Natalie's eyes widened at the dog. Not only was it shaking and whining, it was a big dog, too. If memory served her right, it was German Shepherd.
She walked up to the dog, and kneeled in front of it, slowly placing her hand on its back. "You poor thing, what are you doing out here?" Gently carressing its back, the dog raised his head and continued to whine, crying as if to say 'help me! Help me!'
Frowning, Natalie slowly carried the dog in her arms, feeling him snuggle closer to her, his shaking stopping as he nestled. She heaved a sigh of relief when the dog stopped whining.
She continued to walk as she made sure the dog was comfortable and headed to her apartment. Arriving inside and turning the lights on, she took of her shoes and took a large rag from one of the cabinets and placed it on the floor, placing the dog on it.
Natalie watched as the dog slowly opened his eyes. Jerking awake, his eyes widened to see her and stood up and barked. "Arf!"
"Chipper now, are we? Do you like your bed?" She grinned.
The dog continued to bark as if protesting but Natalie couldn't understand his tone. "Arf! Arf! Arf!"
"Do you have an owner, Doggie? Hm?" She reached her hand to him but quickly pulled back when he snarled.
"Okay... not a grateful dog, huh?" She chuckled. "Come on, you were snuggling with me earlier and now you don't want a scratch, hm?" She said her words sweetly and reached out to the dog once again.
The dog kept barking but as her hand reached his chin and started to scratch. His standing tall figure quickly fell as he turned over, enjoying the way she scratched him.
"Aw! Who's a good boy?" She continued to scratch him, rubbing his belling with her other hand and pulling closer. "So cute!" She squeezed and squealed.
"You don't seem to have a name tag." She looked at his neck, noticing the absence of a collar. "Who's the jerk that left you there? Leaving such a cute dog around in the dark." She clicked her tongue.
After rubbing his stomach, Natalie stood up as the dog whined, wanting more of the stomach rubs. "Let me get you some food and water, alright?"
Natalie left the room, heading towards her kitchen. The dog stood on fours and scanned the area. It was a small living room with a three-person couch facing a TV propped on a stand and the door to the side. His ears perked up as he walked towards the door where it had a peephole. It must be the entrance.
He looked around at the kitchen where he could still hear Natalie rummaging for things based on the clanging of dishes. He stared at the door, mist coming out of his body when he suddenly jumped, startled from Natalie placing a bowl of water on the floor.
"What are you doing there? You can't leave. You'll starve out there." The dog's ears drooped as he turned around and walked up to the bowl she placed down. He looked at the canned meat and water, Natalie could swear his ears dropped even lower.
"You don't like it? Sorry, I wasn't really prepared to serve a dog today." She sighed and sat on the floor, leaning onto the wall. Slowly, the dog quietly started drinking the water and a few of the meat. Natalie watched him drink all the water but barely touched the meat.
Taking the water bowl, she stood up. "I'm gonna hope you're not some picky eater and that you're just hungry." She shook her head and went to the kitchen to refill his water bowl.
Natalie went to the bathroom and shut the door. The dog quickly walked over to the door of the entrance. Turning, he looked at the bathroom door and his ear dropped as he glanced back at the entrance. He slowly walked over the rag Natalie set out and nestled himself there, closing his eyes to take a nap.
He jolted awake hearing the bathroom door open as Natalie walked out in a towel wrapped around her. She stretched her arms and back. "It's getting late. I'll go get some sleep." She told the dog who was looking away at her. She giggled. What a respectful dog, she thought.
After closing most of the lights in her apartment, she headed to her bedroom and entered, closing the door behind her.
The dog jumped out of the rag and quickly ran to the door, mist appearing as he suddenly grew, his fur turning to skin akin to the color of his fur. His dog ears turninh to one of human's, his fur disappearing to a dark hair that sat on top of his head, his snout turning into a nose, paws turned to hands as he stood upright, wearing a suit and a white button down underneath.
He grabbed the door knob and turned it to open the door. His shoulders jerked up when he heard a creak from the floor. Slowly, he turned around. And there she was.
It was Natalie, now dressed in a loose shirt and baggy pajamas. Her eyes widened as her mouth opened, her jaw was almost ready to drop to the floor. She continued to look at him, though the lights were dim she could still recognize that olive skin, ruffled hair, and blue eyes anywhere.
She raised her hand and pointed at him, shaking. "Alexander…?"
His eyes widened and quickly covered his face, raising his hand and shook it to say "no."
"I can explain!" He yelled. But he swung the door open and quickly ran out, not shutting the door as Natalie continued to stare in a state of shock.
What did she just see? Was she dreaming? Was she too drunk? What happened?
She slowly walked up to the door and quietly shut it and locked it. She turned and leaned her back on the door, slowly falling to the floor, her knees to her chest and covered her hands with her mouth.
"Why was he a dog?!"