:::Chapter 5:::

Sumo knew today was going to be a good day. His kibble and water bowls were filled. The light box showed where humans were skating around a frozen lake with sticks while others cheered on, his and his human's favorite thing to watch. The house was nice and warm as he snoozed on the carpeted floor.

The perfect day.

By mid afternoon he was in the kitchen finishing off the remainders in his food bowl when the front door opened. Kibbs and Bits forgotten, the Saint Bernard padded over to find the newest addition to his pack bringing in bags that were packed with human food. The smells coming from these bags were different than the ones his master would bring home though. While Master would have some that smelled of meat and glass bottles and sugary sweets, this one carried brown bags that smelled mostly of plants and blue packets.

"Hello, Sumo," the man greeted as he put away his load. "I have a treat for you and the Lieutenant this evening, but you'll have to wait."

The canine tilted his head. Treat? That word always got his attention. He nudged the leg in front of him. Can I get it now?

He didn't get much back in return except a chuckle and an ear scratch. But that's alright. He could wait.

So instead of pestering the strange smelling human, he laid himself across the living room floor again. Though this time he was where he could watch as the man began to gather some of the food together on the counter, and he thought about a time before funny smells.

Sumo remembered it well when his master came home one day without his mate, but with a pup in a basket. He remembered his human calling him "Cole" and smiling down at him while he cried. He remembered the boy who would nuzzle into his fur while they laid together before falling asleep. The one whose face he would clean after he was fed. Who his master would place on his back for a ride around the house. Who Sumo had guarded as he slept in his tiny bed. He remembered the human pup that he treated as his own.

The aged dog remembered that day. The day his beloved pup didn't come home.

The canine had been eating when they left. He didn't think much of it when they didn't return a few hours later. Master and Cole had gone on long trips before, but when an entire day passed Sumo feared the worst. He'd stayed at the door, whining and barking for someone to hear and let him out so he could find his humans.

It was the third day when a female, Julie, came through the door. Sumo had tried to bolt past her, but she managed to grab his collar and keep him inside. The woman had filled his bowls and left without a word.

Two more days passed before Master came stumbling back home, no Cole in sight. He tried to show his owner that the pup was missing, barking at him before running into the pup's room and returning with another yip. The man only yelled and tossed a bottle at him before breaking down into sobs on the kitchen floor.

Some people believe dogs to be dumb beasts, but Sumo knew. He cautiously placed his heavy head in the man's lap with a whine and they grieved their loss together.

After that night his human began acting strangely. There would be days he would come home smelling of glass bottles and the bitter liquid they held while in tears or shouting and snarling. Other days he wouldn't leave his bed, let alone the house.

Sumo still loved his Master through it all. Even when he started to put that metal thunder-maker up against his head, Sumo was still loyal to him. When Master would become so sick from drinking the liquid from those bottles that he would collapse on the ground, Sumo still guarded him. When other humans no longer came to visit, he still remained.

Cole was gone, but Sumo and his owner had each other.

And then he arrived one night through the window. A human with a strange smell and a light on his face.

Sumo could've attacked him. He could've stood over his human and not let anyone near. But he did nothing. This human knew his name, and he didn't sense a threat. So he had let the stranger through and observed as he helped his master before they left together.

After that night, Sumo continued to watch. He saw how his human no longer took out the thunder-maker. How he smiled more often and drank less glass bottle liquid after he brought this "Connor" home to stay. He watched as Master began to smile at the man the way he use to smile at Cole.

"Sumo!"

The beast rose his head from his paws at the call. A warm plate of what looked like bark was set in front of him as his ear was scratched.

Connor smiled down at him as he wagged his tail. "You've been very patient, boy. Go on and have some treats. I read that sweet potatoes are very healthy for dogs, and make good treats when baked."

Treat! Sumo didn't have to be told twice as he dug in with gusto. They didn't taste like the ones Master gave him. Or like bark. But they were warm and sweet and crunchy. Delicious!

The man watched a while in amusement before returning to the other food he had out.

Yes, this was Master's new pup. And while he would never take Cole's place for either of them, Sumo knew Connor would be loved just as much by the both of them.