Owen leaned against the counter, mud drying on his sleeves. “So what happens now?” he asked. “I’ll keep it here overnight,” Mallory said. “Once it’s stable, animal control can take it. There’s a reserve nearby, they handle orphaned wildlife.” He nodded slowly. “Good. It deserves that much.” Behind them, two of Mallory’s assistants were already tending to the dog.
They worked quietly, wiping the mud from its coat and wrapping it in warm blankets. The animal’s eyes fluttered open briefly, following the sound from the table before settling again. Mallory glanced over her shoulder with a faint smile. “They’ll take good care of her. Without her, this little one wouldn’t be here.”