Peace at Night

[smartie]

The sky was darkening; night was falling, and the moon was peering shyly over the arc of the hill on the horizon. The evening was cool, but not cold, and not too warm. It was just right. Sitting on the steps of her porch, Ainsley observed the night. Her favo urite time of the day..

Today, she had went a long walk around the Village. Ainsley had enjoyed that walk. She had went on a path that she normally took. She enjoyed the scenery, and always stopped to view the mysterious, dark forest that was to one side of Hallow. The trees that lined it were dark, and now and again, she thought she saw a black creature skim the line.

Her head was cupped in her hands, and her elbows on her knees. Her feet tapped the ground, and she hummed a sweet tune. No one would hear her anyway, because it was a quiet soft sound. No other human was out at the moment, it seemed, because Hallow was awfully, awfully quiet. Staring around the street, she wondered if she would see anyone else.

" Doubt anyone will be out. " she figured, and heaved a big sigh. Maybe one of the local dogs would appear to keep her company. Hopefully, Wesley might come. Ainsley liked Wesley, because he was so fluffy around the head, and she liked to pat his head. Although, she had only came across him once or twice, and she doubted he'd remember.

[Wesley]

Night had fallen, but Wesley wasn't tremendously deterred. For the most part, Wes enjoyed the night more because it was quieter. When the hub-ub was removed Wes thought he could hear the gentle beating of all the villagers' hearts as they unified themselves before, one by one, dropping off into slumber. How peaceful the night was in the village.

Wes trotted along on a familiar fence line which, despite its rickety nature and thin planks of wood, was the easiest path Wesley followed on a regular basis. After all, there was a far smaller risk of encountering someone who would knock you out of the way when trotting along a fence. Cats always jumped off if they were on and squirrels wouldn't dare scamper along the same fence as a dog. In a sense, this was a dog fence.

A gentle hum permeated the air causing Wesley to cease his brisk gait home. It would seem that he was not the only one enjoying the cool and peaceful ambience of the night. Who else was it? Wes jumped from the gate and followed a minor road towards one of the human homes where he heard the gentle vibrating of human vocals. A woman's voice to be more specific. Wes's ears were perked as he followed a short path to the porch where the woman was. The hound paused and stared patiently towards her; not really seeing, but seeing her all the same by the tune she permitted to escape her lips.

"Why are you humming good woman." He asked, recognizing a certain tone to the lady's voice. Wes wished he could communicate with her, but content himself with standing before her with his tail a-wag. He had no doubt she would manage to understand.

[smartie]

Ceasing to tap her feet, Ainsley diverted her gaze from the ground to the sky, where she examined the stars as they twinkled above. The moon was still rising, and now the crickets were out, conducting its gentle ascent. Although she had lived in the village for a long time, she knew not another particularly well. No one had tried to reach out to her, and she did not do well in crowds of those she did not know. So, she avoided them, seeming content in being a 'loner'. But no one is satisfied when they are a loner. They always seek companionship of some sort.

Just as Ainsley turned her attention back to her garden pathway ( which was not particularly interesting ), she heard a noise. That noise, was of an animal, and she recognised it immediately to be that of a dog. Stretching out her hands and legs to relieve her muscles of the cramping from sitting so long, she watched as the brown figure came to view and turned to look at her. Wesley, it was. Her favourite canine out of all those in Hallow. Smiling, she reached out with her fingers spread like a fan. As the dog approached her, and spoke to her in a language she could not understand, she patted his head.

His presence made her feel a lot happier, and that need for companionship was fulfilled if only for the moment. Ruffling his ears, she moved forward onto her knees and sat before him. The earth was dry, and dust twirled into the air as she rested on the side of her slender legs. Cupping her hands around the side of his head, she stroked his cheeks. His fur was so soft, and clean. Some dogs she had met did not keep themselves tidy, which repelled her from storking their coats.

" Hello Wesley... " her voice was kind, gentle with a tone of happiness. Ainsley had not understood his words, like he may have hoped. She never wondered what it would be like to understand him. And although Wesley wished he could talk to her, such a thought did not come across her mind. In response to the wagging of his tail, she rubbed his head. " Your such a sweet dog. "

[Wesley]

As Ainsely did, so Wesley heard the many voices of crickets chirping to the dark night with the ascension of the moon. A pleasant orb that Wesley had never glimpsed but in his mind's eye thinking it was great like a flower because it never cast a harsh light. It must petal out. Echo had given him flowers and spoken of the moon and stars, but Wesley could still only think of them as sounds and distant things which were cold like snow, but refreshing also and necessary. However, Wes could not think very long about the intangible and inconceivable moon and stars; Ainsely was petting him.

The beat of his tail quickened with the gentle strokes and caresses she afforded his head and back. Even if Wesley would never belong to a human permanently, the kind ones were enjoyable company despite their strange verbiage which Wesley only understood snippets of. He knew when a human wanted him to leave or offered him food; Wes knew when they were sad or addressing him; he also knew when they praised him or if they were merely using the tones implying happiness. He was not such a pup he could not tell the difference between actual sincere affection and only the sounds of it; that's why he hadn't been caught by those who disliked a dog's company.

Ainsley was speaking to him now and was closer to his side. Wesley didn't resist her presence, but reveled in the dear and loving motions he felt through his fur. Somehow, a hind paw scratching the back of his neck didn't feel quite as refreshing as human fingers running through his thick coat. Wes felt extremely spoiled.

"You are kind, too." He said, following with a gentle whine as he placed his head gently in her hands and lap, easing himself to lie beside her. Perhaps she would tell him of her day or why she sat on the porch alone. Had she no mate, no kin or others to tend to? Where was her pack? Why was she one of the night when so many people hid from it?

[smartie]

A smile was upon her face, but she knew that Wesley could not see this. When the news of his disability came to her, she felt sorry for the poor dog, but soon realised that she should not be. Wesley got about his every day business without his eye sight with senses that seemed somewhat enhanced from the lack of this one.

He could cross the often busy roads without being trampled upon by the carriage pulling horses, he could travel around the village without a guide- amazing, she thought, and rubbed his neck gently.

Quietly, she began to hum again, a soft sound. As the dog slithered down to his side to lie at her knees her song became a little louder so he could hear, if he had not been able to before. He looked so sweet, and he was, and she appreciated his company.

It almost brought tears to her eyes, as she thought of how lonely she was. Deprived was she, of human contact really. No one wanted to know her. In fact, she bet no one knew who she was. Except Wesley of course, and she leaned down and hugged him without disturbing his position.

" You are the only friend I have, you know? No one here seems to want to know me. It's like, everyone is trying to avoid me... "

Mid way through her gentle song she spoke quietly, and caressed the kind dogs floppy ears. He really was her only friend. At least, he was a kind dog, and not some rouge which attacked all in its path.

" I get up every morning and wonder what is the point y'know? I haven't really got any reason to get up. " Her smile faded from her face. Sighing, she rested her hand on the back of his head and looked up to the sky. So peaceful. So quiet. Just the way she liked it, or really, just what she was used to.

[Wesley]

Wesley nestled his head in the folds of Ainsley's clothes, wiggling down deeper into his relaxed position in the hopes of more gentle caresses. When a human was particular inclined to stroke and pat, Wes would not decline the pleasure of being rubbed where one couldn't reach a scratch except if one rolled around in mud or brushed up against bushes and branches. Human hands were greatly preferred, and Ainsely seemed to take an extra effort to be kind even in her scratching.

"You are so good to me, yet I know hardly anything about you. All I know is, despite the pleasant sound of your humming, you are sad. Do I make you sad good lady?" Wes asked, turning his head up towards her face he could not see. What was it that she was saying to him? All Wesley understood was the music of the night had dwindled and now this woman was a distant being. Part of her concealed in her thoughts was dreadfully sad and terribly burdened. Naturally, Wes could not understand why even if he wished he could.

"Do you miss your family? What troubles you woman of the village? You sit contented with my head in your lap, yet resist the happiness of two companions. I do not hold it against you, for you are young and alone. No one who still holds youth in their step should be alone if not of their own choice. You did not choose to be this way did you?" Wesley felt stupid with his whines and queries when he knew that Ainsely couldn't understand. Perhaps she'll understand this. He gave off a particular displeased whine and wagged his tail a few times on the little path shoving his head into her hands while his blind eyes gazed up towards her own eyes. He was there for her even if it was a small consolation. Wes wanted her to know that.

[smartie]

Ainsley could not ignore his whining, and she sighed sadly, turning to look into his glazed eyes. What was he trying to say? His wagging tail made her smile slightly, and she leaned down and kissed his fluffy head, then stroked his large ears gently. It was consolation to see him stay at her lap, instead of getting up, bored, and walking off. Did he understand her sadness? What was he trying to say with the sad noises that he made? Although she did not understand, but she could feel that he wanted to know the cause for her sadness.

" I wish things were different. " she spoke quietly. " Although I do not regret leaving my mothers house. It is better here, than with her. At least... at least no one can hurt me... " a tear rolled down her cheek as she watched the humble dog. " At least I am no longer walking on egg shellls... flinching every time I hear the noise of my mother... "

Ainsley was beginning to feel a little better now as she spoke. She had told no one back in her home place, that she used to be beaten by her mother every day.

" Everything I done seemed to anger her, and I was slapped, punched, kicked for the littlest things. Everything had to be perfect... Anything out of place set off my seemingly clean freak parent. I was so scared that I decided to run away... Stowed away on a boat and ended up here. And I wish I knew people here. I really do wish I had a human friend here... "

A strange feeling tugged inside of her. Ainsley missed her mother, but no the beatings. She was pleasant sometimes, and when her parent was nice to her, she felt happy, however weary. Why was she being so nice was the question that had always lingered in the girls mind. Did her mother ever feel guilty, was she feeling guilty now? Or was she happy that she was gone? Placing a hand on the dogs back she stroked him again.

" Thank you Wesley. For listening to me... "

[Wesley]

Wesley could sense her distress and rolled slightly on to his side to press his head into her abdomen and try to unify himself with her. Ainsely seemed like she was in so much pain and it only caused Wesley to become a little distressed himself. All the things she said were foreign to her, yet the tones and vibrations of her voice were a language anyone understood. Ainsley was hurt and lonely and thinking of something that pained her that was difficult to share. She had chosen Wesley to speak with and he was deeply grateful. Although Wesley was not part of the human pack, he wanted there to be friendly ties between the two. That meant socializing with Ainsley, but this was no business call. He simply wanted to comfort her.

A long time since he arrived, he had stopped considering the fact that she was hardly a known person to Wesley and simply was there because Ainsley was a friend. Perhaps, someday, he would understand the words she said, at least, more so. He didn't want all her hurt to be pent up inside.

In a sense, as alpha, Wesley had become the doctor of troubles. Which, of course, he didn't mind but with every newcomer, it seemed, one had a story they needed to share and an understanding ear. Not to mention, they needn't feel embarrassed because Wesley couldn't see them cry or the displeasure on their face. He did hear the crying of their heart and the slightest quiver in their voice, but that was understandable. Wesley just wanted to help.

Another sighing whine escaped his closed lips and out his nose as he begged Ainsley to feel the comfort he could offer. He appreciated her tenderness of strokes and pats, but Wes just wanted to be a help. Ainsley was too old to tell her troubles and triumphs to inanimate creatures like dolls and puppets; she had upgraded t a dog and one who almost understood.