Requiem For a Wolf

Chapter Eleven: The Lady Rose

The Pine trees that flanked the home wore a mantle of white; the moon shown on each to give a bluish tinge that gave the appearance of nature's Christmas trees.

Tom stepped off the porch, making his way slowly and carefully down the steps; only when the snow crunched under his boots did Rose turn and disappear back into the undergrowth.

"let's go inside, guess I know where the chicken went," he smiled, holding the door for Betty. He stomped the accumulated snow from his boots and followed. Without saying anything, Betty went into the kitchen, returning with hot cider.

Shaggy went to Scooby to check on him; finding him sleeping comfortably, he joined Velma on the sofa, slipping his arm around her shoulder. Every one else selected seats, too keyed up to think of bed and sleep.

"I guess I should tell you the story," Tom began, accepting a cup of cider from Betty, "It was two years ago. I was having a pipe after dinner as usual. I needed to check on the dogs before retiring, we no longer keep dogs, you'll understand why. I went out to the kennels, put out fresh food and water. Guess I was in a hurry, absent minded or something, I'm sure to this day that I closed the gate.

"Any way, the next morning the gate was swinging in the breeze and one dog was missing. We asked around but no one had seen or heard anything." Here Tom's voice shook but he continued. "I hoped she would come home but eventually I gave up. I lost interest and when Duke and Duchess passed on from old age, I sold all the dogs, tore down the kennels. Betty and I opened this bed and breakfast."

If Tom planned to continue, he didn't have the chance as a scratching at the door was heard. Six pair of eyes looked at the door but it was Betty who motioned to Tom to remain sitting, going to the door.

Betty opened the door, Rose's body shook from fear but Scar was inside. With eyes wide, looking for any threat she took several steps inside this man-den. Not one of the men (or women) made a threatening move and seeing Scar laying in front of a warm fire, she started toward him.

"May I present The Lady Rose." Betty said. Rose, hearing her name, stopped, looking back at the woman that spoke, then continued her journey to lay beside Scar, placing her muzzle across his neck. Her eyes continued to flick from one to the other nervously.

"How you doing, Scar?" She could feel the steady beating of his heartbeat but he didn't respond. "Scar?"

"Welcome home, Rose," one eye came half way open, "I still...want to hear the last part...of your story. What really happened that day?"

She didn't want to tell because to tell would mean she would have to remember, relive that day! Face the fact that it was her fault. Now the quivering wasn't completely from being in this man-den. If it was any dog or wolf that asked, she would refuse but this was no ordinary dog. This was Scar, Scar who had fought for her life as well as his own. This was her Scar, if she was honest with her heart.

"I told you...we were hunting...came too far out of our usual range. I thought I saw something in a bush and went to investigate. The man with the gun heard me; I saw him, tried to move away but to move would create more noise, I was trapped as if I'd stepped into one of the man traps. My only chance was to stay still but a rabbit broke cover and ran in front of me. The man raised his gun and fired at the rabbit.

"Blaze knocked me out of the way, taking the bullet that would have hit me. He fell head first in the snow, dead at my paws. The rabbit ran away, the hunter was either lazy or maybe he thought he'd missed, either way he didn't investigate. I slipped away with the rabbit covering my movement."

"Shaggy, remember me saying I thought Scooby had a guardian angel? I think Lady Rose is that angel. She's beautiful."

"That's Velma," Scooby/Scar said, "she has just lost an aunt she loved very much. I think you two are feeling the same thing. Go to her, I think you two can help each other."

"One thing, Scar," Rose nipped his ear, "I want to hear more about that snow monster."

"When I'm feeling better, and I have a lot of stories."

"Scar...I..." but Scar had slipped back into a restful sleep.

It was probably the hardest thing Rose had done, harder than entering this man-den, harder than telling the last of the story of Blaze; she forced herself because it was something her Scar wanted her to do. She slipped to where Velma was sitting, resting her muzzle in Velma's lap, looking up into her eyes.

"I do have one question," Velma looked toward Tom, "why did you want me on Hemlock?" subconsciously her hand dropped to rub behind Rose's ear.

"Purely because Dr. Joe and I go back a long way," Tom laughed, "He said he wanted you to be on the intermediate slopes."

"So I was right!" Daphne exclaimed, "Dr Joe canceled his reservation for us!"

"Not at all, Daphne, He and his wife will be up in a few weeks. The family that had the reservation had to cancel because of a minor emergency." Turning to Velma, he said, "looks like she likes you," pointing at Rose. "You know, we don't have room for a dog that size with a bed and breakfast, would you consider taking her?"

"Oh, she's beautiful but I couldn't," she looked at Shaggy.

"I've got Scooby. If you want her...it's your decision." 'Thanks for the help' Velma thought.

"I'll have to think about it," she hedged.

It was early Christmas morning and every one suddenly felt the effects of a full day. Scooby was moved into Shaggy and Velma's room. Rose remained in the front room by the fire. 'Scar was right, this is better than sleeping in the snow' Rose thought.

---------Xxxxxx

Every one had drifted off to sleep. The howling of wolves woke Scooby from his slumber. The rest had done him a world of good; he was feeling much better and the medication wasn't making him feel sleepy any more. He moved over to the window, looking out at a world covered with snow. He felt Rose push the door open, sliding into the room to sit beside him.

She whimpered in fear at what Scooby had been watching. A wolf; big, muscular and a distinct white blaze from nose to forehead, stood in the yard. The wolf looked at each then turned to lope off into the forest. The snow was left undisturbed; no tracks disturbed the smooth blanket of white.

"Blaze?" Rose half whispered.

"Blaze knows you're home, he can rest now. So can you...Hey! Want to have some fun?"

"Knowing you, just what 'fun' are you talking about?"

"Follow me." Scooby cocked an ear, listening to the deep breathing of Shaggy and Velma as they slept wrapped in each others arms.

"one, two, three! Jump!" Scooby jumped on the bed, followed by Rose. Scooby started licking Shaggy's face; Rose wasn't about to do that!

"Wha...What!" Shaggy mumbled, roused from sleep in such a manner.

Velma had to fumble with finding her glasses before exclaiming, "Scooby? Rose? What's the idea?" Velma found herself looking into the most beautiful brown eyes she'd ever seen, (not counting Shaggy's). She wrapped Rose in a big bear hug, which scared Rose; this was the threat she had been weary of! She tried to back away, tried to wiggle out of the grasp that was holding her. She began to calm down when she listened to the words being whispered in her ear.

"Welcome home, my Lady Rose! Welcome home, My Lady Rose"

When Rose was calm, Velma reached to take Shaggy's hand, "What are going to do with two dogs?"

"Buy a bigger house?"

"Yeah, I guess so, one with a nursery."

"You're not..." a pleasantly surprised Shaggy stammered.

"No, not yet but the day is just starting...Merry Christmas Shaggy."

"Merry Christmas, Vel."

Two dogs spent the rest of the morning out in the front room in front of a very warm and comfortable fire.

The End?

A/N : If you would like to have another Scooby and Rose story please add your request with your review.

Note on Chapter 9: There is a little mystery for you. Velma says she's going shopping alone, while Shaggy says she never shops alone. Velma said she wasn't going skiing that day and we know she doesn't drive the van. So the mystery is: who did Velma go shopping with?

Note on wolf behavior: I have Rory splitting the pack, half herding their prey while the other half waits. This is consistent with wolf behavior. The half that waits is rested while their prey will be spent and an easier kill.

Lastly, on Rose. Would she go into the man-den as she calls the house. In time, but probably not as soon as in the story. Dogs have memories much like their human counterparts, long term and short term. It is believed by experts studying such things, that dogs long term memories can be as long as ten years. Rose, on hearing her name may have made the connection plus love can make us do unusual things...Right?