Felicity Fox and Gelert the Dog

Felicity stretched and yawned under the old oak tree above her families den, the sun was shining beating down onto Felicity's face, warming her up in the mid-spring sun, there was a gentle westerly breeze blowing past her, carrying the occasional dry leaves left over from autumn and winter.

Felicity was glad to be finally out of the den, as the Winter was a harsh one, there was minimal food to eat all Winter, but now that spring was in full swing food was plentiful, and not just the things that Felicity felt we yukky, like the soft shoots of young plants, or the bugs that scurried around, there was other things that Felicity really liked that were in abundance, like the fish that swam in the stream that went past her families hunting fields, there were plenty of rabbits around that her family hunted at night, but there was also the primrose and clover that Felicity really enjoyed, their subtle flavours and delicateness were what Felicity liked most about them.

Near to where Felicity lay she could see a patch of clover, and Felicity was feeling rather peckish, she got up, her long fur now getting its full colours of Auburn Red and Silvery Grey tones, her tail has now began to bush out, and was starting to compete with the bushiness of her Fathers Tail, Felicity now was beginning to approach maturity, but was still keen to go on her adventures, and today that adventure would start with a light snack of her favourite treat, the young spring clover.

After Felicity had her fill of clover, she headed towards her Special Place, the one where she had been on a few adventures from in the past, making sure that she was not followed by her siblings or her parents Felicity made her way to the shimmering pool, the last time Felicity was here the pool was iced over, and it had taken her to Jerusalem, and to see the birth of Jesus, the King of the Jews, Felicity remembers that trip fondly, but now she's keen to be on another trip, another adventure, to where she does not mind, nor does she know, for each time she goes on an adventure it's the magical rocks that decide, they are the ones that control the location and the reasons behind her adventures.

Felicity reached her spot by the shimmering pool, she knew exactly where to sit as it was two steps to the left of the rock that looked like a young dog that was sat waiting for his master, and three steps back from the waters edge, as Felicity sat there looking into the shimmering pool of water before her, she could feel a chilling breeze work its way up her back, her heckles stood on end, her ears pricked up as she felt her surroundings beginning to change, the hard earth beneath her paws and bottom became soft long grass, the shimmering pool in front of her changed into a large slate rock with a plaque upon it, the rock of a young dog waiting for his master became an apparition of a dog waiting for his master.

Felicity was slightly scared by this apparition but knew there was nothing to worry about, the apparition looked at Felicity, "Be not afraid young fox, for I am Gelert this here is my resting place" the Dog said to Felicity, "you are here for me to tell you the story of my legend, you are here for me to pass on to you the torch of hope and goodwill" he continued to tell Felicity.

"Tell me Gelert, what happened to you, why do you still wait for your master" Felicity asked.

"Felicity take a seat below the tree here and I shall tell you my story" the dog replied.

Felicity walked around the slate rock and sat below the tree, taking in her surroundings, she could see that all around her were mountains, she could hear a stream nearby, and the sounds of sheep bleating and baaing all around as well, Felicity sat and waited patiently for her host to begin his tale.

"Felicity, just over 600 years ago I was guarding my masters only born child, my master was Llywelyn the Prince of North Wales, this here is the site of his home, on that day my master went out hunting, normally he would take me with him to help bring home the beast which would have been our feast, but on this day he had not taken me, and this was good that he hadn't as if I had been with my master I would not have been able to protect his only child" Gelert recited from memory looking over Felicity as she looked back with intrigue.

"I was a very Faithful dog, who loved and protected by master but on this one fateful day, the day that I met my untimely end, I had protected my masters child, you see a Large Grey Wolf had entered my masters home, this wolf was hungry and angry, this wolf only wanted one thing and that was to devour my masters child, but I being the bravest and most loyal dog, I slayed that wolf, to protect my masters child, my master did not know this upon his return" Gelert continued to tell his story, a tear in his eye as he knows that what is next to come is saddening.

"Do go on" Felicity encouraged Gelert, "its ok to be sad" she continued.

"When my master returned I was still guarding his Child, but my face was stained and smeared with the wolfs blood, when I heard my master enter his home I went to greet him, but he didn't understand, he thought that I had killed and eaten his child, which I had not, but because I had taken his child to safety, my master could not see him at first and through sheer emotion and panic, my master took his sword and took my life, upon my last howl as I passed from that life to this one, my masters child called out from his hiding place" Gelert cried as he said that last bit

"What happened next" Felicity asked

"My Master found his child unharmed and also found the body of the wolf that tried to attack the child, and out of remorse and great sadness I was buried here beneath this tree" Gelert Continued.

"The plaque you saw on the other side of the Slate rock says this" Gelert continued further

"Gelerts Grave, In the 13th Century, Llywelyn, Prince of North Wales, had a palace at Beddgelert. One day he went hunting without Gelert "The Faithful Hound" who was unaccountably absent. On Llwelyn's return, the truant stained and smeared with blood, joyfully sprang to meet his master. The prince alarmed hastened to find his son, and saw the infant's cot empty, the bedclothes and floor covered in blood. The frantic father plunged his sword into the hound's side thinking it had killed his heir. The dogs dying yell was answered by a child's cry. Llwelyn searched and discovered his boy unharmed but nearby lay the body of a mighty wolf which Gelert had Slain, the prince filled with remorse is said to have never smiled again. He buried Gelert here, the spot is called Beddgelert" Gelert read.

Felicity had tears in her eyes thinking about how Gelert's master took his life, and how he had not smiled ever since, she nuzzled Gelert's Ghost.

"I'm sorry you were taken too soon by your master Gelert, and thank you for telling me your story, I hope that you can be at peace and rest soon, it's been a very long time" Felicity said not knowing what to say really, as this whole story had been one of upset but also of bravery and great respect.

"Felicity, I told you my story so that you could tell others of my last moment in life, so you could tell your kin of how with an act of bravery and an act of great respect can immortalise you in stories for forever more" Gelert replied

"Thank you Gelert" Felicity said back as she felt things beginning to change around her again.

As Felicity turned round, she found herself back beside the rock shaped like a dog, and in front of the shimmering pool of water, Felicity felt the warm Spring breeze again, and heard her father coming up behind her.

"There you are sweetie" her father called out, "it's time for supper" he continued.

Felicity came out to her father and nuzzled him softly, "ok dad" she said as she followed him back to their family den.

Felicity looked back to the rock that looked like a Dog waiting for its master and noticed that it now looked like it was laying down and not sat up like before, she said to herself "I hope Gelert is finally at peace".

Thank you for reading, if you enjoyed this story there are a couple more like it, those being, Felicity fox goes to the moon

Felicity fox goes to Bethlehem

And Felicity fox and the big storm

Felicity never knows where she is off to and her next adventure is just around the corner.