Saskia (c) Dark Paws

Rush (c) Dark Paws

Daisy (c) Dark Paws

Saskia lay on her favourite hill to watch the world go by. It was the middle of summer and she felt pleasantly warm. She lived on a farm where she had to herd sheep. A butterfly flew by. She sighed. The smell of wildflowers lingered in the air. Saskia felt bored and lonely. She loved her home, sure, but there was no one to talk to. Suddenly she sat up. Was that barking she could hear?

     Saskia got onto her feet and walked to where the noise was coming from. She hid behind some bushes and peered curiously. There were two dogs, both black, running and skipping and jumping around each other. They were both young border collies. Saskia, now very interested, stepped out from where she was hiding. One of the two noticed her and stopped. He smiled at her. She smiled back. A strange, unfamiliar feeling washed over her. She was unsure what it was but it felt good. Then the other dog noticed and stopped too. She looked at her only half interested.

     “C’mon Rush we better head home,”

     “You go ahead, I’ll catch you up later,” Rush said still looking at Saskia.

     “But it’s late! We’ll get into trouble,” The female protested, looking rather annoyed and angry.

Rush grinned at Saskia, “I’m willing to take the risk,”

     “Right well I’ll wait, but not for much longer,” she said looking a bit calmer.

     “So what’s your name?” he asked Saskia.

     “Saskia,” she replied.

The other female started sniggering, “Saskia,” she muttered to herself.

Rush ignored her, “So where do you live?”

Saskia looked into his big brown eyes, “Over there,” she turned her head to the small faraway farm in which she lived.

     “Really?” Rush’s eyes lit up, “That means we live close,” he nodded to another farm not too far away in the other direction.

     “Ru-ush!”

     “Okay Daisy, I’m coming,” he turned back to Saskia, “Look I have to go… I’ll meet you back here tomorrow,”

     “Okay,” Saskia said happy that Rush wanted to see her again.

     “See ya,” he called.

     “Yeah smell you later Saskia,” Daisy mocked in a sarcastic voice.

Saskia had a bad feeling that she was not going to get on with Daisy at all.

     The next day was even more beautiful than it had been the day before. Saskia woke to the sun shining in the barn. She stretched and yawned. The barn smelled of fresh hay. Saskia sensed it was about time for her to move the sheep into the field. She got up and padded out the door. Sure enough, there was her owner just coming out of the door to the house. Saskia never went in there. She ate and slept in the barn, she preferred it that way.

     “Good morning Saskia,” he smiled at her, “ready to face those sheep are we?”

Saskia wagged her tail to show she was ready.

     “C’mon then, on we go,” he led her to the pen where the sheep were kept for the night. Saskia loved her work and she trotted behind him happily. Thoughts of Dash entered her mind; she could not wait to see him again. Her owner opened the gate of the pen.

     “Away to me,” he said in a loud clear voice.

Saskia ran to the right and chased the sheep up the slope. The sheep moved in fright and made their way up the hill. Her owner now stood at the other gate waiting for her. Finally the sheep made it up the hill and nipping at their ankles they streamed into the fenced field.

     “That’ll do girl,” he said softly.

Saskia ran to him and sat at his feet panting. He stroked her and walked back down the hill to the farmhouse. Saskia followed him. She waited at the door while he got her a bowl of water. She lapped thirstily. It was time to go see Dash. She headed to where she had last seen him.

     “Daisy! Ha ha ha! Cut it out!”

It was Rush’s voice. Saskia rushed eagerly over to where his voice was coming from. There he was. He had been pinned to the ground by Daisy. Just the sight of him made her feel happy. This time it was Daisy who noticed her first.

     “Oh look who it is,” she smirked.

Rush turned his head, “Saskia!” he rolled over and got up.

     “Rush!” Saskia cried happily.

He rolled on the grass playfully, “Want to play?”

     “Yeah,” she joined him in his game of rolling around.

     “Rush why do we have to play with her?” Daisy spat the last word out of her mouth.

     “Because he wants to play with me as well!” Saskia snapped.

Rush stood in between the two quarrelling females, confused.

     “We can all play together,” he said finally.

     “Huh!”

     “Hmph!”

Rush looked from Daisy to Saskia and back again, “Okay cool it you two,”

Saskia then replied, “Sorry Rush I just don’t like being around someone who hates me,”

     “Me either. I’m going home, are you coming?” Daisy looked at Rush and completely ignored Saskia.

     “Nah I’m gonna stick around for a bit but don’t let me stop ya,” he grinned.

     “Hmph!” and with that Daisy strided away.

     “Don’t mind her, she’s uptight around people she doesn’t know ‘cause she’s not a purebred,” Rush winked.

     “She’s not?” Saskia said in astonishment.

     “Nope,” he gave her a lopsided smile, “she’s not so bad really when you get o know her,”

     “I had no idea,” she felt a little guilty now, “then what is she?”

     “I have no idea. She won’t tell anyone – not even me!”

     “Oh…”

     “Don’t worry about it, she’ll get over it,” he looked into her emerald green eyes,     “Wanna go for a stroll?” he asked.

     “Sure,” Saskia smiled at him. She stared into his brown eyes and felt herself relax.

     The sun was starting to go down now, turning the sky a beautiful shade of pink. Rush was so easygoing, she couldn’t get him off of her mind. For a long time nothing was said. The two were contented enough just to be close to one another.

     Before they knew it, it was already starting to get dark. Saskia looked at the twinkling stars in the night sky. She felt great. The moon was out and it was full, making a silver pathway in front of them.

     Suddenly a piercing howl rose from the night. It was such a noise that they jumped and felt shivers down their spines. It meant only one thing – wolves! Saskia looked at Rush fearfully. Neither of them had ever encountered a wolf before but both of them had heard terrible stories of a vicious monster that lurked in the shadows of the night and took prey of anyone who fell into their deadly clutches. Then they heard horrible noises, snarling and growling and ripping noises, the wolves had found their prey! Then Saskia recognised a noise she had heard before – the bleating of a helpless sheep.

     “Rush we’ve got to warn my owner!” she whispered so the wolves would not hear her.

Rush nodded and whispered back, “Follow me,”

He led her further away and tried to creep back to the farm but a large greyish – brown figure jumped in front of them.

     “Not so fast doggies! Just where do you think you are going?”

Rush, although being about half the size of the wolf, stood protectively in front of Saskia. He whispered to her, “Go! Get your owner,”

     “But-

     “Go! I’ll hold him off,” he faced the wolf again and growled fiercely.

Saskia ran as fast as she could to the farmhouse. Her heart was pounding and her lungs were aching but she kept on going. She was scared. Scared for Rush and herself and the sheep.

     Finally she made it. She scraped the door and barked louder than she ever had before. The farmer ran to the door to see what the entire racket was about.

     “What is it girl?” he looked at her.

Saskia ran off and turned back to show that she wanted him to follow her. Then another piercing howl echoed into the darkness.

     “Wolves,” the farmer muttered and he ran back inside to fetch his gun. When he came back he looked at her and said, “Good job now show me where they are,”

With that Saskia shot off like a bullet to find Rush.

     When she found him he was still fighting with the wolf. His back leg and been ripped and it was bleeding badly. He also had several cuts and wounds in other places. Saskia barked to the farmer to show that she needed him and he ran over to her. He spotted the wolf and lifted his gun up to his face. Rush did not notice the farmer and he bit hard on the wolf’s tail. The wolf yelped in pain. Rush bit harder and harder and hot blood poured from the wound. Then as quick as lightening the wolf lashed at him and scythed him across his eye, leaving a bleeding gash. The farmer pulled the trigger but just as he did another wolf attacked him from behind making him fall and miss his aim. The bullet hit Rush in the thigh.

     Rush yelped and hit the ground. Tears stung in Saskia’s eyes. The wolf that had been fighting with Rush ran away. The other one lunged at Saskia but she dodged him and aimed for his neck. She bit down hard but she did not get a good enough grip. The wolf shook her off and was just about to get her when a bullet shot him in his chest. The wolf collapsed. The farmer had saved her! She ran