The Pet Protector's Pet

The next thing that greeted Lucy was a wet, slobbery lick to the face.

"Blegh! Bernaaaaard! What have I told you about waking me up that way?" She said half-jokingly as she petted the adorable Bernard whose tail was wagging with excitement. She became so absorbed in his cuteness that she almost forgot about her circ.u.mstances!

"Oh, that's right... I died." The empty feeling that she felt when she realised she wasn't going to survive returned once more... Though, how come it doesn't hurt anywhere, she thought to herself as she checked her body for bruising. It appears that I was trampled to death by a stampede of frightened horses. How ironic, a vet killed by animals. I just hope that the horses are okay... I pray that they didn't suffer any punishment as a result of my stupidity!

But wait a second, if I died, then what's Bernard doing here?

That's when it hit her. Since she lived alone, after her death, there probably was no one to feed or take care of Bernard on her behalf. Her eyes filled with tears.

"I'm so sorry Bernard... this is all my fault."

Bernards responded with a woof and proceeded to lick off her tears.

"Thanks for forgiving me Bernard," she said in between sniffles.

"It's okay, it wasn't your fault, so don't cry anymore, okay Señorita?"

"HUUUUUH!?"

D-d-did he just reply back to me? And furthermore, with a Spanish accent!? She must have gone crazy! She was usually a very sensible girl, but this was far beyond the realms of her imagination!

"Judging by your facial expression, you must be in shock right now. I was too was surprised at first when I realised that my ability to use human language had been restored to me. While you were asleep I scoped out the area and spoke to some of the other animals and it appears this place is an 'afterlife' of sorts."

That reminded her of yet another pressing issue. Just where the heck where they!?