The Loyalty of a Dog

Shepherd's Farewell

I awake early in morning, before the sun has risen, to the sound of a man calling my name. It’s the boy; a friend of my master who comes around every now and then to help out on the farm, he also takes over when my master has to leave, like now. The boy must’ve come out to take over bringing in the cattle while my master searched for me and Red. I have no energy left in me after my ordeal, so I stay in my kennel; that is until I hear the word ‘food’.

Once again my hunger consumes me; I shoot out of my kennel and race around the house to greet the boy. Sure enough he’s holding my food bowl; I can smell the delicious meal he has placed inside it. I assume it’s delicious; I’ve never actually tasted it. I sit and stay patiently until the boy drops my food, when he does I wait still, I can’t eat until I hear the click. I’m still waiting for the click, I look up to the boy but he’s gone back inside the house. He didn’t click! I must be patient; I must wait for the click.

After what seems like an eternity, the boy finally comes back outside. He looks at me with wide eyes, stunned that I have not yet eaten my meal. He curses himself and apologies to me before finally snapping his fingers, and allowing me to eat. I eat quickly, scoffing my food down in an instant. When I look up the boy is gone, retreated back into the house. With my mind at ease and my stomach full, I relax.

I plop myself down on the porch, looking out towards the horizon. It’s another red sky this morning, not as bright or crimson as the morning Red went missing, but a red sky none the less. I reflect on that day, I wonder what might’ve happened if things had gone differently. Would I have found Red earlier if I’d chosen the other fork to follow? Or would I wind up somewhere else completely. What if I’d been the one to herd the rouge cattle instead of Red? Would the same thing happen to me? Would I do the same thing? Would I cower and let the cattle fall? Why were my master’s eyes leaking water? The thoughts of those few days make both my brain and my heart ache, so I try to push them from my mind and concentrate on something else. I drift into a daze, almost asleep but not quite.

Moments later my sharp ears pick up a distant sound, I lift my head but see nothing. I sit up and wait for the sound to come into view. The sound grows louder until the ute finally comes out from around the trees and rattles over the cattle grid. After waking up from a relaxed daze it takes me a moment to register what that means, he’s bringing Red home! I can hardly contain my excitement; I charge out of my kennel and race the ute home, yapping all the way so Red might hear me. He’s not answering me; he must be in the front seat.

I follow the vehicle into the shed, my tail shaking violently with excitement. I run circles around the truck, Red’s home! My frenzy is cut short by the sound of my master opening the driver’s door, I zip around to meet him, and before he can close the door, I leap up on the seat to great my friend.

My heart sinks, it cannot be, Red isn’t on the passenger seat. I sniff every inch of the cabin for some sign that Red has been here, that maybe he’s been dropped off somewhere else. All I get is disappointed from the lack of any animal scent. My master calls me out of the ute and I obey him. I look up to him for clearance on what has happened. He bends down, pats my head with two hands and looks into my eyes, a rather rude thing to do, but right now, it doesn’t bother me. His eyes are sad, so are mine, his are leaking again, I try to lick the water from them and he pats me away, he’s saying “I’m sorry Blu”, without needing to speak.

I can’t believe it, he’s really gone, my work mate, my friend, by brother, he’s never coming back, I’m never going to see him again. I follow my master out of the shed, I pause for a moment, staring off into the distance, like this is some cruel joke and I’m going to see a red fuzz speeding round the corner to great me. I stay like this for some time until my master calls me out of my daze and back to reality. No Red, I’m still alone. My master enters the house as the boy exits; they speak in the doorway for some time before parting ways. It’s time for me to work. I wonder if Red died alone, like he’d want to, like all dogs want to.