CHAPTER 4

CHANTELLE DIDN'T KNOW why she was heading south. Call it a need or intuition. It was the one direction that kept the agitation at bay. Stray from her unknown destination and the nausea and discomfort would return. She soon realized that she had no choice but to trust her feelings, just as her mama had told her. It was disconcerting, though, to be on a journey, travelling to some place she didn't know to meet someone she had never met. Worse was the realization that she had no idea how long her journey would be or what she needed to do once she arrived at her destination. Chantelle had trained for years to be a Healer, but going solo on her first calling was overwhelming. 

What if I don't find the person? What if I get lost? Her mind constantly questioned everything that could go wrong. Eventually, she grew tired of torturing herself and turned her attention to her surroundings.

The whimper of a small animal caught her attention. Chantelle could hear its cries, but found it difficult to isolate the origin.

"Here, baby," she called out, turning in circles to try and isolate the direction. When the pitiful sound came again, she decided the owner had to be in a small pile of junk thrown along the side of the road. Walking to the pile, she called out again. "Where are you? I won't hurt you."

A slight movement between two large boxes caught her attention. A pinkish brown nose was attempting to push its way out in her direction. Kneeling down, Chantelle forced her hands between the containers and shoved them aside. Crouched on the ground was a small brown and white dog with sad, golden-brown eyes.

"Oh, poor thing. Are you hurt?" she asked picking the furry bundle up. Giving it a gentle mental probe, she discovered some superficial bruising around the shoulders, and something else. The dog was pregnant. "You're just a puppy... too young to be carrying babies. At least you're not badly hurt. A few notes should make you feel better."

Chantelle hummed a simple tune she had learned early during her singing lessons. The dog stopped wiggling and lay still in her hands.

"So, you like this, huh?" Stroking the dog's neck, she hugged it close to her body and looked around. It was then she realized she was in a dump. That meant the dog had probably been deliberately left there.  "Now what do I do with you? I'm on a calling." The moment she said it, Chantelle knew something was wrong... in a right sort of way. She didn't feel the overwhelming weakness or nausea that had been driving her. Mama Marina was right. It does get better after awhile. Maybe I'll get some rest now, she thought.

Although the dump wasn't an ideal spot to spend the night, it provided Chantelle with everything she needed for warmth and cover. Cardboard was abundant, providing a good cover against the weather, as well as a great insulator against the cold ground. All she needed to do was put together a house small enough to protect her from the elements and big enough for her and the puppy. After searching for an isolated, inconspicuous spot, she gathered as much cardboard as she could and built a shelter. Slipping inside, she pulled the dog close.

"You want to share a sandwich?" she asked, opening her backpack and reaching inside.

"Arrr rah rah!"

"Good. I hate eating alone." Out came a mason bottle of water and a package wrapped in brown paper with a string tied around it. "You'll love this. Mama Marina makes the best sandwiches. Breaking it in quarters, she handed one section to the puppy and saved the rest for herself. "Make sure you don't eat too fast," she advised. Taking a bite of her share, she unscrewed the cap of the mason jar and poured water into the lid. "Here you go. And don't drink too fast either. This is all you'll get until tomorrow.

The dog turned golden-brown eyes on her rescuer and gave her a toothy grin. When Chantelle started chewing her first bite, the puppy placed a paw on her portion and then tore a section off with her teeth. Sitting down on her haunches, she chewed and chewed and chewed... and then swallowed. The look she gave Chantelle almost seemed to ask her if she was satisfied. Chantelle felt obligated to nod her head sheepishly.

"How was I supposed to know you had manners?" she asked seriously. Tilting her head sideways, the dog gave her a toothy grin and then finished her meal. Satiated, she lay down and curled up in a ball, her back pressed against Chantelle's thigh. "Good idea. I'm tired too." Chantelle stretched out on her side and closed her eyes. Within minutes she sound asleep, unaware the puppy had changed position so she was now facing the entrance to the makeshift home. If anything approached them, she would know first and handle the situation. Like her ancestors, she was a survivor... and fearlessly protective.

*  *  *

Snoring? Who's snoring? Chantelle wondered, stretching and yawning. A slight pressure against her leg jogged her memory about the dog.

"Well, little mama," she said, ruffling the soft fur. "Let's eat." Chantelle opened her pack and pulled out an apple, some cheese and two slices of bread wrapped in brown paper. "You get the cheese and a slice of bread and I get an apple and the other slice."

Divvying up the food, she bit the apple. The dog sniffed the cheese and then took a tentative bite. Slowly chewing it, she looked up at Chantelle and wagged her tail.

"So you like that, huh?"

"Rarr rahr roof!"

"Well, that's a good thing. Mama packed a bunch of it... and bread. At least we won't go hungry and you need all the food you can get. Time to go." Chantelle picked up her pack and stood.

Go where? she wondered, looking around. Nothing called to her. The nausea and headache of the previous day were gone. Confused, she looked down at dog, who was staring at her adoringly.

"What do I do?" she asked, feeling lost. "Where do I go?"

As if to answer her question, the dog stood and trotted down the dirt road leading from the dump.

"Hey," Chantelle called out. "Where are you going?"

"Arrr rrahh rah."

"I don't understand dog language."

"Woof!" came the reply.

Throwing up her hands, Chantelle followed. The dog obviously had something in mind. Tail wagging, she pranced down the road, occasionally stopping to sniff the air. It took two hours before Chantelle realized the terrain looked familiar. She was going home.