Tails of Sanctuary

Prologue Part Three - The First Golden     Once everyone was settled in, the pups became restless, and they wanted to hear Cody tell them another story. They were clamoring to hear how the first Golden Retriever was made. Cody smiled and told them all to come closer and he would tell them.     “All of the first dogs start and end the same way, they are made of clay and at first are pure white, their eyes are precious gems from the mountains and they always have a heart of gold, as does every dog who makes it to the door of the Oak.” Cody smiled and chose his words carefully so the dogs here would know he spoke of them too. “The first golden was the same. He loved to run and fetch things for the Great Trees. Whether it was sticks, or balls, or nuts, he enjoyed running through the forest to grab whatever he was sent to get and return it to the Great Trees. They heaped such praise upon him too! As he would run and chase whatever it was he was retrieving...

                            The Great Race                                  Part Three About an hour after we had set out from Mr. Howell’s cave we were led off the path and began to make our way through brambles and thickets led only by the sounds of the crickets. The light from the Oak was at our back and what laid ahead of us was only darkness. The torch I held in my mouth gave off a little light but only enough to see a foot or two ahead of me. Not nearly enough to guide myself much less the group at large. I was placed at the back of the group so Hojan and Thomas’ eyes could adjust to the darkness we were walking into. *Crack* we froze. The crickets halted their song. My heart jumped into my throat and I nearly dropped the torch. Darkness consumed us as the fire was just an ember on the very tip of the torch. “Who’s there!...