//------------------------------//
// Chapter 4: Puppy Love 
// Story: Life in Ponyville-book 2: Forever Love 
// by SeaBreeze173 
//------------------------------//


It was three days after Angus’ disappearance and finding. His leg was not broken, but it was sprained badly. It was decided to put a cast on it anyways to keep it still so that the sprain would heal. The slash across his chest was disinfected and bandaged. The vet wanted it to start healing before she put any stitches in order to prevent infection. In his mouth, she found several wood splinters, proving that somehow the dog had fought off the timberwolf.

Sea and her father brought the dog home after two days at the veterinarian office. Even with the cast and bandages, Angus was determined to run, or quickly trot, around. As Amethyst had told Rarity, Angus was a fighter and he was proving that fact each step he took. 

Right now, however, he was pumped full of pain medication and antibiotics, so the canine felt pretty darn chipper on the warm summer morning. Sea was not looking forward to give her pet the antibiotics. His pain meds would be no problem, just stick a few pills in some cheese and he would eat them with no problem. But the antibiotic was liquid. Angus did not do well with liquid meds and Sea new that he would smell it if she put it in food. 

“Daddy?” the pegasus asked as she watched her dog limp to a bush and attempt to pee on it. After several attempts he gave up and did his business without the usual mandatory lifting of his leg. 

“Yeah, Pal?” Bass responded.
“I think I know why Angus ran away,” Sea put her focus on the ground before her. Bass stayed silent, waiting for Sea to continue. 
“I think that he left because I’ve neglected him. Ever since I started dating Bolt I haven’t spent as much time with Angus. I think that he felt as if I didn’t love him any more or something like that,” 

Bass Tempo glanced to his daughter. “Sea, I can’t tell you what to do about Angus and Bolt. Although they may be a different species from each other, they are still of the male gender. And dudes get pretty paralyzed when they’re in love. I know that both your dog and your coltfriend love you more than life itself. But it’s going to have to be you who decides what is best,” 

The father and daughter continued on the walk home. Sea had a lot of things to think about. And she didn’t know what to do. 
~~~
Later that afternoon, Sea showed Angus his temporary bedroom in the laundry room. With the large cast on his leg, he could not go up the stairs to Sea’s room. For the first few nights Sea planned on pulling his bed to the family room and sleeping on the couch so that she could be near him. Right now Angus was loose, sun bathing in the family room. 

Sea decided to sneak outside to get a break before she would have to wrestle her pet to get his meds in him. She went to the swing and sat down. It was a beautiful day. Sunny, with some clouds. Birds were chirping contently, squirrels and rabbits played and searched for food. Sea closed her eyes and breathed in the fresh scents of the great outdoors. She didn’t hear the wing flaps and soft hoof falls on the front porch. 
“Hey, Sea,” 
“AAHH!” Sea screamed, throwing her hoof out.
“OWW!” Bolt yelped, holding his muzzle. 
“Bolt! Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry! Are you okay?” Sea jumped up, fussing over her coltfriend. 

“I think you broke my nose,” Bolt said, his voice stuffy. 

“I didn’t hit you that hard,” Sea rolled her eyes. 

“Yeah, I know. It was just fun seeing you so worried about my wellbeing,” the brown colt smirked.

“Jerk,” 

“So, how’s Angus hanging in?” Bolt sat down beside Sea on the swing.

“He acts as if nothing happened. He’s a hoot.” Sea smiled. She then frowned, “Bolt, I need to tell you something,”

“I’m listening,” 

“I think I know why he ran off,” Sea looked into her coltfriend’s eyes.

“And?” Bolt pushed. 

“I think that he felt as if I didn’t love him anymore because I spent so much time with you,” Sea turned away, afraid of how Bolt would react. 

“I can understand that,” Bolt sighed after several minutes. Sea looked back to him, surprised at what she heard. “I mean, I have pretty much stolen you away from him. I know how he is really attached to you, and suddenly I come into your lives and turn everything that he ever knew completely upside down. He has to be confused,” Bolt placed a hoof around Sea, pulling her close. He continued, “I may have never had a dog, but I know that they can be sensitive animals and anything that puts an imbalance in their environment can stress them out.” Sea was astounded at how Bolt understood her situation. It was just one more thing that made her adore him. 

“Well that’s a relief. I thought that you’d be mad,” Sea replied.

“How could I be mad? Angus had you first. I’ve pretty much figured out that you two are a package deal,” Bolt laughed, causing Sea to burst into a fit of giggles as well. 

“I love you, Bolty,” Sea sighed once she settled down her laughing fit. She leaned into Bolt’s shoulder. Bolt smiled gently down at his marefriend. 
~~~
That night Sea layed on the couch in the family room, Angus on a thick bed of blankets on the floor beside her. The dog had felt discomfort when he tried to lie in his usual sleeping position; on his back with all four legs in the air. After several minutes of trying to figure out to lie down with a cast and bandages, he finally just flipped onto his side, not caring if he would be able to get up the next morning. 

It was way past midnight, but Sea was still awake.  After everything that happened with her dog, she nearly had forgotten about the singing competition. It was three weeks away now and although she knew there was no reason to be nervous, she still felt the butterflies in her stomach. She reached a hoof down and rubbed her pet’s head. She smiled as she heard the dog moan in delight and felt his tongue flick across her hoof. “I love you, Goose Goose. Good night, boy.”