With Age comes Love
With Age Comes Love
Authors note: The character Violet belongs to Gray Muzzle who...
With Age Comes Love
Authors note: The character Violet belongs to Gray Muzzle who was kind enough to give me permission to use her in my story. I in no way own Violet.
Grace sat in the kennel staring out the small window as she always did when she was bored. Grace was a canine hybrid but not just any canine. She was a Chinook, one of the top 3 rarest dog breeds in the world. Grace was a sled dog or she used to be. She was the best of her generation with seven championships under her belt. She was a mother of 2 daughters.
Her oldest was a husky mix that left 4 years before Grace retired but she didn't keep in touch. And her youngest was a malamute she adopted after the pup's parents were killed in a grizzly attack. The youngest always wrote to her. One of the rights of hybrids during that time was that they were allowed to keep in contact with family if the owner gave consent. Grace herself had a golden brown coat and wore a white T shirt and white jeans. She was 6 foot 11 with golden blonde hair and pushing 47 but she looked like she was 25 if not younger. She had a voluptuous figure with 44 double E breasts and a kind heart to match her good looks. Her breeding days where memory of the past now since her last heat was when she was 40. That was the gene flaw in rare hybrid breeds.
They were designed to have shorter heat cycles and went into menopause faster than common breeds which guaranteed rarity and keeps the value at an all time high. They also had a very complex genetic code, which made reproducing very difficult. This was meant to keep the bloodline clean, as breeders would put it. Grace has been a retired sled dog for 5 years now but the urge to run was still in her veins. She raced in Alaska as the lead dog for 20 years and was known as Ice wind among all the hybrids in the state. She was then sent to Maine when she was retired. Now she was waiting in the local pound to be adopted.
"Well another day is this prison..." she thought to herself as she stared out the window.
Grace was worth 3 grand because she was a pedigree or pure breed but that was the problem. Not many could afford to buy her and those that could only wanted young breed able puppies not an older dog that went into menopause 7 years ago. She then heard the sound of one of the staff members. The reaper as she called him. He was a big human male wearing leather pants with black boots and a leather jacket. He was in charge of putting the hybrid down which is why he got the nick name. He liked the nickname so much he actually changed his name to Reaper. He was leading a hybrid down the hall to be put down yelling dead one walking. Making the other hybrids tremble.
There were 2 ways for a hybrid to be put down in that pound. The first was the classic walk down the hall to the gas chamber. And the other was known as the old yeller method. Anyone who knew that story knew the method. Grace then picked up the scent of another human and smiled.
The scent belonged to Zack. He was a 21 year old human collage student who worked at the pound to pay his way through. The pound was the only place that was hiring unfortunately. Zack hated the way humans treated hybrids and was huge supporter of giving hybrids equal rights. As a result, he was bullied and harassed by his piers. He stood at 5 feet and wore all black. He was well known and well liked especially by Grace. He was her best friend. But they weren't always so close. When they first met Grace hated him and would have killed him on site but that changed after she got to know him. Grace's tail wagged 100 miles a minute as he came into view.
"Hi Grace, how are you?" He asked.
"I am good." she said smiling.
"Want to go get some air?" he asked.
Grace jumped up with a smile which is a big yes. Zack unlocked the cage and put her on her leash and they went outside. Once they were out of site Zack took off the leash since it was only to keep up appearances. The truth was he hated the leash but Grace insisted on wearing it for safety reasons.
"So how is Rena?" Grace asked.
Rena was Zack's girl friend. Grace finally talked him talking into asking her out and now they have been dating for a few months now.
"She has been very busy lately with work and stuff. She had been doing a lot of overtime. I tried calling but she doesn't answer. And she is hardly ever home but when she is always tired." He said.
Grace nodded but she had a feeling that it was more than just work. Grace knew Rena from what Zack told her. She did meet Rena once and she didn't like her too much. Rena wasn't very nice that day. She was very controlling and she pretty much ranted at Zack saying he should spent more time around humans and she would talk down to him which Grace didn't like one bit but, Zack was happy with her and for his sake she hoped she was wrong. She had seen Zack get hurt before and she never wanted to see it happen again. She then saw that Zack seemed to be a little upset. She was about to ask what was bothering him but he beat her to it.
"Grace, I'm sorry I couldn't find you a home yet." Zack said.
For a few months now Zack had been going out of his way to try and find Grace a good home. She was touched that he would do that for her but she didn't want him to go through the trouble. She reached through the bars and put a hand on his shoulder.
"Zack don't worry about it. It's fine. You have done so much for me already. You make living in that place bearable. And even if I do get put down I can pass on knowing that I have the best friend anybody can ask for." She said smiling.
"I won't let you get put down Grace, but that's enough of talk about that. Tell me about your racing days again." Zack said.
Grace always told him about her racing days. She never forgot how a young purple haired poodle was being used as a sled dog. She couldn't believe a poodle would run with sled dogs. To this day she still had a hard time believing it even though she saw her beat them with her own eyes. She was actually glad that the poodle won. After that the males were a lot more tolerable. They went to a nearby tree and sat in the shade and Grace started to tell her story.
*Flashback *
I was going back to my house after my run. Since I was the lead dog I had special privileges such as more freedom than the others. I was known as the legendary Ice wind. One of the things I did was go checkout the new blood and make sure my youngest daughter was behaving. I first checked on my daughter Cree. She lost both of her parents when the team was attacked by a grizzly. My husband also lost his life that day. He saved our owner when he fell through the ice. He died of hyperthermia. Cree's mom and I were best friends so I took Cree in and raised her like my own. Cree knew she was adopted but she called me mom anyway.
"Hi, Mom what brings you here?" Cree said.
"I am here to make sure YOU aren't getting into trouble." I said.
Cree simply smiled weakly knowing full well the she couldn't hide anything from me. She was still in training stage so she wasn't doing any real runs or races yet. After making sure she didn't cause any more mischief Cree decided to tag along. So I went back to my walk. What I saw shocked me beyond belief. There was a young poodle hybrid pulling a sled. One thing that caught my eye was that the poodle had purple hair.
"Do the humans have no shame!? Using a poodle as a sled dog is just cruel!" I growled.
That's when I saw some male husky hybrids laughing at her. The poor girl was struggling and those lazy mutts just sat there and laughed so walked over and kicked them in the ribs.
"INSTEAD OF LAUGHING, GET OFF YOUR ASSES AND HELP HER!!!" I yelled.
The males immediately got up and helped her out and took off right after they were done. I then walked over to the poodle. She was a young pup roughly 12 or 13. She instinctually avoided looking me directly in the eye because doing so could be taken as a challenge and since I was one of the top runners it made me an alpha among the dogs but she kept a strong posture witch showed she wasn't going to back down.
"Listen to me. Don't let them walk all over you. And if you get the chance to get out take it .You will find a better life. Now tell me your name." I said.
"They call me Violet." The poodle said.
"Well Violet good luck and maybe I will see you again. Never give up." I said to her.
She gave me a nod and went back to her quarters.
*End of flashback*
"So what happened to Violet?" Zack asked.
"She proved all of them wrong. She out ran the dogs and got free. Shortly after that my daughter got free then I was retired. We better get back to the pound though its getting kind of late." Grace said.
"Well when the hybrid liberation bill passes you won't have to go back ever again." He said.
"Zack don't talk about that out loud. There are a lot of people that don't share your views towards hybrids and I don't want you to get hurt." Grace warned.
What she said was true. Ever since the government announced that, they were going to make a bill to set hybrids free there has been numerous acts of violence. Zack's younger cousin was also being harassed by some anti hybrid gangs but he didn't let the threats get to him. Moreover, if his cousin wasn't scared then he sure wasn't going to be either. As voting day got closer the violence increased. A lot of kennels started to put down their hybrids more frequently and even tried to sell them over seas. As they walked back to the pound Grace could help but stay really close to Zack. Soon they got back and Grace went to her cage. Once Zack left Grace went to her bed and fell asleep.
When Zack got to his house he saw that the lights in his room where on but they were dimmed. He knew he shut the lights off and Rena was supposed to be at work. He unlocked the front door and grabbed a base ball bat just incase there were intruders. He slowly crept to his room and heard the sound of moaning. He wasted no time kicking the door open only to see Rena butt naked with some guy on top of her. Zack couldn't believe it. She was sleeping with another guy on his bed. They guy quickly grabbed his cloths jumped out the window took and took off running.
"WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING!?" Zack yelled.
"I'm sick of it Zack! I have needs. You are never there and you never give me any! " Rena said.
"Get out of my house NOW!" Zack said looking at the ground unable to look her in the eye.
"Listen Zack, if you touched me every once in a while I wouldn't have to cheat. Stop being such a cry baby." Rena said.
"I am giving you till the count of 3 to get out. We are through! Zack said getting madder by the second.
Rena scowled put her cloths on her cloths and left. Once she was gone Zack punched a hole in his wall and screamed at the top of his lungs. He went straight to bed and fell asleep. The next day he woke and got ready like he always did. He was hurt badly but he didn't want Grace or the others to see him as a mess. Once he regained his composer he changed the locks on his house doors and went off to the pound.
Back at the pound Grace woke up to see Reaper putting a sign on her cage.
"Well it looks like you will be 50% off now because of the voting day is coming up soon. And you what happens are if someone doesn't take you by the end of the week." He said with a smirk as he walked away.
Grace knew that when a hybrid was marked down on price. It was a last chance to find a home before they were to be put down. Grace started to cry but it wasn't the fact that she may only have a week to live upset her. It was the fact that she would only have a week left to spend with Zack. She quickly dried her tears. She knew Zack was going go be upset when he saw the sign. Zack soon walked in and Grace knew right away something was wrong. Zack smiled and acted like he always did but she knew something was up. Zack's smile soon disappeared after he saw the sign.
"Oh god Grace, I won't let this happen. I am going to get you out of here." He said as he started to get worked up.
"Zack its okay, it was bound to happen. Now tell me what's wrong. I know something is bothering you. And don't say nothing." She said trying to calm him down.
"I walked in on Rena with another man." he said
"She cheated!?" Grace said with a shocked tone.
"Yes, just because I didn't put out for her." He said.
"That's no reason. It's an excuse. I'm so sorry Zack." She said.
"It's not your fault Grace. These things happen." Zack said.
Grace decided not to press the issue.
"How about we get some air?" Grace said.
Zack nodded and got her collar and leash. They went to the park and Zack took off the leash. While they were walking Grace tripped and fell down a small hill and took Zack down with her since he was holding the leash. Grace landed on her back with a thud and Zack landed on top of her with his face inches away from hers. Zack immediately got off her and help her up. Both of them were blushing heavily.
"Sorry Grace...." he said
"It's okay Zack. I'm just clumsy." She said smiling.
Zack smiled at that and they went to a nearby hotdog stand and he bought Grace one. She never got to eat human food much. At the the pound they feed the hybrids a weird gruel like soup. It had a horrid taste but it had enough nutrients to keep them alive. So it was a rare treat for her when Zack took her out. It was just one of the things she loved doing with him.
They went for a long walk that day. Grace was determined to keep his mind off Rena and make the most of their time together. They went to a nearby pet shop. Since Grace needed to use the restroom and she felt most comfortable going to the pet shop rest room since it was the closest place with a public bathroom. Zack waited at the door for her and looked at all of the hybrid collars and such. He thought of how nice it would be to just see the collars being burned in a bonfire.
Back in the rest room Grace was washing her hands when she thought about Zack. He was always good to her and he referred to her as a person. He was the first one to ever treat her like a person. She even thought about how nice it would be to share a bed with him and have him as her own. She then banished the thoughts from her head.
"What am I thinking? I'm old enough to be his mother and he is a human. There's no way he would want an old dog like me. Not when there are so many younger girls out there for him to choose from..." She thought to herself as she went back out to meet him.
"Did everything come out okay?" He asked teasingly
Grace just stuck her tongue out at him and then laughed. Grace then saw a sled dog harness and got an idea.
"Do you have your rollerblades?" She asked.
Zack nodded and Grace put on her leash and they went to his car.
"Okay, now put on the skates." she said.
Once he did she gave him her leash and told him to hold on. Once he got a firm grip on it she started to run. Zack was amazed at how fast she could run. Everything around him seemed to blur as they raced. Grace then ran into the grass and slowed down to a stop. Zack let go of the leash and fell on his butt.
"Wow, you're fast." Zack said catching his breath.
"I am out of practice. I was a lot faster. It feels good to run without having to worry about getting hit with a whip. Besides, the only way for you to keep up with me is with the leash and skates." She said.
"Yeah, we better get back though. It's late." He said
Grace nodded and they went back. Grace then looked at the sign and just shook her head.
"I got to go Grace. See you tomorrow. And thanks. You cheered me up a lot." he said.
"Hey, what are friends for right?" She said smiling.
Zack smiled and nodded. When he drove home the thought about him and Grace being more than friends crossed his mind.
"Keep dreaming Zack you're a human, she would probably think you're a weirdo. You don't have a chance with her." he thought as he drove home.
He then drove to the bank to make withdrawal. He had $1900.00 saved up for a new car but what he was going to do with it was much more important. He couldn't stand seeing Grace living in that pound. He decided to get her out of there. Once the withdrawal was done he went home and went straight to bed.
Back in the pound, Grace heard reaper walk up to her cage.
"Hello old yeller" Reaper taunted.
"Go jump off a cliff!" Grace growled.
"Think you're tough bitch?" Reaper said.
"Let me out of this cage and you will find out." She shot back as she stood up.
"Well old yeller just so you know tomorrow you are getting put down. The boss says since you are too old to breed and voting time is in 2 days so he is cutting his losses. Unless somebody can come up with 1500 bucks and take you before you take the dirt nap." He said.
"May I ask what method will be used?" Grace asked.
"Why do you think I am calling you old yeller?" He said as he walked away.
Grace looked out her window as tears came to her eyes.
"My only regret is the pain this will cause Zack when he finds out. You only meet somebody like him once in a life time." She thought to herself as she drifted off to sleep.
Zack woke the next day and got ready. Once he got outside he saw that his tires where slashed. Zack cursed under his breath knowing full well it was Rena who did it but he didn't have time to go yell at her and such. He took out his phone to call his cousin for a lift.
"Hey it's me, I need favor. Do you still have that bike? The pound...Okay thanks man you are the best." Zack said as he hung up the phone.
After about 5 minutes he saw a black ford GT pull up. The driver was a male human about 16 with long black hair and a scrawny but muscular build.
"Sorry I'm late Zack I had to fix the brakes. Lets hope they didn't put Grace down yet." The human said.
Zack felt his heart stop and he trembled.
"What are you talking about Koji?" Zack asked in a worried tone.
"I heard some guy brag about how he is going to put down a Chinook hybrid at noon to his friends. Grace is the only Chinook I can think of. Now get in!" Koji said as he unlocked the door.
Zack wasted no time getting into the car and they rode off they drove off. Koji gunned it at full throttle taking the back roads because there was less traffic taking tight turns. Koji was driving like he was in a race. They even went through a railroad crossing while the train was going through but luckily it missed them missing them by a hair.
"Koji you're going to get us killed!" Zack shouted.
"Relax; I got under it under control." Koji said.
"Do you always drive like this!?" Zack asked.
"No, normally there is more traffic." Koji said.
"You're crazy!" Zack shouted.
They weaved in and out of traffic and the pound came into view. Inside the pound Grace was sitting in a cold cell to the back of the building. The walls were covered with dried blood from the previous hybrids that were put down before her. She was muzzled, her arms bound behind her back and her legs were tied together. She was also chained to the wall so she couldn't doge the bullet. She watched as Reaper loaded his 12 gage rifle but she refused to show and fear. She was proud and she refused to show fear even when staring down the barrel of a gun. If she was going to die she was going to do so with pride. Her only regret was that she would never see her daughters or Zack again.
Zack and Koji pulled up to the door the door and Koji slammed on the brakes. They both bolted out of the car and ran inside. When they got to Grace's cage they saw it was empty. Zack looked at a chart witch listed which hybrids were to be put down and how it was going to be done. Once he found Grace's name he almost fainted. They then ran to the manager's office and ran inside. The manager was a tall human who wore a corporate casual look, pants dress shirt and tie. He was in his mid 30s. He was doing some paper work when he saw their sudden entrance.
"Well Zack you are in early, something wrong?" He asked in a calm tone.
"Sir, I would like to adopt Grace." Zack said.
"A little short notice don't you think?" The manager responded.
Back in the cell Reaper finished loading the gun and cocked it and began to take aim at her. He took his time so he could get a nice clean shot. After 15 seconds he put his finger on the trigger. Grace didn't say anything she just closed her eyes and waited for the end. Just as Reaper was about to pull the trigger the intercom went off.
"Attention, the Chinook hybrid known as Grace will not be euthanized. She is to be returned to her cage and prepped for departure with her new owner. That is all."
"Well it looks like you lucked out" He said as he untied her and lead her back to her cage.
When Grace got to her cage she packed her stuff. She didn't have much, just some letters from her daughter, a few pictures, her championship medals and trophies and a few outfits. She still wasn't sure who bought her. But she was going to find out soon enough though.
Zack had finished signing the last of the forms. Once he was finished he went straight to Grace's cage. Grace meanwhile was just finishing up packing when she heard the sound of foot steps. She turned around to see Zack standing in the door way. She wasted no time in pulling him into a tight embrace.
"What are you doing here?" She asked.
"I came to take you home." He said.
Grace looked at him with disbelief. Did she hear him right? He just said he was taking her home. She couldn't believe what she just heard. There was no mistaking his words. He said home. She could only just stare at him. Zack just smiled at her.
"I told you I would get you out of here. Once we are home we can relax." Zack said.
It took everything Grace had to keep from crying. She was proud and wasn't going to let herself become overwhelmed by emotions.
"Grace if you are all packed lets gets out of here you out of here." Zack said.
Grace couldn't speak. If she did she would have broken down. She just nodded and followed him out where Koji was waiting. Koji was good at sensing emotions and could tell she was holding back tears even though she kept a straight face. He didn't blame her for being silent. She almost died. He didn't know at what it felt like to have a near death experience at the time but he could barely imagine. He knew it was best not to bring it up so he didn't.
The ride home was pretty much silent. Koji didn't say a word until they got back to the house. He helped Grace with her things and then went home himself since he had classes the next day. Zack and Grace went into the house and Zack showed her to her room. It was a pretty large bedroom. Grace made her way to the twin mattress and sat down.
"Zack I don't know what to say... If you didn't come when you did I would be..." She said as everything that happened began to sink in.
Zack sat down next to her and held her in his arms gently rubbing her back.
"Go ahead and let it out. You don't have to act tough on my account." He said.
Grace was never one to cry in front of somebody. She was sweet but she had been betrayed by others so many times before that she put up and emotional wall so nobody get close to her. Zack was the first person in a very long time to break that wall. For as long as she knew him he was always nice to her, She was an equal to him. He never yelled at her he never looked down on her, and now not only did he save her life but he gave her a place to call home and he asked for nothing in return. She was beginning to lose control over her emotions. She suddenly pulled Zack into a tight embrace and sobbed.
Zack held the sobbing canine in his arms whispering comforting words to her. After a half and hour Grace began to calm down a little bit.
"I'm sorry you have to see me this way Zack..." She said between sobs.
"Don't apologize you have nothing to be sorry for." He replied.
Grace smiled and calmed down ever more.
"Zack, you make an old dog feel young again." She said as she rested in his arms.
"Grace you and I will be friends for life." Zack said
"Maybe we'll be even more than that someday." Grace thought to herself as she drifted to sleep in his arms.
To be continued?