Just wait." Mira’s body went limp and Ronold’s eyes filled with the tears he swore to himself wouldn’t come.

"I’m so sorry, Mira," he murmured. "I care about you."

"Ron, what a come back!" Aaron howled, running to him, along with the rest of his family.

"Yeah, thanks, dude," Ron whispered. Shadow was by his side in a moment.

"Ron, I’m sorry," she whispered.

"How did you know she was going to attack?" Ron asked.

"I asked Dad where she was and that you had to talk to her. He told that I needed to stop you because she was angry with you so I left and came just in time," Shadow replied. Ron looked at her. The runt of the litter that had been so quiet and unsure of herself was now the defiant and proud dog that saved his life.

"What?" she asked defiantly.

"It’s just that you grew up so well," Ronold sighed. "You faced the odds and came out a hero."

Shadow smiled. "Thanks, Bro, it means a lot. I always hoped you’d say something like that."

"Well, could it have been better?" asked Ron, seriously.

"No," Shadow replied. "No."

Ron smiled then. "Hey, Aaron."

"What?" Aaron asked.

"I once knew a dog! His name was Aaron! And I call him Mr. Straight Jacket!" Ron sang, purposely off key.

"Blah! Way to go. You just gave me night mares," Aaron winced.

"I’ll be having night mares about this fight," Ronold grinned. "Who wants a bet?" He looked around, jokingly.

Mira looked at Ron.

"Please," he begged.

"No!" With that, Mira lunged for his throat. Mira’s jaws clamped around his throat and blood spurted from it. He couldn’t cry out, couldn’t gasp. He couldn’t breathe.

"Oh, no! No! Ronold!" Ron woke up, sweat drenched. He found that he was having trouble breathing. He realized that his throat was wounded and that his lungs must have been punctured.

Ron tried to gasp for breath but wasn’t successful. He got very little air. Ronold was having more and more trouble breathing. He felt himself being lifted up onto a stretcher. But that didn’t matter. One thing was in his mind.

Mira is alive!