Night was among Fall Creek, and I was strolling down the sidewalk. Streetlights guided me as I headed for Rachel's house to meet up with her and Andy for that house party. But my face held some confusion while I was at it.

I was confused about my dog, still was actually. I was throughout the day. Up to this night, my mind still riddled with so many faces of Tobey. All of them showing one emotion:

Fear.

My head dipped down and my hands buried deep into my pockets as I was still trying to figure it out. I don't understand it. I really don't. Why did he try to attack Cat? Was he afraid of her, is that why he gave me that look after she left? But why? Cat didn't do anything wrong. She was just reaching out to pet him, not to mention being a bit timid about it. That was all. She wasn't trying to hurt him.

So what has gotten into him? Was it because he hasn't met her before and he was just SO nervous upon meeting her? Come on...He was never like that to other strangers back in Pittsburgh. That was new. Very new. Pretty different than before.

I sighed. Frankly, I still couldn't think up an answer. Hell, even my mother couldn't think of one either. After I told her what happened with Tobey and Cat, she was just confused as I am, pretty much still was before she went to work for nightshift. Also, she was still very concerned about him. Either still worried Tobey might attack me, even though he didn't after I went back to check on him and saw that look, or he might do that to some other stranger. She even suggested that he be taken to a vet to get him checked or something, but when she said that, I argued and told her that he's fine and there was nothing wrong with him.

A thought filled with curiosity popped up in my brain, having me looking ahead. Or was there? Was there something wrong with him? Is staying in the woods ACTUALLY making him go...Nuts? I know I mentally made a joke about him after we moved to our new home. Hoping he doesn't get crazy out there. But now...I was kinda thinking maybe he was. A worried look was plastered on my face. Poor Tobey.

Then I was thinking about Cat, like I did more than once after the incident. And poor Cat, too. I hope she wasn't...Traumatized because of him. Other than worried about her, I felt guilty for what happened. The whole thing did feel like it was my fault. I dragged her to Tobey, I put her in that situation. I know I didn't know that was gonna happen, and I know I wasn't the one who tried to bite her...But it still feels like it was my fault.

And I hoped that she speaks to me again. I know she said before she ran off that she'll see me later, but I was getting a feeling that she won't. Another sigh left my chest, as the worried feeling still stuck to it. Oh, Cat....

I sincerely hope that won't happen. I don't want to lose you. You were...Becoming my friend.

I turned a corner on the street, going past a sign. A sign that said I was on Rachel's street now. I also hoped Cat was at Rachel's. I would think that a little bit of fun would do her a lot of good after what happened, but knowing she was very shy and wasn't a big fan of house parties, I was not putting so much faith in her meeting and talking with Rachel and Andy and waiting for me with them. But still, I prayed that she was. I wanted to talk to her. Tell her once again that I was very sorry and it won't happen again.

Tobey, that loving, friendly face of his, came to my vision again. I know I can't figure out what the deal was with the dog, but I was hoping what he did was the last time he tried to hurt somebody. Mom did say she'd let the subject of taking him to the vet go, but warned me if something like that happened again and believes he's a threat to me, to her, or to anybody, she'll do something about it. I know she'll be sad about it, she does love Tobey too, but I think she will follow through on that.

I for one don't want to lose him either. He's my best buddy.

Whatever it was that bothered him, it'd better not bother him anymore. Seriously, Tobey...You better not do that to somebody else, like me. That's a dangerous thing to do.

God...I hope you're not crazy.

I saw Rachel's house now, and I practically brushed all the thoughts about the incident away. I was showing up to have fun, and I wasn't going to let that bother me now. Then again, I think it might when I see Cat again. Hopeful eyes shone in the dark. Cat...Please be there.

Several seconds later, getting closer, I found two people standing around in the front yard. They were Rachel and Andy. No girl with pretty blonde hair in sight. Disappointment flooded my chest. Damn...She ain't here.

Then I let that go, when an idea came to me. Well...I guess I can try to find out where she lives in town. Maybe I'll go to her house and talk to her that way. Yeah, that's it. I'll ask Rachel or Andy about that later.

First...The party. Then after that, I'll pop the question.

Right...Ok.

I came up to them, seeing Andy grinning at me while Rachel was just holding her phone in her hands and looking down at it. I put up a smile and said, "Hey, guys."

Rachel's face popped away from the phone screen. She smiled wide back at me, "There you are! What took you so long?" She was shoving her phone down her pocket while she went on, "The party's probably started by now."

I stopped in front of them and replied with a small shrug of my hands, "Sorry if I was late. Kinda hard to get here faster without a bike or a car. And if you're going to suggest telling me to use the bike I almost crashed on yesterday when I head to town, forget it. Ain't gonna happen."

Andy shook his head, "Weren't going to. It looked like a piece of junk anyway."

Rachel just agreed with that, "I'm with him on that."

Glad you guys have the same thought. I said with a smirk, "Okay, and until I get myself a car to drive, RACHEL, don't complain when I'm late for something you invite me of."

The girl who 'complained'' rolled her eyes, "All right, I'M SORRY for whining that you were late." She giggled after her apology, "By the way, I am glad you showed up."

"What, afraid I changed my mind after accepting your invitation to join you guys on a night of fun? Well you can see I didn't. Besides..." The smile on my mouth lowered down a bit while I scratched the back of my head, "I kinda needed it after earlier today."

Both of them frowned with eyes of concern. Andy asked, "Why? What happened to you?"

I didn't tell them what exactly, just short and simple, "Just had a bit of a...Bad morning. I'm trying to get over it." Only I'll probably get over it totally if I speak to Cat.

Rachel smirked, "Well in that case, let's get to partying." Then she was putting on a cautious face, and whispered, "And can we get to that party faster before someone my dad knows sees me out here?"

Andy raised a playful brow, "And why should we exactly?"

Rachel looked to him, narrowing her eyes, "You should know."

"I know why." That's when I brought it up in a playful way, "Because you're out on a school night and your dad wouldn't approve of it, not even let you go to a house party. Is that right?"

Rachel just denied that straight away, "No! That's not it. Matt, I told you last night that my dad would be okay with it. Hell, I asked him about the party today before I went to school, and you what he said? He said, 'okay...Just don't do unprotected sex with strangers and I won't become a grandpa early'."

Andy flat out said, his hand waving toward her, "She's full of it."

I folded my arms across my chest, raising both my eyebrows, "Really?"

The brunette haired girl looked at me for a few seconds before she moaned lowly and confessed, "Okay, I didn't ask him about it. Why, cause he wouldn't approve." Her hand motioned at her house, "Me and Andy snuck quietly out of the house while he was asleep."

"I knew it." I giggled, dropping my limbs to the sides, "I don't know your dad that well, but he doesn't seem to be the type to let you do that."

Rachel rolled her eyes and responded, "I know, I'm being a bad girl." Then she turned her body a bit, her eyes urging us, "And if we don't get moving, we'll get spotted by somebody, dad will get a call by that person, he'll find out, and he'll ground me for...Probably till I graduate from school."

Andy grinned, showing off, "Lucky for me, I won't."

Rachel went to face him, giving him a glare, "Yeah, lucky for you."

I wrinkled my face, "Why?"

My friend with the geeky voice said, "Because I am not a naïve little girl who will get pregnant by a lot of guys I sleep with."

Rachel fumed, "Are you referring that about me, dick hole?"

He just ignored her, "And I'm not in school now like her, so..." He ended that by shrugging his shoulders, "Yep. That's about it."

"Oh..." So he doesn't go to school, huh? I thought he was still in school as Rach is. Guess he isn't now. I nodded a few times slowly, "Gotcha."

Rachel said to Andy, "I'll give you a SERIOUS talk about what you said about me later." Then she turned herself all the way around, rushing us both with her hand waving over, "Let's get going. Seriously!"

Andy moaned in annoyance as she began to walk in strides, "Alright, alright!" I laughed as me and him jogged after her, only walking with her afterward. The three of us wandered out on the road in the middle of the street, since there weren't any cars driving on it.

Not too long after we began our journey to the party, my friends pretty much leading me the way, Rachel, walking between me and Andy, looked at me and said, "Hey, Matt." I gazed back, "I'm sorry I lied about dad. I didn't say that he wouldn't let me go to that party because I didn't want you worried."

I replied, "I figured that was why. And to tell you the truth, I didn't tell my mom that I was going to it...Since she's a cop and all."

Rachel responded with a burst of air shooting out of her mouth, "Phew! Thank god you haven't. I had a feeling you did and then your mother would probably follow you all the way here, then follow us to that house and stop the party before we would go in and do anything."

"That probably would happen. She hates house parties. I'm smarter than to do that."

She wrapped an arm around my shoulder, "Happy you are. If anyone like her ruined that party, I'd blame you."

"Then I'm glad I kept my mouth shut." We both chuckled, then she got her arm off me, and we went into silence.

A short bit later, Rachel said out loud, "I hope I get to meet some cute guys there."

I knew she was talking about meeting guys at the party, and I pretty much didn't say anything about that, since I didn't really care. But Andy spoke up, "RIGHT." He gazed at her with a wide smirk, "What about me?"

Rachel's eyes rolled at the question, "You're not a guy, Andy. You're a friend."

He didn't look disappointed by her answer. Andy only looked back ahead and said two words, "No comment." Then he told her as the three of us turned to walk on another street, "Rach, I feel like a fool going with you to this party."

Rachel huffed, "I didn't ask you to come along, you offered."

"Yeah, cause I do want to look after you."

She looked right at him while we still had our pace, "Look Andy, we already been through this. Just stay with me and Matt and my lady friends, don't talk to the guy who hosts it, and you're good."

Andy let out a barely audible sigh, "I'm betting it's going to get bad."

Her eyes shot up as she was shaking her head at his words, "Oh, stop it."

I frowned at their conversation, "What's going on?"

Rachel casted her gaze to me, explained, "Andy has a problem with the guy hosting the party. Let's just say that guy's a high-school dropout and a bit of a womanizer."

Andy added with an angry look, "Yeah, not to mention he picks on guys who think they are in his way. Even to some when they're actually not."

I nodded a bit as I was getting the idea, "And let me guess...He picks on you, and you're kinda afraid he'll come onto Rachel and seduce her."

Andy replied, looking past her at me, "He sure does! He always picks on me the most since I'm just a geek to him." Then he put a hand to his chest, clarifying, "But I'm not, just making that clear."

Rachel admitted with a angry face of her own, "He did try to fuck me before, to be honest. That dick." Then she waved her hand in a adamant stance, "But I got him away from me and told him not do that again."

Andy looked down, remarked worriedly, "Probably will tonight

Rachel groaned, rolling her eyes to him, "And I told YOU that I'm going to be with my friends there."

He raised his head to warn her, "He's got friends too, you know."

"I know." She held up her head, shut her eyes and spoke the honest truth, "And what else I know is if Vinnie is planning to have his friends kidnap me and take me to his room, then me and my gals will kick all of them in the nuts." She opened them up, "That simple. And other than that, Matt will protect me too." She glanced to me, "Right?"

I stared back at her eyes for a moment, before I quickly replied with a nod, "Yeah, right." Geez...Never thought I was going to be a bodyguard to her tonight. Eh...I guess I can try, for her safety of course.

My mother's face popped out of nowhere in my head. After all...I know what protecting someone is like.

Andy shrugged, bringing his gaze straight, "Whatever you say."

Rachel then said, "And by the way, the jerk's name is Vinnie Taylor."

I glanced down as we walked on, "I'll remember that." We went quiet after that, and I was putting that name within my memory. Vinnie Taylor...Sounds like he's both a bully and a pig. I hate when some people are like that. What mother raised that jerkoff?

Minutes later, the three of us finally saw the house we were going to. Lights were on, and from several feet I can hear loud music being played from the inside. I made a frown as me and my friends got closer to that house. Is it really that loud? I can hear it from out here! No wonder mom hates house parties. Shit, no wonder some people call the cops to make a noise complaint.

And I'm surprised no one did yet!

Me, Rachel and Andy stepped forth near the front door, and Rach raised her hand, knocking on it. Surprisingly, since I was worried no one wouldn't hear, somebody actually heard the knocking and opened the door, the music a bit more louder than before since the sound wasn't being kept inside the place. The bouncer I believe, who was young, had buzzed blonde hair, and showed huge muscles on his arms since the shirt he's wearing was short-sleeved, asked, "What's up?"

Rachel put on a smile along with me and Andy, "We're here to jam, what else?"

Andy nodded in agreement, although he still appeared nervous about going in there, "Yeah. So..." He tried to step pass the bouncer, "I guess we'll go in." But the huge guy shoved him back out, almost having him fall down on his back. The action gave me and Rachel shocked faces. What? Andy glared after he steadied himself, "Hey! What was that for?"

The bouncer replied with daggers from his eyes pointing straight at him, "You're Andy Hickey."

I wrinkled my brow, "He is, so what?"

The blonde bouncer pulled something out from his back pocket, and showed us a photo that appeared to be Andy in it, "He's not supposed to be here." He pulled it back and explained some more, "I was ordered by Vinnie to not allow this geek inside." Then he told Andy off, "Beat it."

Andy tried to protest, sounding angry, "What? Come on! That's not fair!"

I helped out, "He's right, it isn't fair."

But the bouncer did not budge, "Sorry but I don't give a shit. Now tell him to beat it, and I'll let you two in."

Rachel formed a glare on her face, and she shook her head, "NO."

I did the same, only telling him, "Screw that. We're not just gonna abandon him. He's our friend."

The huge guy said, "Then I'm not letting you two guys in here also. Friends of Andy Hickey and those who stick up for him don't allow here either."

"Are you kidding me?" Rachel snapped, "Listen retard, I put on a whole lot of makeup for my pretty self and you're ruining it by pissing me off."

The bouncer retorted, "Are you too deaf already by the loud music to even understand what the fuck I told you? Ditch the geek, say you aren't his friend and you'll come in. Otherwise, get lost."

Andy argued, "I'm not a geek."

I protested, "You can't treat somebody like that!"

The blonde man show offed his smirk, "I'm the bouncer here. I'm paid to do what I am told."

Rachel crossed her arms angrily, "Vinnie paid you with what? One blowjob before the party and another after?" Andy snickered, and I almost laughed from her statement.

The guy at the door replied, "No, five hundred dollars."

I joined in on that part of the conversation with that glare on my face still, "Wow, that much? Gee, wonder where he got that kind of money. Stole it from poor guys he picked on, I bet."

The bouncer pointed a demanding finger, and brought it close to my face, "Hey, you better watch your fucking mouth about my friend. Or you'll be hearing from him."

I swiped that hand of his away, "And you better tell that douchebag to watch how he picks on MY friend. Cause I don't like piece of shit assholes who think they're better than everyone else."

Andy looked very astonished by my stance.

The bouncer seemed furious, but I can tell he kept it together by just crossing his arms. He factly stated, "First off, he doesn't think he's better than me. Me and him treat each other as equals."

At each corner of her lips, Rachel made a tiny smirk, "Equals? That proves my theory. You guys are giving each other blowjobs behind people's backs."

His face turned red from anger since he seemed very offended by her statement. But he didn't yell, only speaking with stern in his voice, "AND SECOND, after what you both said about him, you're definitely banned."

I did have an idea come to me, and I made a tiny hint of a smile. I warned him, "Just a warning to you and your 'equal', you're gonna be sorry for not letting us in."

The bouncer didn't faze, he just kept up that tough guy crap, "YOU are going to be sorry if you don't shut up and fuck off."

I knew he was gonna say that. I shrugged. Well...He's going to be sorry VERY soon.

"And since you're already here and haven't fucked off yet, I guess I can do you a small favor." The tough guy's hand waved outside the door, towards a spot on the grassy yard, "Somebody took a leak at that corner earlier, so that'll be good enough of a drink for you losers. Help yourself."

Rachel tried again to get us in, "Come on! Let us in! My other friends are in there!"

"Then they can have fun without you. Fuck you and goodbye." He slammed the door in our faces, leaving us to stand and stare at the wooden frame.

"Ooooohh." Rachel groaned in a pissed off manner. She jerked away from the door and began to walk off down the sidewalk. Me and Andy went after her and caught up, each of us walked at each side of her form. She grumbled as she walked in the middle, "What a prick."

Andy agreed, "Prick is right. Thanks for looking out for me."

I said, "It's no problem. You didn't deserve that."

Andy giggled, complimenting with both his hands motioned at me, "And I certainly know YOU'RE my hero. God, the way you talked about Vinnie showed you have big gonads!"

I let out a small laugh, "Well, I don't like guys who treat people that way. It's obnoxious."

Rachel stopped in her tracks and so did we, watching her. She gazed up to the starry sky, a depressed look on her eyes, "Sure we stood up for our friend...But it costed our entry to another best party in town. This was supposed to be my fifth house party this year...This never happened to me before."

I shrugged my hands, "Hey, going in there wasn't worth it. Besides, knowing how much the host is a dick, I probably wouldn't like being in there."

Rachel whined when she brought her eyes off the sky and onto me, "But I hardly get to have this kind of fun!" She dipped her gaze to the concrete, sighing, "And now I can't tonight."

I made a devious looking grin, "You think you won't have ANY fun?"

Rach glanced to me, "Yes." Then she wrinkled her brow upon seeing me smiling like that, "What are you smiling about?"

Andy asked, confused as she was, "Do you have some sort of plan or something?"

"I do." My thumb pointed over my shoulder back at that house, "Remember I told that dipshit bouncer that he and his equal are gonna be sorry for not letting us in there?"

They both replied at the same time, "Yes?"

"Well...They're going to be....Right now." I reached into my pocket and pulled my cellphone out. I said as I was dialing a CERTAIN number, "They screw us, we screw them." I pressed send and held the device near my ear.

The voice at the other end answered, "911, what is your emergency?"

I replied, "Yeah, hi, I don't really have an emergency." I turned myself around, seeing the house party in view, "But I got a noise complaint for you guys. There's a house party going on in my neighborhood, like not very far from my house. I can hear their music, it's so loud and I can't get any sleep. Could you please send someone and take care of it?"

"Of course, sir. Where's the house party at?"

"At Fall Creek." I tried to find a street sign and soon found one. Then I squinted my eyes so I could clearly read it, "On Primrose Road, um..." I shot a glance at the house having the party, and found the mailbox. I read the adress on it, "413 Primorose Road. Did you get all that?"

"Yes I have, sir. I'll send someone right away. May I ask who's calling?"

But I didn't reply, only hanging up the call. Well, I wasn't the partying type anyways. That's for not letting us in there...You bastards. I turned to my friends seeing they had smiled happily. They figured who I was calling. Andy commented, "You sly dog....I didn't think of that."

I giggled, "Well, my mother's patrolling on nightshift right now, so that'll give her something to do. She'll be shutting down that party knowing her."

"Now I'm having fun." The girl in front of me laughed, "This may not be partying, but this is a little better."

"I think so too." I ushered them with my hands, "Now let's get far away from here." They both nodded and all three of us sprinted for our very lives far off away from that house. Finally after running for several blocks, we were huffing and puffing. I was just bent over with hands on my knees, while both Andy and Rach sat down on the edge of the sidewalk. I looked behind me, seeing flashing red and blue lights of a cop car from a far distance. I smiled in triumph. Yes! I hope that's mother and not another officer. Oooo, this is feeling great.

I peered to my friends now, seeing Rachel standing back up on her feet, "Phew...Never ran like this except track."

I giggled at her statement, and stated mine, "I hardly did before I moved here." I finally stood upright, got my breath back.

Andy looked up, smiling at me in full amusement, "No one's never did anything like this to Vinnie before. That's hardcore."

My hand motioned to them, "Hey, I'm surprised you two didn't think of it before me."

Both of them giggled before Rachel said, "Well we don't need to now, don't we?" Then she embraced me with her arms around my form. My eyes went wide. Wow. She said with her head against my shoulder, "Thank you...I feel better now cause of this." She let me go and pulled herself away, then her eyes looked playful, "By the way, since a cop ruined that party...I don't have any blame towards you." She winked.

My face formed a smile when I giggled deeply, "Thanks."

She sucked in a breath and let it out calmly, "Well, since this is done...I think I had enough of this night." She turned to Andy still sitting around, "C'mon, Andrew. The fun is over. Let's go home."

Andy smirked, "Sure. Give me a sec." He groaned as he got himself up. He looked at me, "Hey, thanks for hanging with us again...Even if it was a short time."

I nodded a bit, "No problem. I like hanging with you. Talk to you later."

"Yeah, later, Matt." He turned and started to walk down the street and head back to Rachel's house.

Rachel asked me as she seemed concerned now, "Hey, um, I was wondering...Do you want me to walk you home?"

I tilted my head.

"It's..." Her eyes looked past me, "It's just that I'm betting it is kinda dark in the woods now, and I remembered there aren't any lights on the roads outside town." She focused back to me, "I was wondering if you want someone to walk with you. You know, so you wouldn't feel scared. I'll go tell Andy that I'll be home later if you want me to come." She smiled with sincerity, "Don't worry. I'll be fine after dropping you off at your house...I'm not afraid of the dark all that much."

I made another smile, shaking it, "No. I'll be alright, I got a flashlight with me. I'll be seeing well in it. Thanks for asking."

"Well...Ok. It was nice seeing you again. Goodnight."

"You too. Night."

Rachel swung herself around, pacing off to where Andy's going. I just stood and watched the two of them heading off for a few moments. Then I went off on my direction for home, first off heading to the edge of town. The stroll across Fall Creek was quiet and peaceful as I had my triumphant smile on my face, proud of myself for doing what I did.

As I can see the edge of town now, my thoughts were on my mom. I imagined her knocking on that front door, with a VERY serious look on her face, and I can see that bouncer looking all freaked out and everything when he answers. Boy, if mother found out that I actually called 911 to stop a house party, she'll be so happy that I did and say it was the proudest thing I've ever done.

She would have a point, cause I did.

I stepped off the side of town, shortly begin strolling on the side of the road close to the woods. I pulled out a small flashlight out of my pants and turned it on, using it like I already did earlier. It certainly helped a whole lot around here, cause Rachel was right. There are no streelights outside town. While still holding my pace, I was kinda worried about something, particularily about mom. Hope she doesn't drive home early and see me walking on the side of the road since I'm back out here now. If she does, I'm busted. She'll probably figure I snuck away from home after she went to work and I went to that damn party I freakin closed down. Curiously, I peered behind me. There were no car headlights coming. Great...She ain't coming.

I put my eyes back ahead, swinging the flashlight back and forth as I was hearing crickets ringing among the dark area. Shortly, I got myself thinking about Cat again. Man...If only she was with us tonight. She'd probably be so proud for what I did for Andy. I let out a breath, feeling guilt in the pit of my stomach. Well...Least I certainly looked out better for Andy than I did for her.

Cat...I hope you're alright.

Then I realized I haven't asked Rachel and Andy where Cat lived. My body twitched from the thought. Crap! I forgot. A long sigh came out. Too late to ask them tonight. I'll try that tomorrow. I know Rachel will go to school, so I'll just go to her house and ask Andy about her. He's bound to be there tomorrow. Yeah...I can do that.

Before one of my feet was about to plant another step, a howl appeared in the night air.

I froze as my eyes went wide a bit. While the howl held on, they along with my flashlight snapped to where it came from, to my left, somewhere in the woods. It sounded like it was far, but I could still hear it. Gosh...I can hear it from right here. The distant sound dissappeared before another came a second later, long as the other one. I frowned my face as I continued to stand and listen. Hey wait a minute...That sounds like...The howling I heard on my first night in the new house...Only it sounds like it's just one thing doing it this time.

So...What I heard before wasn't all in my head? The howling I heard that night was real? Huh...So much for imaginary howling being a possibility. A calming breath sucked through my nostrils, before leaving out of my lips. Don't get scared about it like before, Matt. Remember what mom said...There is nothing to be afraid of. My thought did have a good effect on me. I wasn't scared like the last time. Although I still felt a tiny bit nervous...I could feel that in my legs. But for the most part, I was calm.

When another howl echoed across the forest, I found while listening closely that, other than hearing it was long and weird like the howls I heard before, there was something else about it...A little different than the last time. Other than I remember how kinda scary that howling on my first night around here was, I can also recall the emotion within it...Pride. But this howling right now didn't seem that way to me.

To me this sounded like...Something was...Mourning.

Pitiness formed in my stomach from that tune in the air. Poor thing. Kinda makes me feel bad...Makes me want to do something. I breathed out. But...Don't think there's anything I can do about it.

It finally stopped after three more howls were let out, and the crickets came back as the noise of the night now. I was nodding to myself, turning my body away a bit from the dark woods. Okay...That's enough standing here. Time to get home and go to bed. I went back to walking back home, shining the flashlight in front of me. Well, I hope when I try going to sleep, that howling doesn't make me toss and turn in it again.

*****

The friendly creature lurked in the dark of the woods near Matt's house again, the third time now it has done so. As it trekked slowly along near the edge of the forest, and along the side of the house, it kept its gaze on the old wooden structure. Thoughts about Matt ran through its furred, pointy-eared head. The creature knows well that the car that was parked near the house was gone and some creatures who'd spy on the house would think he isn't home...YET. But it can FEEL that he's home, knowing that it smelled his scent left by him on the ground, a scent that smelled recent. That's how it came to the conclusion that, maybe his mother was the only one who left and he's alone in there at the moment.

A hopeful sigh left its muzzle. Hopefully it'll see him again...It won't sleep well until it does. Trust it, it tried already before it came all the way here.

Speaking of trying, already it tried to find him through the first floor windows on each side of the house, but it didn't catch sight of him. Its only guess is he's in bed now, on the second floor. The creature stopped moving and its legs were a bit wobbly, since it was nervous from a thought it had.

It was thinking that perhaps Matt was still awake...And was thinking about getting more closer to the house and trying to see him through that second floor window.

The idea frightened it, as it remembered the last time it did something like that....The reason it was almost caught. The creature's eyes focused on the back yard. THE DOG. Oh, it feels it doesn't want to do that again, but it also feels it HAS to try. Although conflicted, the images of Matt in its mind forced the thing to move for the back yard, overcoming the fear it had.

Quietly, it moved smoothly to try to not wake the black dog at the doghouse up. Near that yard, it tried to see it from a distance with the help of its black and white vision, but the tall creature didn't find that dog outside its little house, believing it was in that small structure asleep. The creature resumed its quiet pace, heading for the part of the woods so it can see the back of the house.

As it made it to that part of the woods, and after it moved through them a bit, it was thinking about something. About earlier today, after this morning ended....About a VERY serious lecture it'd gotten. It stopped in its tracks, and lowered its head with ears flattened back. The creature found out today that it had been caught hanging with that boy as a human...By its family...Its parent. And the creature had a LONG conversation with its parent. Mostly it didn't like the fact that the creature was hanging with something that was normally human, and told it to stay away from Matt, saying that he's a human and he's evil, just like all humans, and he wouldn't understand them if he knows what they are.

Sure it figures Matt probably would not understand them, since they look like...Monsters. A defiant expression appeared on its face. But it seriously knew that Matt is, in fact, NOT evil. It knows he ain't evil, he's kind and friendly...Just like the creature. And he makes it...Happy. The creature was bringing itself to the edge of the woods, facing to where that second floor window is positioned on the old building. It's not staying away from him. It won't. It doesn't care what its parent says...He's not an evil kid. Besides...He doesn't know what the creature is on the inside, when it's not human, so it's doing good. Just gotta keep this secret and he will never know...

It glanced at the doghouse several feet away, seeing the dog still inside, napping. It shifted its focus back to the house, up at the window. It can't see Matt from where it's standing. Calming air sucked into its nose and went out through the same area. Well, it knows what it's going to do now...Here goes nothing. Then with the fear still pushed back the creature stepped forward outside the trees, into the back yard, trying to not wake the dog as it was bringing itself closer to the house.

But, when it was almost about a foot away from the hiding spot...Something loud snapped....Beneath it. Its eyes went wide, and it quickly shot its gaze down, realizing it stepped on a stick!

Very shortly, one of its ears picked up another sound. A growling kind of sound. Very slowly, it turned its attention to the doghouse...And finds that the stick woke the dog up. The creature sucked in a frightened, compromised breath. Oh no.

The dog came out of the little house, and began barking at it.

*****

I shifted around in the covers, trying to sleep and ignore the annoying sound that's looming about. Tobey's barking. I moaned with a closed mouth with my brow furrowed as I tried to focus on getting some shut eye. But my efforts were in vain because of my damn dog.

I blinked my eyes open, sighing as I pushed myself up from bed. I brought my eyes to my bedroom window, hearing Tobey continue his barking. Then I glanced at the clock, and groaned in frustration. Come on...Been almost half an hour since I got home and there he is barking at something. What is he doing? I shifted off my bed, and went for the window. When I gazed out it, I can barely see the dog out of his doghouse still doing his annoying thing, while facing towards the dark forest. I furrowed my brow. Is he going crazy again? I'm gonna tell him to shut up. I ain't in the mood for this.

I pushed up the window open, and yelled at him, "Hey! Shut up!" Tobey did hear me, I saw him looking back up to see me, but when a moment passed, his head went back towards the trees and he began barking again. I tried again, "Hey!" But he was basically ignoring me now. I sighed, shutting the window. What is he barking at? I don't see anything...Maybe he's just barking at an animal in the woods.

Seriously if he doesn't shut up, I'm gonna come out and swat his ass.

Then an idea popped up in my head. Or, I'll just take him inside and let him sleep by me. I sighed once more and turned myself around, strolling for the door. Won't be the first time since I let him do that. He'll shut up when he's sleeping by me. I was out in the second floor hallway, glancing at the doorway to mother's room. I wonder if mom's home yet. I strode to that room and peeked in there. She wasn't home from work yet. I grumbled, "Hmph." Well, least she wasn't home and hearing all this racket. I turned myself away from her room, going to the staircase. I went down the stairs, taking a step at a time.

I walked into and through the living room after heading down, seeing Brendi curled up on a tiny dog bed on the floor with her ears propped up, listening to my footsteps with her eyes closed. Geez, she isn't even bothered by Tobey like me. How can she sleep through that? A few moments later, I was in the kitchen and went outside after going through the back door. Tobey was still doing his racket as I paced closely to him. I spoke his name, "Tobey." Tobey didn't seem notice I was behind him since he jumped a bit. He twisted his body a bit to see me, whines coming out of his mouth. I asked, "What's with you, boy?" Then I proceeded to take the chain that was attached to his collar off him, "Look, I'm taking you in the house. We're gonna have a sleepover." I gave him a smile when the chain link dropped to the earth, "Been forever since we had one, huh, bo-"

But my black Lab cut the ending of my sentence off when he tried to make a run for the woods. I gasped and grabbed his collar in no time, "Hey! What are you doing?" Tobey barked in response, only not towards me but at the dark trees. I moaned, "Tobey, there's nothing there. Now c'mon." I dragged the still barking dog back to the house with me. He tried to break free of my hold with his own strength, but I held on till we went through the door. I shut it and sighed, "There...Now let's go upstairs, Tobey." But the dog was still becoming a nuisance. Because he stood on his hind feet and looked out the door window, barking some more.

I said with a stern tone, "Tobey." I grabbed his collar again, and again I dragged him, this time across the kitchen, "Let's go." Before we got to the living room, he whined and whined, trying to run back for that door. Brendi apparently heard what I was doing and I can hear HER barking now, since she might have not expected this to happen. I rolled my eyes as I continued to hold onto the dog, "Oh, for the love of-" I hollered at the chihuahua, "Hey, you hush up over there!" And she did. My chest felt some relief after she'd gone quiet for several moments. Thank god she isn't persistent as Tobey! As I still pulled my dog across the floor, I saw Brendi as we were going past her and the living room furniture, watching us while laying around in her little bed still. I can imagine in her curious little mind that she wondered what was going on. Wouldn't blame her, since I sorta was already.

When we finally got to the staircase, Tobey finally seemed to give in and went up the steps with me. We made our way to my bedroom, and after we went inside, I shut the door behind me so he wouldn't get out of here. My dog padded to my bed and jumped onto my mattress, laying on his stomach at the foot of it. I followed after him, laying myself on it on my side. After getting the bed cover on me my eyes rolled to see my dog hasn't focused on me, but at my window, probably thinking about what he thought he heard or saw. I sighed. Tobey barked like that one other night and there wasn't anything out there. Nothing to worry about.

He better get some sleep...Cause I am.

I told the dog with a tiny smile, "Night, Tobey. Don't let what you think you heard or saw affect your nap." I know he heard me, but he did not look at me at all...Only the window. Oh, whatever. I laid my head on the pillow and closed my eyes, ready to try this again.