Whoosh.. Whoosh would go the river, with Lola near it…. Tears would rundown her face as she howled at the moon. With nobody at her side she was on her own. Forced to leave her pack for she wasn’t wolf. She didn’t know what she was, but what Lola did know was she was a dog and she had to belong some place. “W.. What am I, where do I belong..” Lola asked herself that night. Shivers ran down her back as she tried to sleep in a dark and damp cave……..Wrapped up in her thoughts she fell asleep sadly. She was now dreaming of family, friends and love. How she desperately wanted all of these three. Then she heard the call of rooster and she knew it was morning. Lola yawned and stretched out her back, still thinking over her dream. It had every single detail of how the perfect life of a pampered pooch would go! Yes in the dream Lola was the pooch. It was heaven to her. The dream was better than 100 dog treats, and even if you triple that it couldn’t possibly top the dream!!! “Well.. It’s just a stupid dream” Lola told herself. “None of that junk is true, with all of that fancy food, bubble baths, excreta, excreta!!” Lola ran to her special river her grandma showed her before she passed away. The wind blew through her beautiful fur! ‘Ahhh.. soo relaxing!” she exclaimed. Then Lola jumped up on a big log laying her paw on a loose twig. “ Sure is pretty today!’ As Lola was overwhelmed with happiness she heard a snap.

Lola didn‘t see the twig anywhere. ‘.uh.. Oh no..” Lola said. “ AAHHH!!!” she yelled. Lola was rolling all the way down the bumpy hill, shrieking in terror!! “ WHY ME, WHY ME?!?” Lola asked herself loudly as she was still rolling felling like she’d throw up. “AAAHHHHH!!” SPLAT! Lola was flat, deep in the sand feeling woozy. She tried to pick herself up, but Lola could hardly do such a thing in her condition. She kept trying to, then she finally stood up. There was another dog turned away looking surprised. Lola could only see the back of him. “GRRRRR” growled this dog quickly turning around scaring Lola. “Who are you trespasser?! I am watching my father’s boat and you come by almost smashing it!” he yelled. “I.. I..” Lola tried to finish. She was terrified thinking of what to do, then she went berserk. Lola jumped in the air attacking the dog throwing him to the ground! He could not move and it was silent.

“W.. What have I done?” Lola asked herself feeling better but still sad. She rushed over to him crying. “wake up! OH PLEASE WAKE UP! I DID NOT WANT YOU TO DIE!! PLEASE!” Lola pushed her body against his getting him to stand up. He finally snapped out of it and smiled. “You know, that was pretty brave of you!” the mysterious dog said still smiling. “Taking on a total stranger like that. Hi my name is Dingo!” “ I.. I am Lola…” Lola said still with tears in her eyes. “Hey cheer up. You were only helping yourself!” Dingo said. Lola rubbed the tears out of her eyes. She told him that she was STILL very sorry. The talk went on for a while, with laughs and talk of being good pals! “You know I have been wanting to show you something!” Lola took him to the river that was very special . Dingo was confused with this. “What is so great about this river?” he asked.

“Well, I.. My grandmother” Before she finished Dingo pushed her in the rushing river. “ WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT FOR?!?” Lola demanded to know. Dingo refused to answer and he yelled “CANNON BALL!!” and jumped in the river with a splash! Dingo kept swimming and swimming! He was like a fish who just found a water paradise! Then he went deep under water to see how long he could hold his breath. Lola never had this feeling before. When she is around him she gets shakes that are impossible to ignore!! She wonders if this could be… love. She stood there in the water thinking about this. Suddenly, Dingo rose from the water gasping for air. “Hey Lola, were you counting the minutes I was under?” Dingo asked. Lola did not answer at all. Not a peep. She just stood there. “Well? Did ya?” he asked one more.

“ Hey Dingo, could I talk to you for a minute?” Lola questioned. He nodded his head letting Lola know he agreed. They walked over to a spot under a shady tree. She told about her dreams describing them as heaven. Dingo was looking annoyed like he was wanting to tell a deep dark secret. “so you want family?” Dingo repeated. “Well.. I need to tell YOU something. I kind of ran away from mine.” Lola looked furious. Like she would attack any minute. “YOU MEAN YOU ARE A RUN AWAY? She demanded to know. “You do not get it Lola! All the baths, food, pampering!” Dingo scolded. “IT IS NOT HEAVEN! I LOVE MY OWNER BUT I HATE ALL THE PAMPERING!!!! IT TICKS ME OFF!!! DON’T YOU DO IT LOLA, STAY AWAY FROM PEOPLE!” “NOO! THIS IS MY LIFE AND YOU DO NOT ORDER ME AROUND!” Lola hissed back. When she yelled that birds were flying away and it was silent, just like when they first met. Dingo stared at her in shock thinking why she would say such a thing. Balto, his father, always told him that a good friend will disagree sometimes but would never try to make you feel bad when trying to help. “ If that’s the stupid way your going to have it then fine!” shouted Dingo. He ran off into the woods not even thinking of turning back! “ Dingo wait! Did I say something wrong?!” Lola questioned loudly being very concerned. Dingo kept running very fast. He did NOT stop for anything! Feeling embarrassed, Dingo made sure nobody would see him, not ever again.. That very night, Dingo tried to find a cave to sleep in. If Lola could sleep in one Dingo thought he could easily, maybe too easily! Well, that is what he thought. Finally, He found one that was warm and cozy. He thought the next day he’d try hunting. This was rather dumb of him. Dingo knew nothing of the wild. With no experience this could be dangerous! Can he pull it off? I bet not!

“ Ahh.. The smell of fresh morning air.” Dingo said to himself. He could not care less about Lola anymore!! Well.. That is the one thing he wants to forget, Lola. He thought of her beauty, when they swam in the river, he even remembered when she threw him to the ground. Dingo did not want admit but he…he.. JUST COULD NOT LIVE WITHOUT HER!! DINGO NEEDED HER. SHE WAS HIS EVERYTHING! He ran through the forest hoping to find Lola, his everything. Maybe if he could find the river he would find his love. “ Maybe if I go through the cave I will find the river on the other side?” Dingo asked himself. He crawled in the small space. With very limited air to breath he tried to look quickly! In the dark space he almost felt himself faint. Dingo rushed out of the cave hoping that he would catch his breath! The cave just had darkness and spider webs.

Dingo started backing up as he heard a spooky growl. He gulped, hoping it was some wolf getting ready to attack some hunter. Feeling himself stop, Dingo felt exactly what he was leaning on. It was BIG, FURY, A LITTLE SOFT AND FUZZY, AND felt like A MONSTER. It was a… a… grizzly bear!!! Dingo was completely speechless. He could not even think of what the bear would do! Before he could do anything the bear grabbed him and threw him all the way on a pointy pile of sticks! It felt so bad I could not even dare to explain! The bear was about to finish him off, but just then something made him freeze. It was Lola, crunching hard on it’s paw, trying to help! She sank her teeth deep within its paw. Then the bear threw Lola next to Dingo, but she was not scared to death like him. “ HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES?! Lola hissed towards the bear as it scampered away.

“ T… Thanks Lo.. Lola.. Said Dingo trying to speak. He gazed in her big blue eyes, thinking how silly and dumb he acted. “ Lola I..” Before he finished Lola interrupted saying: “Yeah you are dumb.” Dingo felt upset wondering if she really meant that. Just then she started to crack up, rolling in the grass. He knew she was probably kidding, so he joined her in the little game! “ I guess you are not going home?” Lola asked standing up. Lola did not hear a response. Dingo was shocked, but she could understand why. Seeing something that huge, something you never even knew existed. Suddenly, it began to storm and Lola was very worried.. “ We need to find shelter, now!!” Lola commanded. Dingo wanted to stand but could not. She remembered that the bear threw him in the sticks, and checked his leg. It was cut, but not bleeding. Lola kept pushing him until they were near her cave, and both crawled in.

“Now Dingo, you get nice long rest. Oh, and if your leg hurts, please let me know!” Informed Lola. She turned around to get on the pile of leaves she made for herself, but then got a bad thought. She kept thinking if the bear would come when she is sleeping and take Dingo. So rushing over Lola yelled “ Dingo!! Dingo, are you okay??!!!”. Dingo lifted his head and said he was, then put his head down. “Oh.. All right..” Lola spoke softly. “ Are.. Are you sure?” Dingo woke again. “Yes!” he groaned. How could he blame her? Just a little concerned that is all! But Lola could not care how he treated her. She was happy to see him feeling better than before. It was a lucky moment when Lola saved Dingo. He would be gone if she had not bit the creature. In her crazy thoughts she fell asleep happy…. For once to be dreaming sweetly…….

Then at the call of rooster, she rose feeling great! Going to bed with not a care in the world is just what she needed! Lola took a look around, noticing Dingo not there. “DINGO!!!” She screamed. “ DINGO WHERE ARE YOU???!!!! CAN YOU TELL ME??? I AM VERY WORRIED!!!” The funny thing is that she thought he was missing, and did not even look in a different spot! Lola bit her lip trying to fight back sad tears! Then she heard a bang. Bang, bang, bang BANG! It grew larger and larger making her horrified. She cowered in the corner, hiding from the beast. It came in turning out to be a human! And with him was Dingo, her good buddy! He had a bandage around his cut that was now healing. “