Beast, Blood, & Soul

* 14 *

"Play with me,"  I yell to my new friend.  He barks and jumps around, chasing after me as I run.  He wags his yellow tail, staying close to me.  I grab him by the neck and give him a big hug.  

The yellow dog barks again and soon there is a bigger dog with black fur who also joins us.  He whines and I hug him, too. 

"Play with me,"  I tell him.  He jumps around and tries to push me with his head back the way I came.  But I don't want to go back there.  That place was boring, this is fun playing in the trees. I don't want to go back to the grownups and school.  I like it here.

"Let's play hide and seek," I yell and I take off running.  I hear two barks. One high pitched and one low.  They give chase and I squeal, happy they are playing with me.

I run in the opposite direction and soon find a cave to hide in.  This cave has teeth pointing up and down and I hide behind a big one.  I bet the dogs can't find me in here.  I want to giggle but I will give myself away if they hear me.  I put my hands to my mouth, trying to be quiet.

I hear a noise down by my feet and I look down and see a cute little bunny. "Oh, bunny,"  I say and I scoop him up.  I nuzzle him into my face and smile.  I love bunnies. They are so soft.

Soon I hear a whine from the yellow dog who finds me.  I was so busy with the bunny, I forgot about my game.  Now I lost because they found me.  I pout at being the loser.  I wanted to win.

I look down at the bunny, "Now look what you did, you made me lose." 

"He didn't make you lose, he loves you and wants you to be safe."   A tall man with white hair bends down next to me.  He has really pretty eyes, they look like the red stone in my mommy's ring.

"Who are you?" I hold the bunny close and lean into the yellow dog for safety.

"I'm the animal's friend.  But it's not safe in this cave and I know you have people looking for you."  His eyes are kind and he's nice.

"But I want to play." I hold the bunny tighter, I don't want to let him go

"I know, baby girl, but it's time to go home now.  The animals will always be here waiting for you.

"Can I keep bunny?"  I ask.

The man smiles, "No baby, this is bunny's home and he would be sad if you took him away."

"Oh, alright,"  I say and I put the bunny down, letting my fingers run through its fur one last time.

"Now I want you to follow my friend here back to your friends so you can be safe."

I see another tall man with black hair standing next to the man with white hair. He also looks friendly. Two strangers make me scared though, I hug the bunny tighter.

"Don't be scared little one. Want to know a secret?" The man whispers.

"What secret?" I ask.

"This forest is magic. My friend is the black dog you were playing hide and seek with." He whispers.

"Really? I wanna see!"

The black-haired man slowly blurs and becomes a dog and I almost drop bunny clapping my hands.

"it's time to go little one. Playtime is over."

I look at the big black dog as the man rubs his head and I nod sadly and follow him out of the cave.  I wave to the man with white hair and return to the boring building where my class is waiting.