Chapter 8: Comfort and cold
Kurt and his men searched the city but without success. “We will never find her, the city is too huge,” One soldier complained. Kurt opened his mouth to reply but he heard crying and a cry for help.
“Over there!” He shouted as he saw Dinky through a window. The Panzerhund was trying to get her and tried to dig a hole. Dinky cried more as he was almost through.
“Commander, we got to save her fast!”
“I know, open fire!” They fired at the Panzerhund to get him away from Dinky. The distraction worked and he turned at the Soldiers.
It was unusual for a commander to use a grenade, but Kurt thought that this could work as he saw the damaged head.
“Hey doggie!” He showed a grenade, “Fetch!” He threw it and to his surprise it worked, as the Panzerhund catches it and exploded.
Kurt jumped down to Dinky. “M-my knee… it hurts,” She cried as she clenched her eyes shut.
“Shh… it’s okay sweetie.” he very gently lifted her up, being cautious of her knee, and gave her to Hans, the team medic. Then he climbed up. Although every soldier had completed training for medics, the medics were far better equipped with this knowledge, what kept low the rate of loss of the regime.
“Don’t worry Dinky, as far as I can see, it’s not that serious,” Hans said in a comforting tone. He had blond hair and brown eyes.
“Wha-What was this thing?”
“A Panzerhund. Created by General Strasse, it is a super-efficient murder machine encased in titanium steel armor and fitted with bone-crushing metal jaws that can cut through the thickest of body armor. But don’t worry, you’re safe now.”
“P-p-please Kurt. D-don’t tell N-Nina that I-I got my clothes dirty.” All soldiers couldn't help, but tear up their selves.
“Don’t worry, I won’t. Hans, you are coming with me, Müller, inform Johann and Nina and the rest of you clean up this mess.”
“Yes, Sir!”
The rain stopped as they arrived at Kurt’s house. “Thanks for saving me.”
“No need to thanks, it’s our job. Besides, if someone bothers you, just tell me and I will take care of it.”
Hans opened his doctor bag. Dinky's fore hoofs had scratches on them, and they were bleeding a bit. “This will sting a bit, but I promise you will feel better.”
He pulled out a small cloth, and used it to dab at the blood. “What made you run away, Dinky? Johann and Nina are nice people,” Kurt asked. Dinky was afraid to tell about the dream but Hans took notice as he was now wrapping the gauze gently around her hoofs.
“It’s okay sweetheart, you can tell us.” He gave her a warm smile, reaching his hand to stroke at her mane after he took the Toque off.
She looked into his eyes fearfully, but spoke shakily, “I dreamed that some of Strasse's men wanted to take me away, but Johann and Nina tried to stop them. They both were killed. For this, the Leader that called himself Keller also killed me. I ran away because I don’t want to cause trouble.”
She started to cry a little, but felt Hans hand wipe away her tears.
Hans closed his eyes to subdue his own tears as he opened them up again to take a look at her knee. Her knee was scratched up and bleeding, like her hoofs. He carefully used the cloth to dab at the blood, and then after he got all the blood cleaned up, he applied the ointment.
He placed a large sized Band-Aid over the little filly’s knees, giving her a warm smile. “There you go little one, all better.”
“Thank you, Hans.”
“It’s my job. If you should get sick just call me and I will make you feel better.”
“Dinky, get some rest, Johann and Nina should be here soon.” He laid her down on the sofa and pulled a warm blanket over her.
“Okay Kurt, but can I call you my uncle?”
“Yes, dear.” Dinky let out a yawn and a warm smile before she drifted off to sleep.
“Two nightmares in a row can’t be good.” Kurt looked at Hans.
“Yes. I have once read if someone has the same nightmare over and over again, it will become true.”
There were interrupted by the doorbell. Kurt opened the door to reveal Johann and Nina. She hugged him instantly. “Thank you for finding and saving her.” She walked over to Dinky and stroked gently her Mane.
“She begged me not to tell you that she got her clothes dirty.” Nina looked at Kurt with tears in her eyes, then to Dinky.
Nina whispered in her ear,
"Shh… Dinky sweetheart, don't be afraid of getting your clothes dirty. I am not mad at you at all precious. I can get it washed up without any trouble. Please little one, don't cry, your Mommy Nina is here." She gave her a light kiss on her cheek.
“Can you tell us why she ran away?” Johann asked.
Kurt sighed, “She had another nightmare. She dreamed that you both died when you tried to defend her. She also said that she don’t want to cause you trouble.”
Both gasped. Nina frowned as she saw her shaking, and could hear faint little sobs. "Oh, my precious little one." She nuzzled her. "Mommy’s here Dinky, please don't cry. You won’t cause us trouble, because you’re actually the best what happened in our lives.”
“She had only minor injuries, but I already took care of them. If she should become sick, I am your man.”
“Thank you, Hans.” Johann gave him a high five.
Dinky started to stir, and slowly opened her eyes. She felt guilty for running away.
“I’m sorry for running away. I just don’t want to get you into trouble.” She whimpered.
Nina wrapped her arms around her. “Of course sweetie, we forgive you, you done nothing wrong, but have a bad dream, that is all.” She looked into her eyes. “We will always love you no matter what. And we are always here for you if you want to talk.
Would you like for me to take your clothes to wash it, precious?"
“Yes please, Mommy.” She took her clothes off. Johann loaded them into their car.
Dinky let out a little yawn. Nina let out a giggle, “Is our little filly sleepy?” She kissed the top of her head.
She nodded, “Yes Mommy, I am sleepy.” She rubbed her eyes.
“Goodnight, sweetheart!” Hans and Kurt said in unison.
Johann smiled warmly at his friends, “Goodnight, my friends. We will see you tomorrow.” He waved before he walked out with Nina and Dinky.
After Nina, Johann and Dinky returned home from an exhausting night, Nina was tucking Dinky into the warm, soft bed. “Goodnight sweetie and remember: If you have any bad dreams you are always welcome in our bedroom.”
"Yes Mommy.” Since it was still night, Dinky was fast asleep.
Nina went into their own bed, Johann joined shortly after he put Dinky’s clothes into the washing machine.
“Goodnight, my dear wife. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
The next morning, Johann went to check Dinky. He heard coughing followed by a “ACHOO!“
“Dinky, are you alright?” He asked as he walked in. Dinky’s nose was red and she coughed.
“No. I think I’ve got a cold last night. My throat hurts when I must cough and I can’t breathe since my nose is dense. Achoo!”
Nina heard everything and called Hans. Within 15 minutes he was here.
After he examined Dinky, his diagnosis was clear, “You have got a cold. But with rest and if you drink much you will be recovering in no time.” He grabbed a nasal spray out of his bag. “Here, a nasal spray for you. One spray in the morning, noon and before you go to bed, okay?”
“Yes, doctor.”
“And here is a lollipop for you.”
"Thank you, Doctor.”
Nina was alone since Hans and Johann had to left for work. She put a bottle of water and a box of tissues on the nightstand for Dinky.
“Mommy, Achoo! If I have only a cold, why are my throat and my head hurting?” She was coughing violently.
“Your head and throat are hurting, because of your nose. Your throat hurts because he is dry which comes because you are breathing through your mouth instead of your Nose. But it will become better when you are drinking much, which is the reason why I gave you a bottle of water. And your Head hurts because since your nose and the sinuses are dense, pressure builds up. But like the doctor said, with rest and much drinking, you will be fine in no time.” Dinky’s stomach growled.
"Should I make you a soup? Keeps warm and helps against your cold.”
"Yes, I would like that.”
“If you need me, just call me, okay?” Dinky nodded before she blows her nose into a tissue.
After Nina had made and brought the soup to Dinky, she heard the Doorbell. “Just a Moment.”
The neighbors waited outside. Nina was surprised. “Yes, can I help you?” Then she noticed that the Children, a girl and a boy were holding a basket full of chocolate.
“Karl, Anja, long time not see.” They were the Children of Franz and Eva. They were the neighbors which Nina had to babysit.
“We are here to wish your daughter a speedy recovery,” Anja said. Franz had blond hair with blue eyes and his sister, brown hair with green eyes.
Nina smiled, “Come in.” Since Johann told her that Franz and Eva knew about Dinky and that they promised to keep this a secret, she knew that she could trust them.
“Can we see her, if you don’t mind?”
“Yes of course, I am sure that she will be happy about your visit. But don’t get too excited, okay?”
“Yes, Ma’am!” both said.
“Dinky, you have visit.” Nina called out.
Dinky was confused, “Who’s there?”
Nina walked in, Anja and Karl behind her. “May I introduce: Anja and Karl, the kids of Franz and Eva, our neighbors.”
"Hello you two. *cough*”
“Hello. Dinky right?” She nodded. “This is so exciting! We are here to wish you a speedy recovery. Also, I never saw a real unicorn before.” Anja was excited.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you but don’t come too close, I don’t want to infect you. Achoo!”
“Okay. You look very cute. Do you want some chocolate?” Karl asked.
“But of course.” Nina made some cookies for the kids, while they shared the chocolate and chatted.
“Here, I made some cookies for you."
“Thank you, Mrs. Bauer,” Karl and Anja said.
Nina giggled. “Please, Nina is just fine.” She smiled when she left as Dinky had fun with Karl and Anja.
She knew that they would be good friends to Dinky. Nina whistled while she cleaned Dinky’s clothes. I don’t know how long it takes, but I fell already like a mother to her. And I should enjoy every minute of it. She thought.
Dinky showed Anja and Karl some Magic. It was little bit difficult thanks to the cold.
“Wow, you can use Magic?” Anja was speechless.
“Yes, but only basic spells. I tried a more advanced spell, which caused me to show up here.” She lowered her ears.
“Don’t worry; we will make your stay as comfortable as possible. Our parents wanted to visit the London Nautica. If you are healthy again, you can come with us. What do you think?” Karl asked.
Dinky’s ears stood again. “I was already there, but of course I come with you.
“Nice. We see you tomorrow,” Anja said before she and her brother had to leave.