Joel had lost everything in his life. Tess and Sarah were dead and Ellie had refused to speak to him. So when he found you, he was weary. You were stuck in a trap and he was more than shocked to see your dog-like ears and fluffy tail, but he'd be damned if he let you stay there alone. You got attached to him fast, but he expected that. Dogs were loving and trusting. They loved you no matter what happened, and that's what Joel exactly needed. That's exactly why guilt gnawed at him.

It was night when Joel came back from his patrols. Navy blue stretching over the sky and night lights glistening against freshly fallen snow.