Loyal, Chapter Three part 1

Steven woke to a slimy touch on his hand, a rough rubbing that made his hair want to stand on end. He cracked his eye open, and stared at a large golden retriever that was currently licking his hand. With a jolt he sat up, gasping softly at his the pain in his arm. He looked around, trying to get his bearings, and noticed the empty bowl of soup. Memories of the day before returned and he snapped his head around to find the girl. She was nowhere in sight. Her scarf lay crumpled at the feet of the dog.

Steven rubbed his eyes, and patted the dog softly on the head.  He struggled to his feet, swaying a bit as his head went fuzzy. The dog ran circles around his feet, obviously excited, but didn’t make a sound. Steven knelt down in front of it.
                “Do you know where that girl went?” He asked it, looking around again. The dog seemed to cock it’s head slightly, and grabbed the scarf from by its feet. Steven took the end of it in his hand and attempted to pull it away. The dog pulled back. Tugging harder than Steven could fight; the dog dragged him by the scarf, out of the door and into a dark alleyway.  Swerving around trashcans and parked cars, Steven eventually found himself back in the alley where he had been knocked out. The dog released her (for Steven had finally thought to look) end of the scarf.

“Where you the dog they were hurting girl?” Steven asked, absently scratching behind the dog’s ears. The dog merely nuzzled her nose into his sleeve to reply. He chuckled and searched the fur on her neck for a collar. None. “I doubt you could tell me your name, pup?” He smiled. “Would you like to come with me?” The dog rubbed her head affectionately into his hand and he began walking backto his apartment.

“I suppose I will call you… Marigold. Is that good?” He could have sworn the dog smiled.