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I thought, as I ran from Merriam, the Farmer, and Arthur that I was doing the right thing, and even now I am not entirely sure that I was wrong. Still, I tried to rationalize to myself. I can not believe that they let that bad human into the house. It was Merriam’s fault. She got in the way. She did that to her self. A little voice went off in the back of my head; that’s not true, and you know it. You could have stopped your self. You where so blinded by your own problems that you didn’t even listen to what the farmer said. For all you know he could have been apologizing to you. I shook my head to clear my thoughts. I was willing to admit that Merriam’s death was indeed my fault, but I saw not a single reason to forgive the Farmer. It was then that I realized I didn’t take into account one small factor as I ran from the place that I had until recently called home; I had no idea where I was or where I was going. There was a rather thick looking forest to my left and farms to my right. It was then I heard a loud cry that pierced the thin night air like a bullet through glass. A cry I had not heard in a longtime. Gruff?

The cry emanated from the forest to my left. My ears parked up, my head snapped to the side, and my nose scanned the area. Gruff, my brother! He was close, very close, maybe fifty feet away into the forest. I darted towards where I heard the cry. Thousands upon thousands of memories flooded my mind, and billions of questions came to mind. What happened to you, how did you get away, are you ok, did you look for me, where did you go, what will we do, where will we go? I was getting closer, his sent getting stronger as I moved, but there was something else. A different smell; it was sweet and salty at the same time. Blood? Yes, yes it was blood. Only a little was his, but what is all of the other blood doing there. There were at least five different types.

Then I saw him, the first thing that stood out to me was his coat, as golden as my own and reflecting off the moon light, almost appearing to glow. I came to a skidding stop when my eyes caught another sight about his coat, it was stained with crimson. “Gruff?” I asked in a concerned and yet still scared voice that shook. Gruff turned around to face me, but what I saw made me want to turn my head away form him. His moth was foamy and dripping with drool and blood. One of his eyes was missing and had long gashes around the socket that looked as though it where clawed out. Blood stained his coat like a portrait of modern art. His appearance scared me to my very core. He looked like a rabid beast, wild and untamed. This couldn’t be Gruff… Could it? It was then he spoke. “Hello Sparky. It has been too long my friend.” He said crazed. “Brother, are you alr-.” “NO! SHUT UP! I AM NOT YOUR BROTHER!” I jumped back out of surprise. “But, I’ve looked everywhere for you! Are you alright? What did that bad man do to you?!” Gruff looked at me and began to cackle and evil laugh. “He didn’t do anything to me! In fact, it’s thanks to him that I know what it takes to be a good dog, unlike YOU!” I suppressed my immense shock at his comment.

“What do you mean?”

“You know nothing of honor!”

“Honor?”

“All humans want us for is for their entertainment, nothing more. You want to know how to keep them entertained?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Violence! Violence is how you keep their attention! Violence is what gets you what you want with them. They give you attention, affection, treats, belly rubs, anything you can imagine! But then again I suppose that you can not imagine, can you? You never got any of those did you? You never got the honor that I have, have you?!”

“That’s a lie!”

“Oh? Is it?!”

“Yes, it is! I had those and I never had to demand it. I had a family that loved me!”

“Then why aren’t you there now?”

“…Because… I did something I can’t take back now, and I will never be loved again.”

“What did you do?”

“I bit my care taker, she lost too much blood and…”

The pause hung in the air for a few minutes until I finally said, “You see, violence is not the answer! Violence only brings misery, not only to the things that suffer due to it, but to the perpetrator him self!”

“SHUT UP! YOU’RE LEIING!!! STOP IT!!!

With in a fraction of a second that Gruff lunged at me, fury in his one good eye, teeth bloodstained and ready to kill me. I leaped back, and ran for the street again. I could hear his barking, drawing nearer to me. I darted towards the farm on the other side of the street, and made it across when I heard a thud, a yelp, and a car speeding off. I reared my head to see what happened, but what I saw made my heart stop. Gruff had been hit by a car side first and saw lying there, motionless with the exception of his heavy breathing.

I turned around and ran back to his body, the world around me in slow motion. I looked down at him. “Gruff! Are y-.” I tried to say but he shouted over me with his fading strength, “GET AWAY! I WOULD RATHER DIE THAN HAVE YOU COME NEAR ME!”

I could hear another car coming, and could see the lights coming closer. There was no time, I had to move him, and I didn’t care if he did not want to be saved by me, or at all. I grabbed his black spiked collar with my mouth and tried to drag him out of the street. Hs body was limp, even though he willed him self to fight, or struggle, or bight he could not. “Let me die! If I am going to be saved by you, then I may as well be dead!” I did not respond, I still pulled, I still tried to get him across, but the car was still coming, and I didn’t even clear half way yet.” Mom always did like you best you stupid dog, you where always the good one! I can’t stand you!” I still said nothing. I was almost half way there, and the car was almost upon us. “I WANT TO DIE! I DESERVE IT; YOU DON’T FOR CHRIST SAKE JUST SAVE YOUR SELF!!!” Gruff shouted at me. I stopped. It all made sense to me now. He was jealous. He wanted to get as much attention as I did as a puppy, but he didn’t, so he acted out. After he left, that sense that he had to act up for attention was fueled by the bad man. He was so warped by him that he lost his grip of reality. But what was that, he was selfless. He was selfless? What does that mean? Does that mean that he doesn’t hate me? Perhaps. Maybe he does want to die, but I won’t let him!

I pulled harder, moving a little faster. We where three fourths of the way there, but there was no more time. The car was too close to evade, even without Gruff. I closed my eyes and braced my self for the sudden impact of the car. This was it… This is where we die. But at least we found each other once again. To my surprise however the car stopped right in front of us! “Gruff, its ok! We are ok! Gruff…? Gruff?!” He didn’t respond. I nudged him a little with my snout. I did not see it before, but he had lost a lot of blood form the collision. His eye was shut, his breathing had stopped, and his body was cold. When did this happen?! How could this happen?! This can’t happen! Not now!”

I heard people getting out of the car, but I did not look up. I licked Gruff’s wound, wishing against all possible hop that he would come back. He did no. A booming voice shouted, “My lord, Arthur! He really is crazed! He killed this dog, and he is dragging it to that farm!” The booming voice sounded familiar, so I turned around at see its creator, and to my shock, it was Merriam, she had lived. She wore gauze around her forearm Arthur climbed out of the passenger side. I ran up to Merriam and Arthur and pressed against their legs for comfort. “Merriam, are you sure that you he did this? He doesn’t seem all that crazed.” “Arthur you twit, he bit a chunk out of my arm! He has to be put down either way! Once a bad dog, always a bad dog!” But I am not a bad dog, I did not mean to do what I did, I am sorry for you and the Farmer, I was not in my right mid when I did what I did, and I did not do this to Gruff, you must believe me!” It didn’t matter, they couldn’t understand me. If only dogs could talk.