I stared out the window, watching the red bird move from place to place in erratic movements as I waited.

Then the noise came. A loud rumbling that echoed throughout the house.

I wandered closer to the door near the kitchen until I was under the table, my body hidden except for my right eye.

My heart started to beat, but only slightly faster.

_I was brave. _

The loud rumble stopped, then started again as the door creaked open.

I saw a pair of white shoes as a voice rang out, “Dandelion!”

My heart instantly steadied at the familiar sound.

Gavin.

Without a second thought, I trotted out from under the table, standing tall.

He was already smiling, but it brightened as he saw me coming his way.

His hands, always gentle, stretched out towards me, and I let him scoop me up.

I relaxed in his arms as he held me close.

After a minute, he set me back on the floor, lightly petting the top of my head.

“I missed you little Dandy!” he exclaimed.

I knew if he was home, Lilly wasn’t too far behind.

He disappeared out the same door he had just come through, but instantly returned with many plastic bags.

The noise of the bags crinkling was grating, but I was too happy to pay it any attention.

After setting the bags on the counter, I could tell he was trying to take all of his treasures out more quietly for my sake.

I jumped up to investigate everything that had been brought home. Some of the items I had seen many times, others were new. I walked over to sniff at them, but Gavin moved them away.

“No, no Dandy. This isn’t good for little kitties.”

I was slightly annoyed, but he gently scratched the side of my head and all was forgiven.

He began organizing things on the counter before grabbing my food bowl. I perked up instantly as he filled it. I followed him to where it was usually set down, but he picked up my water bowl instead and carried it through his, Lilly, and I’s bedroom to the connected bathroom.

I was confused by the sudden change of scenery, but I didn’t think too much about it.

I was about two bites from finishing my dinner when I heard loud noises from the kitchen. Pots and pans seemingly being thrown around.

I quickly ran to hide under the bed as the noise continued.

Out of nowhere, an alarm started blaring. My heart threatened to burst, and I tried to remain as still as possible.

I saw Gavin race by the room, waving a rag, muttering something to himself as he ran to open the backyard door.

Soon, the alarm silenced, but I still remained very still.

I heard the front door open, hoping it was Lilly. But it was multiple voices, none recognizable.

I widened my eyes, trying to take in every possible small detail from the darkness that surrounded me to the light of the doorway.

Gavin quickly walked back into the room. I thought about going out to him, I wanted to make sure everything was okay. That he and Lilly were okay.

But my body remained still, paralyzed by all the noise echoing throughout my house.

Gavin grabbed boxes and paper from his closet before plopping down on the floor, tearing the paper and placing it around the boxes.

I didn’t care for that noise either, but it did distract from the other noises. It allowed me to take a deep breath and poke my head out from under the bed to watch closer.

Gavin was concentrating on wrapping the box in paper of sparkly blue and pink with swirling letters.

Once he finished, his eyes caught on mine.

“Oh, little Dandelion, you’re so good,” he smiled.

He stuck out his finger, allowing me some ease from his familiar scent before he left again.

But the house seemed to grow louder.

At one point, someone walked by the doorway to the room.

I hid further beneath the bed, the stranger’s laughter loud and unfamiliar.

All of a sudden, there was silence.

And then yelling.

I heard Lilly’s laughter.

I fought the urge to run out to her and prayed she was okay.

The night grew long and the darkness seemed to be closing in around me.

The noise continued.

I wanted to close my eyes and just go to sleep, but I worried for Lilly and Gavin. What if something happened while I was hiding away in here?

I wondered if the noise sometimes bothered them, too.

And then I wondered how I could be brave if I was sitting in the dark hiding.

I set my head on the floor, saddened by the thought.

Was I a coward? If something happened, I was of no help under the bed.

Gavin had said I was good, but was I?

Lying here, hiding from the danger outside the doorway while they faced it head on.

They were protecting our house, not me.

_No. _

_I was brave. _

I stood and began taking soft, quiet steps. They might have been slow, but they were stealthy.

I paused at the edge, where my next step would take me out from under the bed.

My heart raced, but I was brave.

There was no longer the protection the bed had granted me, and I flinched as someone let out a loud shriek.

But, I continued towards the doorframe.

Again, I placed myself so my right eye could peak out.

I wasn’t sure how many people were in my house, but there was too many.

I was trying to categorize threats from non-threats when my vision focused on Lilly.

There was a crowd of people around her, Gavin by her side, and they were all singing words I didn’t recognize. A warm glow reflected off of Lilly’s face as she looked around the room, her gaze catching mine.

Her smile grew.

My heart began to steady.

She wasn’t afraid. She looked happy.

Her dark eyes sparkled as she laughed, lightening the heaviness that had been weighing on my shoulders.

After people stopped singing, Lilly took a breath and the light shining on her face disappeared.

Then people started cheering.

After chatting with the people around her, her eyes focused back on me.

She started to walk over, slowing the closer she got. But her footsteps had never scared me.

She crouched down, letting me sniff her finger before lightly scratching under my chin.

“Hi my little baby,” she whispered, “you go get some rest, it’s alright. I’ll be in bed soon, too. It’s late, isn’t it?”

She yawned, then I did, too.

It was late. We usually went to bed an hour ago.

But she was alright. Like me, she was brave.

I thought about staying and watching, but Lilly scooped me up and placed my on top of the bed, between where her pillow and Gavin’s pillow were. My favorite spot.

I breathed in the familiar scents. A sense of calm swept over me, and I couldn’t keep my eyes from closing.

I loved this spot, especially when they were gone for long periods of time because I could pretend that they were still next to me.

It was maybe an hour later when the noise started to fade.

Soon, all the unfamiliar voices had disappeared and all I heard was the sound of pot and pans, running water, and Gavin and Lilly’s soft chatting.

Once I determined only Lilly and Gavin remained, I hopped up to see them. I wandered out to the kitchen, where I jumped on the counter.

“Look who it is!” Gavin called out.

Lilly stretched her arms out and picked me up, cradling me in her arms.

“Dandelion!” Lilly sang, “she came to investigate all the noise this evening.”

“She did?” Gavin laughed.

“Yes she did,” Lilly said as she spun around with me still in her arms.

She kissed the top of my head, “My brave little girl.”

For her and for Gavin.

I was good. I was brave.