drawing by Veeck Ravenheart

Everything changed suddenly for Charles. When he was a pup, everything was filled with wonder. As he grew up, his trainer taught him the ways of an army dog, even though the woman had been out for many years. Charles had devoted everything to his red-headed owner. Even though there was a sinister feeling in the air, Charles had long grown used to it.

One day, however, things changed. As they were out on their usually scavenging run, Charles had failed to notice the infected stumbling up behind them as his nose was buried under rubble. From behind him, the young shepherd heard his master shout. In a flash her rushed over to her side, snarling and barking at her attacker. The two quickly dealt with the festering being, but not quite fast enough. While Charles only had a scrape or two, his master had been bitten.

Unsure what to do about the wound, she simply rinsed it and wrapped it. After a few days of no treatment, she had accepted her fate. Charles, however, didn’t understand, the infected having no affect on him. He understood, his trainer was unwell, but he had no idea the magnitude of the situation, not until the day she turned. The scent had hit him before he saw and he knew something terrible had happened.

Even when she attacked him, he didn’t have the heart to kill the one who raised and protected him. Instead, he ran, his heart breaking with each stride that carried him farther and farther away. The fate of her was unknown and he was more than happy to keep it that was. The next three years weren’t easy, he faced many struggles after he lost his foreleg to an old bear trap. He could no longer hunt small animals like he used to and had to resort to begging for food, putting his pride aside of his health. Maybe one day, he can find someone who with love and protect him.