“You can’t Knave” Ace warned. “It’ll hurt you.” Knave stared up at the dog in doubt.

“It won’t eat me” he reassured.

“You don’t know that”

“Why would it? There’s plenty of prey in the woods”

“It’s not about eating, Knave” the lab paused to stare at the forest.

“It’s the fact that you’re a dog, a companion to humans, when humans hate wolves” a short growl ended the sentence.

“Not all humans hate wolves” Knave exclaimed. “John doesn’t”

“Well, that boy doesn’t know the true meaning of wolves” Ace sneered.

“And what does that mean?” the setter demanded.

“No reason to get angry” Ace said in a calmer voice. “I’m trying to warn you little guy”

For a moment, the term annoyed the pup and he growled, turning away.

“Knave, Don’t do anything stupid” the lab said, looking at him. For the first time, the pup misjudged someone. When Knave had met Ace, The lab had said he would protect him and be loyal to him as a friend. Friends didn’t ask questions about someone’s idea. They just helped them through it. Ace could probably see Knave’s anger, for his voice was apologetic but the pup ignored it and trotted back to the house.

“You still thinking what I think you’re thinking?” he asked.

“Maybe” the setter paused considering the question. “Running with a wolf would be fun” He turned his back and forced the door open with nose leaving a flabbergasted Ace in the moonlight.

Knave was thankful his family had not heard the door slam behind him. Almost catching his tail in the process. He was proud he’d learned how to open it, feeling stupid that he hadn’t known he could simply slip out without getting John to open it for him. The door never fully closed from an outraged John slamming it behind him, breaking the latch a year before. The setter trotted back into the room and lied back down in his own bed. He stared at the boy for a long time. Wondering if leaving was the right thing to do. Deep down he knew it wasn’t the right thing but not wrong either. Tomorrow night, he would go to this animal who was feared everywhere.

The next morning, Knave awoke late. Almost not being able to call it a morning that was almost afternoon.

“Didn’t sleep to good last night?” John asked, patting the pups head. He wagged his tail in acknowledgment and ate his food that had waited for him since early morning. The setter lapped up water and scratched at the door. He couldn’t let John know he’d learned how to get out of the house. The boy opened it and Knave loped out but immediately sensed something different. Not six hours earlier, a wolf had stepped into his yard. The pup was amazed at the boldness of the wolf. Coming into town filled with humans and dogs that would no doubt vocalize its presence. He was amazed at the natural scents his nose caught. Pine, dirt and a musty smell of damp earth but he also smelt blood. The setter wasn’t afraid though. It was a wolf’s diet. Excitement tingled in his body, tempting him to run straight into the forest and never look back. Knave shook himself, forcing himself back into reality.

“Wait until nightfall” he said aloud. When he saw the boy’s mother staring with a quizzical look on her face, Knave rolled on his back and growled. Pretending to play. His mother smiled and looked down, apparently washing dishes.

Nightfall came quickly since he had spent a part of the day oversleeping. Right when the boy turned out his light, the pup wanted to race out the door and never look back. That of course would of blow his cover immediately. So, the pup fell silent for a long time until finally the boy drifted off. He padded and put his paws on the bed, straining to make sure John was asleep. When he was, he walked quietly over to his parents room, they were also asleep. Knave trotted to the door and pushed it open with his muzzle, leaving the family behind.

The sidewalk glowed a path for the pup and he walked stiffly over it. Then, he broke away. Tearing across the sidewalk. Everything was forgotten. Ace, the ornery lab, John, who loved video games then romping with him and his parents who only enjoyed his willingness to obey. He finally stopped a few yards away from the forest and a shrill yelp escaped him as heavy jaws closed on the back of his neck.

To be continued…