Book 1 preview
Prologue
In Berdence Forest, Buddy, Ziggy, and Lexie live peacefully with their owners. They don't yet know each other, but when they meet, catastrophe strikes.
Buddy, who likes to be in charge, is a four-month-old Pit Bull, Dachshund, Miniature Pinscher, and Pug (and more) mix that's scared of darkness. He has golden fur and big black eyes that look like he's wearing eyeliner.
Ziggy is a tough pup who is a four-month-old Field Spaniel with a huge heart and is scared of snakes. He has white fur with black stains all over him, like a bunch of little freckles. He's called a Dalmatian, even though he is a one hundred percent Field Spaniel.
The smart one is Lexie, an adorable mini King Charles Spaniel who is four months old and frightened by blood. She is petite and has amber splotches all over her silky white fur. She is four months old.
One day on a walk, they meet up. Something happens, and they find themselves somewhere that isn't home.
One ball. Two nights. Three dogs. What will happen to them?
Chapter 1
Buddy
“Eve! I’m hungry!” I bark. Then I give her the puppy-dog eyes.
“Buddy, calm down. What’s wrong? Are you hungry? Are you in pain? Do you want to play?” Eve asks me, petting my head just the way I like it.
I stretch my ears out to show that I am enjoying it. I looked up at Eve’s soft brown eyes and curly caramel hair. Her loose pink shirt flowed, brushing gently on my neck.
“Why, oh, why do humans have to be so complicated?” I whined softly.
“Oh! You poor puppy!” She exclaims, picking me up and kissing me all over.
I stared hard at her. How did she not get the fact that I am hungry? GROWL! My stomach would show her. It had been growling for 10 minutes.
She puts me down, shocked. “But, but… Your dinner time is… 15 minutes ago!” Her eyes struck her watch, and she didn't move. “Oops. Heh...” Eve says, looking apologetic.
I sit waiting for the familiar clink of my delicious food as it tumbles into my bowl. “Let's hope Eve puts in a bit of extra to say sorry,” I mutter. "She should."
I chow down my food, and when I finish, I look up at her. “Please?” I bark, asking for more food. It's my job to eat.
“Ugh!” Eve groans. “Why do you have to be so cute!” She stomps her feet and clenches her fists. She may be eleven, but like all dog owners, she sometimes acts like she is five.
I wag my tail sadly and whimper. These movements always make Mum give in. I step back and shoot my short floppy ears down so my chocolate eyes look bigger.
She makes her “are you kidding me face” and goes to get more food. "Assis toi," She says in french. "Sit!" She says in English.
She looks around like she is committing a crime (which is because I can only eat half a cup per meal) and pours one-fourth a cup into my bowl. My tail sways loosely as I bite piece after piece. Now, this is a good meal.
“EVE KASTEN!” Angela rushes in, holding a piece of paper. She looks like the young version of Eve with dark hair. My ears hurt, and I stop eating when her high-pitched seven-year-old voice strikes my ears.
Eve rolls her eyes. “Ange, you hurt Buddy's ears. What do you want?” She asks, sitting down and stroking my neck softly.
Ange shoves the piece of paper in Eve's face. Being a dog, I do my job and try to bite it. Eve slides my head away, and I sit down next to her. Ange crosses her arms and sticks out her bottom lip angrily.
“Ange, I told you, I didn't scribble your homework.” Eve hands her back the paper. “Henry probably did when he and Auntie Celine came over.”
Henry was three and was always petting my head hard. At one point, I hid under Mama because I was scared. Plus, he always stole my toys and ruined them.
“Eve.” I moaned. “Do we have to talk about that furball?”
“I know you don’t like Henry, Buds. Do you want to play?” Eve asks me, dangling my squeaky fox above my head.
“Angela! Eve! Time to go to the dog park!” Mama calls
“Will Ziggy and Catalina be there?" Angela asks. “I can't wait to meet Ziggy!”
“Hold on, Ange. How about Mariana?” Eve asks.
“Yes.” Mama says, “They will all be there. Now let's go so we won't keep them waiting.”
I start wagging my tail and head to the small entry of our house. CLING! I hear my leash hit against the collar that sits on my neck. The door opens, and I rush out, pulling Eve.
“Buds! Slow down, boy, I know you’re excited!” Eve pulls my leash back.
The door of the elevator opens, and we go inside. I sit down quietly as I wait for the beep to sound and meet Ziggy for the first time. It will be my first time touching the ground outside.
Chapter 2
Ziggy
I sit at the door waiting for Mommy to come home. She left, and my older sister Mariana is doing homework. Mariana is always doing homework because, as she said, “Sixth grade is so hard! I just started two weeks ago, and I already miss fifth grade.” The best part about her lesson is when she finishes, she comes out of her room and kisses my head or treats me.
“Yes!” I hear Mariana scream joyfully. “I finished! Mariana Bruno is on a roll!” I hear her footsteps running towards me, and she kisses my head. “You hear that Gigs,” My family's nickname for me, “When mom comes home, we are going to the park!”
All of a sudden, the doorknob turns, and I get up. Mommy is home! I wag my tail, but it turns into a whole-body wiggle.
“Hello, wormy dog,” My mom smiles, brushing her hand against my fur. Her blonde hair is pulled neatly into a braid, revealing her bright blue eyes. “Hi, Mari.”
Mariana smiles, “Hey, mom. Can we go to the park now?” She takes the grocery bag to the kitchen. She sure is sturdy for an eleven-year-old girl! I lick her feet as she passes by me.
“Ziggy! Stop it!” She says, laughing. Then, Mari accidentally drops the bag on my paw.
“Ow!” I whimper, holding out my paw so Mommy can look at it. “Am I going to the vet?” I ask nervously. I wish Mommy were still a vet so I didn't have to go to mine.
“Sorry, Zigs!” Mari takes the groceries into the kitchen.
“You’ll be fine, Gigie.” Mommy says, kissing my paw. After helping Mari, she gives me my food. “Vamos papar? Lunch?” Oh, the sweet taste of chicken!
They unload the groceries as I eat and check the time. “We should go now. Eve and Buddy are probably downstairs.” Mommy says. I wag my body again.
“Vamos passear!” Mari called me in portuguese. My whole family is from Brazil, except for me. “Let’s go! Let’s go outside?” She puts the leash on me, and we head out the door. It will be my second time outside in Berdence Forest! I have a house on a mountain, so we spent the summer there.
“Cat is at KOMON. The dog park we are going to is right next to it.” Mommy says. Catalina is my other sister, who is eight years old. She has light brown hair and blue eyes.
We wait for a couple of minutes for the elevator to arrive. When it does, I am scared to step inside, but I do. The doors close, and I know I'm on my way to meet my future best friend.
Chapter 3
Lexie
I can still taste the steak-flavored kibble that I ate minutes ago, yet “I’m hungry!” I wail as Mum sits down on the couch.
“Yes, yes. I know you are cute.” Mum says, patting me twice on my head. She turned back to her phone like all adults. She even talked to it!
“Why won't you feed me again?” I whimper. Whenever I whine, she gives me a treat.
“Lexie. Stop complaining; today you are going outside for the first time. We will be picking Olive and Victor up from KOMON. Let’s go now so you can play a bit in the dog park.” As she says that, she sits down on the couch. “We can go right after I call Athena; we need to figure out how we’re going to plan the 3rd-grade field trip for Ollie.” Olive is my older sister.
I groan inwardly. Whenever Mum calls her friend Athena, she takes hours and hours. “Mum, can’t we go now?” I ask, dreaming of wind flowing through my fur like in the movies.
“Give me a minute. Lexie’s crying again.” Mum says, rolling her eyes.
“I’m not crying!” I woof indigently.
“Lexie wants to go outside, so we might have to hurry up.” Mum tells Athena.
I sit down, licking my paw delicately, and smirk. “Finally.” I woof. Growing bored, I start dancing. I would like to say I did it with such grace I was floating above the ground, but Mum would disagree.
“Lexie! Stop knocking things over!” She screeches as a picture frame coincidentally falls over as I twirl past.
“It’s not my fault, Mum!” I say, barely containing my laugh.
“I have to hang up now,” Mum says, with a tinge of annoyance in her voice. “Uh, sure, I can wait another minute.” Mum says, catching me as I leap past her. Her brown hair sways on my snout, making me sneeze.
“Yay!” I squeal, wriggling out of her grasp. “This is such a fun game!” Mum picks up a math book and tosses it towards me. I jump in midair and catch it at once. “Oh! I’ve already read this one, Mum.” I woof reading the title, yes I can read and do mathematics. “Can we go now?” I ask.
“Bye, Athena!” Mum says, picking up a beautiful pink harness and a matching leash goes very well with my silky fur.
Mum puts on the harness as I wince; I just got a shot at the vet. Finally, she puts on the leash and guides me outside for the first time.
this gonna be epic
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