It had been raining for nearly a week and the pasture was soggy, but he had to go out and check on the sheep. It seemed to him that sheep were the dumbest animals on the planet, but these particular sheep were his charge. He could not neglect his duties any longer.
He slipped under the fence and looked around, trying to get a clue where the flock had headed. This was a big pasture and it would be easy to miss them if he went the wrong way. He sniffed the air a few times but smelled nothing. He decided to climb the small hill to get a better look around and as he slowly climbed to the top, mud squished between his toes.
Once at the top of the hill, he sniffed again. Turning his head he caught the unmistakable scent of dirty wool. “That way,” he exclaimed to himself and took off running through the pasture toward the smell of sheep.
Soon he began to hear bleating. “Bahhhhh! Bahhhhh!” It caused some kind of primal alarm in his mind. There was trouble. He ran faster. He bounded over another hill and he could see the herd. He yelled at them and they turned to look at him. They seemed afraid, but they were sheep and sheep were too stupid to run from danger.
When he got within about thirty yards of the herd, his nose told him why the sheep were afraid. A wolf was near by. He knew had to find it quickly before it got to the herd.
He turned to the west, instinctively heading into the wind and began to run as fast as his legs would carry him. A few moments later, he saw the thing. It was large and grey and looking for a meal -- one that it would not be permitted to take.
His feet dug into the mud as he screamed ferociously at the wolf. Running down hill, his speed increased as did his heart beat. Faster – he had to chase it away.
Suddenly, he awoke with a start. His master was bending over him in the middle of the living room, stoking his furry head. “You alright, buddy? Looks like you were dreaming.”
He licked his master’s hand lovingly as his heart began to slow its pace. Then he ran off to the bathroom for a quick drink from the toilet. Life was good.
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