The Forest of Amber

She couldn't believe her eyes. Her father standing there smiling at her as he held out the puppy that could only be described as a white cloud.         "Wha? Dad is that an actual dog?" She said hesitating not wanting to believe that her dad that hated dogs finally got her a puppy.    "Do you not like it?" Her dad asked, sadness and regret coming off in waves.      "Of course I love it daddy!" Emilla said quickly reassuring her dad that she was overwhelmed with joy. "I just didn't think you'd ever get me a puppy since you hate dogs." Emilla said looking at her dad with a sense of curiosity.     "I don't hate dogs Em, I just think they are messy but I wanted to give you something special since its's your 15th birthday baby." Thomas said smiling at his growing daughter. "You're my everything pumpkin."      Emilla couldn't help but smile and gather her father into a tight hug. "I love you daddy thank you!" She said pressing a small kiss to his cheek. "So what's its name" She said as she looked back at the puppy.     "Well I figured it's your birthday and your puppy so it's your choice Em." Thomas said smiling as he patted her head gently. "Im going to start breakfast while you choose a name." He said as he walked towards the kitchen.     Emilla sat on the floor for a while pondering over a name for the pup, she was fluffy and cute but Emilla could also feel something weird about the pup. The puppy had just sat there starring at her as if it was trying to figure out the girl in front of her. Emilla started listing names out loud to see if the pup would respond to any of them.     "Sam?" The puppy just sat there unmoving.     "Kelly?" Emilla sighed as the dog laid down unfazed by the name.     "Mika?" Once again the puppy didn't respond. Emilla rubbed a hand through her long red hair.          "How about Kara?" Emilla said hopping that the nickname of her deceased mom would make the puppy react. The puppy lifted her head up and Emilla immediately said it again. "Kara?" The puppy barked happily and came over to Emilla and started to lick her face.  "Dad! She's got a name now!" Emilla said as she picked up the hyper puppy and squealed excitedly. Her father just looked at her happily as Emilla rambled on about the name. He could tell it meant a lot to her that Emilla had something to remind her of her mother.  Emilla laughed as she watched her dad make pancakes and bacon, a morning routine, as her father started to sign her mothers' lullaby.      "The Fox and the wolf went through the woods        to play in the river, warm with the sun        the laughter carried through the wind          making the forest glow         but another got jealous of the fun         the wolf and fox didn't know         the fox wanted to hide and seek          the wolf went to count         but the other hide the fox, so she was never found." Emilla's memories fading back to when she was a child. Her beautiful mother holding her gently as her mother stroked her hair. "Mommy?" Asked the young Emilla "How come the fox was never found didn't the wolf try to find her?"  Her mother smiled sadly towards the child. "The wolf tried as hard as he could but the fox was locked away. The other fell in love with the beautiful fox so he didn't want to lose her."      "But why didn't the fox fight mommy! Foxes are smart and fast." Emilla asked, her mother's soft laughter echoed throughout the peaceful room.      "The fox had something more important to protect than herself so she couldn't fight at least not yet, but you know Em the lullaby has a happy ending." Her mother said softly. Emillas bright brown eyes shimmered with anticipation.     "What is it mommy?" She said bouncing on her mother's lap.      "The fox never found the wolf again but she did find happiness. The fox was able to escape after sometime and she was able to live happily for a long time." Her mother said patting Em's head. The memory faded as Emillas' father's voice came through asking she had wanted another pancake.         "Oh sorry daddy I was thinking about the first time mom had told me the fox had lived happily even though she never found her wolf." Emilla said as she finished the last of her pancake. "I wonder how the wolf feels I hope the wolf found some happiness too." Emilla smiled as she finished her sentence and looked at both Kara and her dad.          "I'm sure he did baby, but now it's time to stop worrying about the wolf and time to worry about school." He said laughing as he watched his daughter panic at the time.  "s**t!" Em said as she ran upstairs to get ready. Her dad's laugh carried up the stairs.  "f**k where is my bag?" Emilla said as she ran through grabbing the rest of her school stuff. Emilla ran down the stairs gave Kara a quick rub and gave her dad a giant hug and kiss.  "I love you daddy I'll see you tonight!" She said as she had ran out to the bus stop. Her dad walking to the front door to watch his daughter take off. "She's going to glow soon. We need to leave and soon." Thomas said as he starred down at the dog who just turned her head and barked. He bent down to pat her on the head. "She'll hate me for sure won't she?" He asked softly.