to me as they were earlier. Maybe I am just exhausted and worn out mentally and psychical and I do not care. I trust you three as family… you don’t know how much I missed you and thought nothing more of coming back to my home.”

Tony stood for a moment flabbergasted at how the coyote’s disposition and love of this place had changed in just one evening. Earlier he worried he would run away if he took off the leash, now he seemed to never want to leave again. He must have wondered what the hell had happened to him, but even Dial was unclear so he felt best to leave the part about spirits and magic alone until he knew more. No use adding worries to their minds about forces out of any of their control. Though the questions were mounting on Tony alone as he had shared something with Dial the others had not yet. Tony knew the complexity of an individual that Dial had become. Dial seemed like he had gone to war and returned shell shocked and beaten, but happy to be at peace and safety once more. Once Dial was in position on the table. Tony started to gently wash off all the dog blood. Thankfully, no one asked about it. Dial did not want them to hate or fear him for whatever happened to that dog earlier. It did not stain his fur badly as coyotes have a lot of oil in their fur. Makes them collect stink fast but helps keep them clean and dry and ward away bad stuff. The water was cold and dial flinched and then flinched again with pain.

“Sorry buddy, only cold here, you will get warmed up inside when we dry you off. We will use a hair dryer so we don’t need to touch you. it will be hot”

Dial spoke again to Tony’s mind.

“Oh I like the sound of that… you have no idea what I’ve been through…frankly you don’t want to know how much I have wanted a bath”

“You are so muddy as well…how did that happen?”

“Fell in a mud hole and barley made it out…”

Tony then looked over at the women who seemed deeply curious about what was being said by the coyote.

“Oh don’t mind us ladies, I forgot that dial could speak to me without needing to make sound… a bit unnerving but he is a very good fellow, not some weird evil demon mind reader, he can’t hear your thoughts or mine. Either he sends thoughts my way or I simply am able to pick them up remotely? I am uncertain who is doing what. If only you could share it too”

“We don’t need to”, rose said “we both know he is a good fellow. May be for the better to not have voices in our heads, having you hear to translate makes all the difference.”

Dial felt warm inside at hearing that and managed to wag his tail a bit as it was easier with Tony present. He asked tony to thank them for that and communicate that he feels of them as family. Dee blushed to this sentiment then her mind trailed back to the problem at hand.

“Tony should you not be asking him about the injury while we are busy washing”, Dee added.

“Oh yea... sorry. This is still a bit weird. Let me focus.”

“I hope you don’t mind me speaking this way. Fox seems able to do it and it seems easier now… and a better idea… can’t read your mind or anything just talk and you pick me up like a radio” Dial added to him silently.

“Radio... how do you know about radios?” tony replied.

“Never mind why… short answer I think our minds are linked through the bite I gave you… but I have no clue if it’s from me or you or both of us? Though, that is just my best guess as my vocabulary seemed to increase after that event. I don’t know all the facts, just theories. I just know a huge amount different than before I bit you.” dial explained.

“Um… wow… ok... I will try not to bombard you with questions for now but we defiantly need to have a long talk later.”

Dee and Rosie looked at each other and smirked as Tony must have looked a bit crazy.

“Either way I had a large adventure tonight and there’s a lot heavy weight on my body and mind but I will have to fill you in gradually about it. Many strange things occurred I am still trying to figure out and no use worrying you about things I myself am clueless about. All that matters now is the injuries at hand. If you are certain they are not life threatening I will relax and endure and hope for a speedy recovery. As for the pain, the pain is sharp… it feels like my bones are cutting my flesh.” Dial whimpered some thinking about the pain.

“Dial seems to be describing his injury as bone related. He doesn’t have a clue much medical understanding but it simply seems to be the way it feels. Cutting pain; mostly in his legs and on his side from falling down. I am a bit confused but he has not told me much more. I still have no clue how he got it. Though it seems he is uncertain and needs time to think.” Tony explained.

“Well he will have plenty of time to think in recovery. We should definitely x-ray him and see if its bones casts and slings may be required.” Dee agreed with the description while Rosie just sat perplexed. Dee out of nowhere blurted something out as though it was a breath she had been holding in for too long.

“I have been able to talk to animals my entire life…” Dee abruptly stated.

This made the other three stop dead in their thoughts and turn attention to her. Everyone stared at her, even dial admired her boldness.

“…I have wanted to get that off my chest forever.”

Dee started to cry a little and everyone stood there in awkwardness as if Dee was so strong and they did not know how to comfort her correctly to such a weird revelation. Tony had his own weirdness but he was surprised, Rosie had sort of understood in the car and dial already knew but even he was shocked.

“Ok… that is going to need a good story later… now let’s get back to work, wounded coyote to care for remember”, Dee barked firm yet polite and with command to her voice.

Dial smirked as Dee in a coyote fashion and could not help but be even more impressed by her strength. She was acting like an alpha coyote. Dial’s own evening had been so weird he just stopped being surprised at weird things. Though he felt it necessary to keep all magical nonsense to himself until such time they needed to know. If a talking animal was so disruptive they may not be able to handle intimidating magical spirit foxes or any of the other strange things he actually did remember. He knew for a fact that most of his memory of it was taken for now. Though, he was thankful as these three were enough to keep him busy without spirit foxes and weird healings and possible other monsters. Then the wolf across from him chipped for attention and Dials gaze returned to him.

“So… tony… About the wolf over there... you did not tell me… what is his story?”

“Oh I am sorry… I forgot to answer that; he is named Mint. He was raised as a house pet but despite an unusually sweet disposition for a wolf to have. Wild animals are too destructive for domestication. He was raised like a dog but is all wolf. The may be a bit confused at what he is and does not know how to be a wolf.”

“Oh gosh that’s a bit sad but also… kind that someone would adopt him, a pup without parents would not survive”

“Actually not him… while sometimes that occurs with opined animals; his owners bought him specifically as an exotic pet. Then when he became big and destructive by nature and wrecked things in their house they got rid of him. Everyone loves cute babies until they grow up. Wild animals have many aggressive or hunting or other instincts like marking… Humans do not like it very much when animals peek inside buildings.”

“Don’t humans do that?”

“We use washrooms which…never mind…most animals don’t live in doors because they are a bit too stinky”

“Hey my nose is far better than yours pal, and I am only extra stinky because you people made me sleep next to my own droppings for a week…”

Dial huffed annoyed and tony looked a bit sheepish.

“Well if you ever do live in doors Dial you will need to use a toilet for your business and not mark things with pee”

The women stared at each other with a mix of amusement and confusion as they tried to fill in what the coyote was saying. Dee started to laugh and it distracted both of the men.

“So as for Mint over there… you being an animal… can probably agree that it is very cruel and unfair to him. His parents were captive born and used to breed which is illegal without proper permits or licenses. Sometimes people are stupid. They want a wolf and then get upset that when that wolf grows up, they get wolf with all the wild included. A wolf is not a dog. Humans breed out the wild from dogs over tens of thousands of years living alongside dogs.”

“Wait dogs breed with humans”

“HA HA HA HA HA…….NO!”

Dee and Rosie looked at each other bewildered.

It both startled Dial a bit but he lowered his ears in a bit of disappointment as it all but squashed any romantic thoughts he had about tony being a mate… may not be able to actually procreate but if tony was this against it dial better stop thinking weird thoughts… Sadly Dee was included… so he best just think about coyotes or maybe… wolves or dogs… as he could breed with them just fine.

Dial sat and thought about it all as he had little better to do. It was all helping keep his mind off the pain. As well was his natural fear of the strange new things. A lesser coyote would be flinching from every strange new thing much like a gun as anything new could be a danger. He was wise enough to not be afraid and knew he was safe but he had almost forgotten the timid coyote he was only hours before. Standing up to a bully like fox, or was he a bully? He seemed very random so Dial just did not know about fox yet. The white coyote showed nothing but good but he even had suspicions about her. She also said she was holding a memory… until he dies! But dial hoped it would be a long while. Oh how he wished he never met fox… or had fox met him on purpose?

“There all done…now let’s get you inside before you catch a cold.” Dee said.

Dial had wanted a bath like this for so long and the entire time he had hardly noticed it had been going on. There were so many things to say, to think about, or to gauge from other people. When the water was turned off he realized he hardly felt it at all. The water pressure had been so low to not push too hard on his body. They were experts. It did not look like he would get a hot bath but all his fur made him hardly notice the cold. Most of the mud and blood had been dry by the time it was washed off but he was happy to be rid of it and vowed to be a much cleaner coyote from this day forward. He also hoped to never again have so much blood on him. As they picked him up and started to take him towards the medical building he stared at the doors timidly. The last time he was in there he was nothing but a confused and terrified coyote. At least now he had his friends by his side to comfort him. They would help heal him up proper and he would be able to go for a run again soon.

He had no idea how long it would take to heal but hoped it would be quick. Even without the magical healing the fox and coyote seemed to have given him. He knew the natural way would take much longer but with some human care, science, and comfort, he would endure past whatever was wrong with his body. He was a coyote and had a reputation to protect. Coyotes are bouncy and never let anything get them down for long. He had not even stopped to think how happy he was just to be back at home in the company of those that loved him. The pain had been too distracting.