As for this one, its a little bit weird since I was new at writing at the time so the pacing was a little off. Anyways here's chapter 2

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Chapter 2
Living Life


A year had already passed from the fateful day I had come to know as my adoption, and my life was finally getting its much deserved compensation. Gone are the days of starring at the ceiling wondering when it would be my turn to leave the shelter. I was no longer bound to a world composed of three walls and a cage door, and at first it felt strange holding this much freedom in my hands, but I've never felt more at peace than ever in my life. Now I live in a small house in a quiet suburban area, which was a definite improvement since my shelter days. 

On most days Mom would be working her job as a chef from dawn till dusk, which meant I had the entire house to myself. Though she always took Sundays off to play and spend time with me whether it be reading books inside together or just playing with a Frisbee in the park, we always managed to squeeze in time between her work and rest periods just for the two of us. 

I could come and go as I pleased, so long as I locked the door when I left. Neighboring pets acquainted themselves with me, some strange, and some completely normal. It didn't happen over night, but every day my world expanded from a small cage, to a small house, then to a neighborhood block. If I hadn't met Mom last year I would probably still be locked away in that cage waiting for an adoption that would never come. 

My life isn't the only one to improve since I got adopted. Mom actually got a boyfriend, only because I nudged her to talk to him. She said he was very passionate about his work as a chef as well, dedicating late shifts to the restaurant to improve its recipes, and even going so far as to revive some recipes with his own flair. He was even called the feisty chef Alfonzo, someone seriously needs to lay off the anime. 

He sounded like an amazing guy, from the way mom talked about him, so I suggested for her to bring him over since it had been some time since they started dating. Although when we got to meet in person for the first time he and I didn't exactly mesh together. Alfonzo wasn't a dog person at all, and when he saw my fangs he completely lost it. He tried to attack me while I was holding the door open for both of them, Yelling “Feral! Someone call animal control!” at the top of his lungs.

It took a while, and a few reassuring words from mom but he finally managed to calm down and stop calling me a feral beast. While it was one meeting only I could already tell I didn't like him. I know first impressions aren't everything but when someone calls you a beast just from your looks its gets difficult to resist the urge to smack him in the head with a frying pan.

However in that moment I did see how he really felt for my mom and how much he made her happy, so I decided to set things straight with him. I tried to make a truce for my mom that we should get along just for mom since we both love her. To my surprise Alfonzo reluctantly agreed, and after an awkward hand shake we were officially neutral. Up till now he and I still aren't very compatible but we could tolerate each others existence so baby steps I guess. 

After six months of dating my mom was finally proposed to, and I couldn't be happier for her since she said yes. The only problem I had was dealing with Alfonzo for the rest of my natural life, but if it made mom happy I was willing to accept the change. 

“Fen we're home!” That was mom, and ugh soon to be dad 

I ran to the door, unlocked it and showed both mom, and Alfonzo inside, mom wore her usual attire while Alfonzo was wearing a button down shirt accompanied by his jeans that showed of his chiseled features “So how was work?” 

“Eh, same old, same old.” she said as she took off her cloak “Cook this, cook that the usual.” 

After her explanation I took a moment to marvel at mom's coat one more time. I may be a dog, and clothing may be foreign to us, but I always wanted to wear that coat. Its little red ridding hood style hood would make me look like a cool assassin, wondering through the night searching for his next target. Combine that with its long sleeves, midnight black and flowing fabric, then you get the ultimate cloak of pure and unadulterated awesomeness, which would perfectly contrast with my white fur. Mom always wore it to work, no matter the season and I've always been jealous of her whenever she wears it. 

“So how about you Fen how was your day?” Mom ruffled the fur on my head playfully 

I smugly recalled the days earlier events “Well I don't mean to brag but after weeks of training and practice I finally nailed that triple back flip move I've been working on in the park. You should've seen the faces of the dogs at the park all the guys were totally jealous while I may have wooed some of the ladies.”

“That's my dog.” Mom said on her way to the kitchen “Let’s see what do we have left over?”

I remembered that our food supply was beginning to run low so I compiled a list of groceries “I made a grocery list of things we need to restock on, it’s on the fridge. Also I think the heater in your room is busted. I tried to fix it but the manual didn't help at all.” 

“Alright thanks, but for now I'll see what I can do.” 

“Alfonzo.” I said monotonously 

He looked at me then replied in the same monotony “Nice to see you too Fenrir.”

At that moment a cloud of awkwardness managed to condense around me and him. I was desperate for an excuse to be in a different room, or go somewhere else but I had no clue as to what it would be. Mom must have noticed the tension in the air and called out to Alfonzo. 

“Honey why don't you come and help me prepare dinner while Fen go on and set the table.” 

I silently thanked what ever powers there may be and went to work right away. Something told me Alfonzo was doing the same thing, as he was almost as fast as I was getting up and away from the cloud of awkwardness. 

Before we knew it all the tasks and chores were finished and dinner was ready to be eaten. Tonight mom managed to serve a helping of French fries, with a chicken drumstick to go with it. I was served the least because I also had dog kibble to go with mine so I guess it’s fair. 

While I ate Mom and Alfonzo got closer together and opened a brochure “So honey while I was on break I was looking at the cakes they had for sale for weddings, and I got an idea for the cake we could make.” 

“Al, it’s our wedding.” She said with a laugh “Take it easy and let someone else do the work for us.” 

“Lei you know,” Alfonzo's sentence abruptly came to a halt, and I wondered why he did so, but he found his words again “we're chefs we can't go around asking other chefs to do our work for us.” 

“Hon, they're bakers, and come on what's the problem with asking someone else to do it?” It looked like Alfonzo was going to answer but mom turned to me hurriedly “Fen's right here, so why don't we plan our wedding later. It'd be rude to exclude him from our conversation.”

I smiled, that was my mom for you, instead of playing favorites she balanced her attention between me and Alfonzo. There are times dedicated to each of us and a time dedicated for all three of us. Unfortunately mom even set times where Alfonzo and I would spend time together without her. That said time slot was next as I recalled mom's overly complicated schedule sprawled on the cork board hanging just behind me. 

Dinner was over and Alfonzo and I had dish duty, while mom checked the heater in her room. Since I had fur on my hands Alfonzo did the actual washing while I was the one to put it into the dish rack, with the use of a towel of course. 

We mostly worked in silence, but neither one of us was going to take the first step to reach each other. This was how it was like for most of our shared slots, granted this shared time between me and Alfonzo had only been implemented a few weeks back. 

I had enough of our shared silence, and since he wasn't going to be the one to take the first step I guess it would have to be me “So Al-” No, if I was going to do this I was going to do this right “dad, been on any good dates with mom lately?” 

“Well I,” he seemed shocked and at a loss for words “We're just so busy with work, that we don't have that much time to ourselves lately.” 

“That's weird, I mean you do work in a restaurant right? When it’s after hours just light a few candles cook some food, and there you have it, instant romantic date. You could ask the owner and I'm sure he wouldn't mind if his top chefs had some alone time together.” 

“You know that's not a bad idea thanks for that Fenri~ I mean Fen.”

“Hey, its part of our truce remember? We get along, only because we do it so mom can be happy.” 

“That's right for Lei.”

“For mom.” 

We shared a laugh and I think a miracle had just occurred. Alfonzo and I getting along, along without mom anywhere nearby. Pinch me I must be dreaming, all it took was just to take a single step forward. 

“These should be the last batch of dishes.” he said handing me a stack of plates and pots “Your mother and I need to have a talk.” 

I gladly accepted the stack of dishes, and let Alfonzo have some time with mom. Again our relationship as in-laws isn't the best, but what happened earlier was a big step in the right direction. I even felt that maybe just maybe Al- I mean dad, and I can get along. 

As I stacked the last of the dishes in the dish rack, I noticed how rickety and unstable it was. The supports wobbled when I barely even touched it and threatened to collapse if I so much as breathed on it. Now that I thought about it, a lot of the things in this house was really worn down. The heater was just one of the things that broke down this week and mom probably just had no time to bring those things to the shop, but still. When something breaks around here it takes like three weeks to get it fixed even more if it really isn't all that important. 

I relieved my hands of the towel and turned to the living room ready to join mom with whatever she might be doing. However a slight barely noticeable creak recalled my attention to the dish rack. 

Before I could react properly as I had feared, the dish rack collapsed in on itself sending a cascade of plates on my head. Disoriented I tried to step towards the table but forgot about the glass shards on the floor. Not only did they sink into my vulnerable feet, but I also slipped on them and fell towards the floor. Thankfully I reached my hand out to stop my body from hitting the floor, but the glass also sank deep into my hands as well.

Before I knew it mom was at my side, she must have heard the plates breaking and my pained howl. I tried to keep my hand clenched, but I felt it sting unbearably as I unwillingly let out a second yelp. Judging from the intensity of the pain, I would say that it’s in pretty deep. 

“Fen, listen to me,” mom placed her hands on my shoulders “It’s going to be fine. Alfonzo start the car I'll be there shortly.” she picked me up, ignoring the red I was decorating her with as she ran out the door “Al is the car ready?”

“Yes, now hurry, we have to get to the vet.” he replied from the driver's seat 

Mom locked the front door and took a seat next to me. Everything that happened next was a bit of a blur. I saw my assigned vet, he gave me a pill, and everything went blank. 

My thoughts we unclear, and my vision murky, but I was somewhat conscious again. While my mind was not completely here I still caught glimpses of what happened around me. Mom was here, and so was dad. They're talking to the vet while I rest on the provided bed. I may not be able to see all too well, but I could still make out what they were saying.

Right now mom and dad were wearing worry ridden faces as the Vet read my charts “I was able to pull out all the shards and stitched all the wounds closed. Give it three weeks and Fen will only have a scar on his feet and right hand to remember this ordeal with. He will be able to walk tomorrow, but I would advise against letting him stand for too long. His feet will take a week to be back to their full capacity, but his right hand will take a month. He maybe groggy when he wakes up but I assure you it’s just the anesthesia is just doing its job he's perfectly fine.” 

“Oh thank goodness; thank you sir.” mom took the vet's hand and shook it “Is it alright if we stay here till he wakes up?”

“That is fine, just don't wake him up. After loosing that much blood Fen needs to rest and recuperate.” said the vet as he left the room leaving mom and dad to themselves 

“At least Fen's alright, that's the most important thing right now.” mom said with a sigh 

Dad's face looks so sad why does he look like that? “Lei, you know you can't keep doing this right?”

“I have to try Al, its not like I have much of a choice.” 

“But Lei it’s already been two weeks.” Two weeks since what? “Two weeks without a job isn't doing much good for your financial status, and I can't support the two of you forever.” 

“Al, I couldn't help it. The restaurant has been going through tough times, and I was just expendable. Remember Fen cannot find out about any of this.”

“Look I know you promised him that you'd be the one to take care of him, but look at what's happening to him. Both of you are slowly running out of food, and earlier that old dish rack that I keep telling you to replace collapsed on him. You're inadvertently hurting Fen, because you can't let him go.” 

“Al I can't just send him away. I made a promise, and I'm not about to break it by sending him back to the shelter. Not after what I said to him when I adopted him.”

“Lei that pledge is not legally binding, the only reason why you can't break it is because you think it's important.”

“Not that. When I adopted Fen I told him that he and I were alike in the way we've already felt what it was like to be isolated. He can't go back to that void of loneliness I won't allow it. It will destroy him.”

“Alright if sending Fen back to the shelter isn't going to be an option, how about your cousin, you told me you two used to be close.”

“Yeah, but she's not even alive anymore, and if you say try her husband it won't work either. He's terrible with pets not to mention a horrible parent. I would've asked her son, but he was recently jailed for dog-napping so there is no way I'm letting him anywhere near Fen.”

“Look all I'm saying is why prolong Fen's pain. Put up adoption posters or something; the point is if Fen stays with you you're only going to end up not being able to take care of him anymore. Plus he's another mouth to feed, and that's going to cost you some money to buy his food. You barely even managed to pay for his medical bill, if you can't support him you need to let Fen go.” 

There's no way mom would agree to what dad said, her promise she wouldn't break it ever. Right? She loves me, and I love her she would never give me away. 

“You have a point.” She said in between sobs “I dunno, maybe I just need time to think this through.” 

I couldn't believe it she considered what dad had to say? She promised that she would be the one to take care of me. She said that I understood what it meant to be in her place. Was I not good enough anymore to keep her company anymore; was I just another mouth to feed? Just a nuisance?

No matter how hard I tried I couldn't piece together the information I had. Mom lost her job for two weeks, and I hadn't noticed, and we've been struggling to get by all this time. It made me wonder what else I was missing, what else was kept away from me. Unfortunately I was exhausted beyond my limits, and my body began to shut down without my say so. 


End of Chapter 2