The Traveler

The exit is right ahead of them when the yipping starts. High pitched, he is sure the sound will carry. As it is, Lilly has already dropped to a knee and with the dog out of the sling, hears her say, “Go on now.”

Doing its best to accommodate its mending leg, with its nose to the ground in seeking out that perfect spot, once relieved, returns to where Lilly scoops him up.

“He is quite fond of you.”

“He trusts me is all.”

“You should give him a name.”

“Yeah, got any in mind?”

“Based on the markings, and with its coveted eyes alongside its fierce determination of chewing through its own skin and bone, wolf is a worthy name.”

“Dang, when you put it like that, wolf sounds bad a*s. Let’s call him that from now on, okay?”

“From now on.”

“Wolf. I like it.”

“Thought you would.”

Onward they go in taking on the slight rise and after reaching the end of it, having only one way to go, the first building they see is a fire station that has its bay doors wide open. Tucked inside the structure, and looking dusty upon its flat tires, is a lone pumper sitting alongside a first response vehicle sharing the same fate. Nothing to see here, the two move on to where they are walking by an apartment complex whose playground is void of laughter.

Lilly slows then, her hand petting Wolf’s head all the while his patience is wearing thin as he waits for her to get over checking out what used to be. Be nice, comes Izzo’s voice that has him taking a step back in giving Lilly time.