Bellerose had many names. Bella, Rosey, Fluffy or even Floof to the family. She was a good girl of many talents, from fetching tennis balls and sticks to chasing mailmen and cats. She could even stand on her hind legs and balance popcorn on her nose! For some reason, the hoomans, especially her little Sarah, liked to stack things on her nozzle. She didn't mind. Their giggles made her happy too, and she got to eat yummy snacks! Bonus! It was great.

Yus, Bella was a good girl. Which was why when she smelled something strange in the middle of the night she was up in an instant. Her little hoomans had gone away for a few days. At first, she was very sad because she couldn't come with, but her little girl made sure she knew they would be back and gave Bella her favorite doll to safekeep. She would definitely be back for it and Bella would make sure to guard it for her!

She would check out the smell herself, no need to bother the parents of her little girl. She was laying on Sarah's bed upstairs, so she had to quickly climb down the steps. She found the source of the odd smell in the form of another hooman knocking into the back door. At least she thought it was a hooman, but being this close she wasn't quite sure anymore. They smelled like rancid meat and diseased flesh. She wasn't sure why, but she felt an odd sense of danger from the stinky man. Her instincts flared and it screamed at her to run, but she couldn't.

She was not only a good girl, but she was a strong girl. She couldn't let the helpless hoomans who took her in be in danger! What if this thing attacked them when she ran away? They were without fur to protect them nor claws and fangs to fight. They were too fragile to fight and could get hurt. Unacceptable! Who else would she snuzzle with, who else would rub her belly and feed her delicious peanut butter? She'd protect them!

With determination in her blue eyes she let out a series of warning growls, but it seemed to have the opposite effect, as the weird hooman only gave out a low groan before increasing the force of its blows on the door. She let out a few loud barks, both to wake up her sleeping hoomans, and as a final attempt of intimidation. It was no use. The door started to creak loudly, she wasn't sure it was going to hold much longer.

The situation only got worse. The door fell down as the hinges were torn off the frame, but that wasn't why she was worried. She heard a scream upstairs and the smell of fresh blood mixed with a scent similar to the thing in front of her, which she was now pretty sure wasn't a hooman like she had thought. It was missing an arm and she could see it having deep gashes and wounds all over its body as if it had fallen into a giant version of a blender, yet no blood leaked out. There was only a disgusting smell of pus and bile which stung her eyes and burned her nose.

She had to hurry and take this creature down and help fend off the intruder upstairs. Without any more hesitation or fear, she rushed forward to attack. She bit its one remaining arm and used her weight to push it down. Its filthy yellow liquids spilled into her mouth and she almost wanted to gag, but she held on with thoughts of her family. She bit deeper into its arm and jerked her head side to side while clawing at the thing's head. With a sickening crunch, she managed to tear off the entire limb, though not before it bit her side, the small scratch barely drew blood, but it stung something fierce. 

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She ignored it and swiftly ran upstairs. The thing wasn't an immediate threat for now. She bounded up the steps two at a time as she barged into the master bedroom. Yet the sight before her was both horrifying and confusing. Her 'mommy' seemed to have attacked her mate. She didn't understand, but she knew she had to calm the situation down. She used her mass to shove her off of the male hooman. He didn't look too hurt besides a bite on his forearm, yet he seemed pale and sickly, and her eyes widen as she saw him cough up a glob of blood. 

She looked around the room and sniffed cautiously, yet while the smell of rotten meat was definitely nearby, she couldn't hear nor see anything else. Had it left already and merely left its putrid scent lingering? Was it waiting in ambush? She didn't know and was worried. Suddenly she heard more loud coughing from her hooman.

She whined in distress as she didn't know what to do. She licked his face to comfort him and his face seemed to relax some.

"Thanks, Bella, you're a good girl." She didn't know what he was up too, but she helped him move towards the drawer next to the bed. He retrieved something shiny and metallic and pointed it at his mate. His hands shook ever so slightly but his resolve was firm as he used his other hand to steady his aim.

A loud boom surprised her so much she yelped and jerked in surprise. She had accidentally dropped him as he fell to the ground without her support. She was greatly surprised and in shock as the head of her mommy exploded into a bloody mush. The scent of death grew stronger and she realized it the source was from the corpse near her. 

While she was staring uncomprehendingly at the scene before her, her hooman gently tugged her face towards him. She cried loudly as she tried to deny the truth her ever faithful nose was telling her. Surely it was a mistake? Never had she ever cursed her gifted senses until now. Yet she knew it wasn't wrong as it was starting to be plain to see. He was also starting to smell like the other two. Was he going to turn into one of them too? His shaky hands reached for his wallet on the nightstand. He opened it up and showed her a picture of Sarah smiling at the camera while hugging her favorite bunny doll.

"Watch over her for me, will ya?"

Somehow, she felt like she knew what he was trying to say despite not understanding a single word. She'd protect Sarah, she won't let her turn into one of those things. She won't fail the only family she had left. She gave a loud affirmative bark and nodded her head at him. He hugged her and rubbed her head gently for a few moments. They stayed there in silence before he coughed once more. But what came out was a foul-smelling black ooze rather than blood.

"I guess this is it. You're a good girl Bella, make sure you both stay safe, I'll watch over you both." 

He smiled at her and pushed her away. She didn't want to leave him, but he kept pushing her away with increasing force, straining himself each time. Eventually, she conceded and went out of the room, yet never out of eyesight. Staring at the photo beneath the moonlight shining in his room he closed his eyes. He wanted his daughter to be the last thing he saw. When burning the image into his mind he thought back on his life. It was a good one. With a small peaceful smile as he placed the gun to his head and pulled the trigger. A sorrowful howl was head through the now lifeless house.