She left the ball that evening and drove back, alone, in the middle of the dark night. She was set to depart Seattle the next morning at 7:50 A.M. She headed back to her dorm room she was staying in. She entered her room and found a young pit bull waiting for her in her room. There was a letter waiting for her by the front door.

“I’m leaving you with Bruno. He’ll protect you and guard you. I’ll also leave you with Oso. Oso is a set of three small beings that can morph together into one large being that will attack any person that threatens you. Morphing will only occur should you need the additional attack. You’ll be safe with Bruno and Oso.”

She looked down at Bruno, who had settled down and sat by her feet. Bruno was wearing an Elizabethan collar for some reason. Bruno was attentive, waiting patiently and alert, staring at the door.

Suddenly, a knock on her door. Bruno growled lowly. She opened the door a peek. It was the woman that owned the dorm she was staying in.

“Hi, I’m sorry to bother you. I know you’re heading out tomorrow morning and I just wanted to stop by for one final chat.” She had gotten along with this woman while she was in Seattle. She had a very warm hospitality and was kind to her.

Bruno let out a small huff, uncertain whether she was a threat. “It’s okay, Bruno,” She whispered to him. She stepped outside into the hallway, where there was more light. Bruno followed quickly behind her.

The woman and her sat on the floor of the hallway, chatting softly. Bruno laid down in front of them.

A man suddenly emerged, angrily, from his dorm room, yelling and cursing at her and the woman. They sat there, shocked, scared by the man, unable to discern what he was saying.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw three small dolls that looked like Cookie Monster emerge. They were moving on their own and coming together. The three beings morphed into one large Cookie Monster. The man stared, mouth agape, at Oso. Oso forced the man back into his room, Oso following, and the door shut once both were in the man’s room. The man can then be heard screaming in the midst of a large commotion.

“Oh no.” She thought aloud. “No, no, no, we have to go.” Bruno immediately sprang up. The woman and her jumped up. She grabbed her belongings quickly from her room and ran to the elevator. The woman followed, trying to help her. A tiny owl, tethered to a stick suddenly appeared in the woman’s hand. Despite Oso just taking the shape of Cookie Monster, she felt that this owl was also Oso. “Oso will only attack if she senses a threat. So just tell everyone to be calm when they see an owl on a stick inside a dorm.” As she said those words, she realized how ridiculous everything sounded.

They made it to the elevator without the man seeking revenge. She pressed the down button, hoping the elevator would be empty. Instead, the doors opened to reveal a man in the small elevator on the right, with his bike. The man’s eyes widened when he saw Oso.

“Just be calm. She’ll only attack if she senses danger.” The woman whispered to the man as we entered the elevator: me, the woman, Bruno, and Oso.

Oso perched on the woman’s finger, staring silently at the man. The man was obviously scared to his wits, but Oso did not move from her perch on the woman’s finger. The elevator opened up to the lobby and we all climbed out, avoiding another bloody scene.

“Okay see, that wasn’t so bad. Oso will only attack a threat.” She sighed a breath of relief. Oso still looked very intimidating despite taking the shape of a small owl, tethered to a wooden stick.

She gathered her things and made sure everything was in order. “I better head to the airport. It’s almost time for my flight.” She said to the woman.

As the woman turned to her, she noticed Oso was gone. She guessed Oso only appeared when it sensed a threat. Bruno was still by her feet. “Here, let me take you to the airport,” the woman offered.

“Are you sure? I don’t want to inconvenience you.” She insisted.

“No, no, it’s fine. You’ve been a lovely guest this weekend. It’s the least I can do.” The woman stated. “Let me just bring the car around. One second.” The woman walked out the front entrance of the lobby.

She waited in the lobby. The morning sun was beginning to come through, but it was still rather dark outside. The lobby was splashed with an abundance of red décor. Every small move she made, Bruno would readjust so he was always sitting by her feet. She felt safe, despite traveling alone to a new city.