Chapter 47: Bonding Time with Apollo
Back at the house, Zara eagerly awaited the arrival of Apollo's new haul. She had barely settled onto the couch with him when the delivery van pulled up. The doorbell rang, and Zara bounded over, excitement bubbling over as the delivery people brought in an endless stream of pet supplies. She watched with pride as each item was carefully carried in, knowing Apollo was going to be spoiled like never before.
Apollo, sensing the excitement, sniffed each new item eagerly. His eyes widened as he noticed the plush dog mansion Zara had picked out for him. Zara chuckled, dropping down beside him. "Look, buddy, this is all for you!" she cooed, petting him lovingly.
But it wasn't just Apollo's new "dog mansion" that Zara was eager about. She had grand plans to start training him. "You're a smart boy, right, Apollo?" she asked, scratching him behind the ears. "Tomorrow, we'll start with the basics—sit, stay, maybe even fetch!" She laughed at her own ambition, but deep down, she was determined to make it work.
In the meantime, Zara figured she should take advantage of their bonding moment. She grabbed one of the many squeaky toys and tossed it across the room. Apollo watched it, glanced back at her, and promptly laid back down. Zara blinked. "Seriously? You don't like fetch?" she asked, baffled. She grabbed another toy and tried again, but Apollo's interest had already waned.
"Well, fine," she sighed, plopping down on the couch beside him with a pout. "You're too cool for fetch." She shook her head, laughing at herself, and glanced over to see Xavier observing the scene with a smirk from the kitchen doorway.
"You're really putting a lot into this," he remarked, crossing his arms and looking between her and Apollo. "Maybe you should teach him to fetch *you* something—like your next meal so you don't keep burning things in the kitchen."
Zara shot him a mock glare. "Haha, very funny. Just you wait, Apollo and I are going to be the best team. We'll show you how it's done."
"Sure, I'll be waiting," Xavier chuckled, shaking his head as he turned back to his work.
With renewed determination, Zara picked up Apollo's leash and decided to take him for a short walk around the neighborhood to help him get familiar with the area. She held his leash firmly, glancing around to see if he was comfortable with the new sights and sounds. To her delight, Apollo seemed to be adapting well, his curiosity piqued by every little thing—leaves rustling, people walking by, and birds chirping above.
The fresh air helped clear her mind, and she smiled, watching Apollo's limp getting better with every step. Her heart softened as she thought of how far they'd come from finding him injured on the road. Now, he was practically family.
As they returned home, Zara felt a surge of contentment. "Alright, Apollo," she said, crouching down beside him. "Tomorrow, we start training. And I have a feeling you're going to make me proud."
Apollo barked once in response, and Zara laughed, giving him a gentle hug. She felt like her little family was growing, and for once, she felt at peace in this strange arrangement she had with Xavier and her new furry companion.
And as she drifted off to sleep that night with Apollo at her side, Zara felt a deep sense of purpose—and maybe just a bit of excitement for the adventures that lay ahead.