I woke up this morning and felt my stomach growl. I hadnt eaten for days. I lived in a small, abandoned hut with my dog, Millie. We were very poor and all we had to eat were the things Millie caught, and what we found lying on the ground. I was only an 11-year-old girl, but I was very strong and brave for my age. I woke up my dog Millie and noticed a small scar on her stomach. I hugged her to make her feel better while she licked my cheek. Oh Millie. I said. I told u to be careful when your out hunting! Millie whined as if she was sorry. Dont worry. I said with a smile. Ill forgive you. She licked my nose and began to run towards her empty bowl. She stared at it, waiting for something tasty to fall into it. But she was upset when she found out that there was nothing to eat today. I shrugged at her. I was also very hungry but I knew that there was nothing to eat. Okay, Millie! I said happily. Time to go hunting! I opened the door and ran out knowing that Millie would follow. As always, she did as she was told and came. We ran towards the deep woods and past the old creek. Suddenly, Millie came to a halt and started to sniff the ground. I knew what she had stopped for. There was probably an animal near. I kept quiet and went behind a bush. I was going to let Millie take care of this one. I watched quietly as the smart dog tracked down her prey. She was very alert and she twitched her ears quickly to one way, then the other. Just then she pounced and I heard the cry of the prey. Then I saw Millie holding her grand prize, our supper.
Chapter 2
Once we got home I put the food by the fire and snuggled close to Millie. She was my only hope and if I didnt have her, I wouldnt know what Id do. I found an old comb and started to comb her fur while she watched the sparks from the fire. It was a happy night and I hoped for most nights to be like this. But I knew that I couldnt always be happy. After all, everyone gets sad once in a while. Once we had eaten supper, I combed my own hair instead of Millies fur. We both needed to be groomed after being out in the woods. Millie looked at me and I looked back at her. We were both very bored, but at least we had a full meal. Suddenly I heard a noise. It sounded like a dog but I know it wasnt Millie, because she too had heard the odd sound and was growling deep in her throat. I became very worried. Then I saw them. Wolves. I didnt move a muscle, because moving would only make them come into the hut and attack. But Millie didnt seem to understand that. She began to bark viciously and then she ran outside to fight. I watched in horror as the dog was bitten and scratched. Then I wasnt going to watch anymore. I went outside and got a stick. The wolves were biting at my heels so I had to think fast. Then I saw the fire. I lit my stick and began to wave it towards the wolves. They yelped and whimpered, but they kept on coming back. I waved the fire at what looked like the leader of the pack. All the others tried to attack, but when they came near, they were burned. The leader then led them away and they followed. I blew out the stick and looked back at Millie. She was lying on the ground hurt. I could see the wounds through her fur. Quickly, I grabbed a blanket. I wrapped her in it, and carried her into the hut. Millie was badly hurt. Her back had scars and she had a bite on her ear. She looked like a dirty, unhealthy dog, but I still loved her with all my heart. I took well care of her and most of the wounds healed. But her ear couldnt heal. It was already too bad of a bite. I didnt care if Millie didnt look good. I cared if she was a good dog, and she was. She had already saved me from any harm in the past and she also saved my life. If I were to say who the best dog was, it would be her. She is an absolute hero. I looked down at the poor, hurt dog and cuddled her softly, making sure not to touch the wounds. Yep. I said. An absolute hero.
Chapter 3
The nest morning wasnt so nice as the last. The rain was pouring down and the sky was filled with clouds. Millie whimpered softly, wishing she could go outdoors. But I wouldnt let her. It was much too wet for a hurt dog to be running around out there. She needed rest. So I bundled her in a blanket, and she fell fast asleep. I sat on the floor beside her for a while, then decided to get up and clean the hut. While cleaning I found so many things I didnt notice before: a birds nest, a necklace, marbles, a package of cheese crackers, a board game, and an old fur coat. I liked all these things, I kept them as my treasures. I gave Millie the necklace, because she didnt have any collar yet. She enjoyed it and she found it very pretty. I had the coat because it wasnt meant for animals, and besides, it wouldnt fit Millie. The birds nest was used for decoration, and sometimes Millie and me would play marbles together with the marbles I found. It was a boring day, but it turned out to be pretty good after all. At lunchtime, Millie and me had the cheese crackers. They were a little stale but it was all we had for food. We would soon have to go hunting again. But I knew Millie couldnt hunt until she had fully regained health. I sighed. I knew that now we would have to live off of what I found. I dont want Millie to get harmed again when she goes out hunting. I just couldnt let that happen.
Chapter 4
That afternoon I put out two buckets to collect some of the rainwater. I couldnt go down to the brook or Id get wet and probably catch a cold. So I let the buckets fill and that was what we had to drink. It was probably full of germs and filth, but it was all I could get. After that I gave Millie a small bath to clean out her wounds. She felt much better once she had been cleaned and soon she was able to run around happily. It was soon suppertime but there was nothing to eat since Millie had been hurt the last few days. So while Millie stayed home, I went out to hunt. I knew I couldnt get a big meal, but I could probably get enough for a small supper. I went into the deep woods and took a sharpened stick with me to hunt. As Millie did, I hid and crept quietly on the ground, so prey wouldnt see me. I was surprised when I managed to catch a rabbit. It would be enough for the both of us. I went home that night and found Millie fast asleep. I was happy that she was getting enough rest, but I wondered if I was. I hadnt slept near as much as I should have, and Ive been staying up late. Millie seemed to notice too, she had got up and started whimpering at me. So after we had eaten supper, I had a good nights sleep.
Chapter 5
I woke up and found out Millie had already been awake. She was looking out the window and barking at every bird she saw. I laughed at her and scratched behind her ears. Such a good dog! I said to her. It was a beautiful morning with the wet dew and the bright sunshine. Millie was feeling much better too. Almost all of her wounds were fully healed and soon she would be hunting again. I was already thinking about the big meals she used to bring home every day. Millie is probably the best hunting dog Ive seen. I have always admired how she does it. I cleaned out both of Millies bowls for our meal today. But I knew she would have to do a bit of practice before she does some real hunting. After all, she hasnt hunted in weeks now. She probably lost some of her touch. I planned to go hunting in the afternoon, not the early morning. Millie was always alert in the afternoon. Millie sat quietly at the window now. I guess she finally agrees that the birds need a break. She just stared and admired the beautiful forest. I liked our scenery too. It was pretty nice. So I joined her and sat just beside her. I thanked god for what we had. Although it wasnt very much, it was better than nothing. That afternoon it was hunting time again. But Millie didnt seem so pip anymore. She almost ignored me when I pointed out to the forest and told her to Go girl!. It seemed as though she didnt care. I started to worry a little about her. Was she sick? Maybe a pain bothering her? I just didnt know. Come on Millie. I said calmly. Whats wrong? She just laid her head down and whimpered. I started to wonder if there was an animal hospital around. Maybe I had enough money to get her a check up. I just knew there was something wrong. Millie would always love to hunt. But what? What was wrong? I felt as if I was about to cry. I picked her up gently and carried her into the city.
Chapter 6
The city was a strange place. There were so many noises, sounds, and smells! The exhaust from cars, the roar of trucks, the curving road. It was all so strange! I walked on what they called a sidewalk. Why were there so many people? I made my way to the animal hospital and took Millie with me. At the desk there was a lady dressed in a white coat. She looked a little scary and Millie whimpered as soon as she saw her. Yes? The lady asked. Uhwell, my dog is acting strange. I said shyly. Oh, okay. Take a seat and well be right with you in a minute. I sat in a leather chair quietly. I could hear all kinds of animal sounds coming from behind a door that said: Employee Room. Some of them sounded sad, some of them very happy. It was a very unusual place. Suddenly the lady came back followed by someone carrying a cat. Millie didnt even bother to bark, even when the cat hissed at her. Okay, come right in. The lady said to me. I walked through a narrow hallway that had a lot of doors. We stopped at one that said: Room 27. The lady unlocked the door and we went inside. There was a table in the middle of the room that had needles and all kinds of tools for pets. It looked scary. But Millie didnt seem to care. Shes been acting really strange. I said. Has she been eating much? She said. Yeah, shes eating fine. I replied. How about running around? Can she run? No maam. I said. She hasnt walked or run in a while. Hmm She said. She grabbed a needle from her little tool kit. Can you please hold her still while I give her a shot? She said. UhWill it h-hurt her? I stammered, looking at the sharp tool. Only a little. She replied with a smile. Well then. Okay. I said. I held Millie while the lady put the needle in her back and pressed a little button on top of it. Millie gave a little whimper. Its okay. The lady said, putting a hand on Millie. She hasnt had any needles yet, has she? She asked. Uhwell, no. I replied. Soon we ended up putting in four more needles. The lady said something about Millies heart. But I didnt understand it. Then the lady got out an X-ray. Now Im going to take an X-ray of her, okay? She said. Okay I replied. The lady pushed the huge machine in front of Millie and told me to go beside her. Then she clicked a button and some pictures came out of the X-ray. Hmm She said. Oh my. What? I asked sounding very worried. Its nothing very bad. She said. Your dog is pregnant.
Chapter 7
The next day I woke up and found Millie lying down on her blanket. I wondered how soon the puppies would come. Maybe there would be lots of puppies, like fourteen. I felt bad for Millie; it probably made her stomach hurt a lot. But it was worth it. I didnt expect any hunting from Millie until the puppies were born. So I knew I would have to be strong and hunt for the both of us. So that morning I set out to go hunting and hoped I could get something good enough for the puppies, Millie, and me. Again I grabbed my sharpened stick, and went out to get some supper. I ended bringing two rabbits home. I was so proud of myself, and I bet even Millie was impressed. So we had a good supper, and there was some left for a little breakfast in the morning. It would soon be Christmas and we had to prepare for a cold winter. Everyone has been saying the bad news about this winter being very cold. So I have to get more wood for a big fire, and I have to make us a new door to the house. The one we had would always blow open in harsh winds and make Millie and me very cold. But this time, I had to make sure that it wouldnt do that. Millie has some babies that are due this winter, and Im going to make sure that they are safe and sound.
Chapter 8
The next day I ate my breakfast, put my fur coat on, and got ready to get some supplies for winter. I also would have to find a little gift for the puppies and Millie. So I went outside with the wind blowing hard on my cheeks. I took an old bronze axe and chopped some wood off of a tree. I knew I wasnt supposed to kill nature, but it was the only way to survive. I got some good firewood and enough for the door too. For Millie and her puppies, I caught a raccoon with my sharpened stick and took the fur and skin off of it. With the raccoon I made a chew toy and a blanket. I knew Millie would like her present very much, and so would the puppies. When I arrived home, Millie was very tired. She hadnt eaten very much at all; so she probably didnt have much energy. I gave her some of the raccoon meat. She enjoyed it, but it didnt fully satisfy her. After all; the raccoon was only small. Millie drank some of the rainwater that was left in her bowl and then went to sleep. I let her rest while I used some of the wood for the fire. Then I started to make the new door. I had wood and nails, but I didnt know where I was going to get a hammer. So I took my bronze axe and used the back of it to hammer the nails into the wood. For the hinges I used some old curved nails and put them in loosely so you could open and close the door. After making the door, I made sure it would stay shut (instead of the wind blowing it open) by using a heavy rock. Someone could easily come and push the rock over to get in, but the wind isnt that strong; besides, who would ever come to this abandoned place? I liked the new door. It looked nicer than the old one and it also kept Millie and me warm.
Chapter 9
Once I woke up I felt something prick my back. Was something under my blanket? Maybe one of my marbles? I lifted up the blanket to see a little necklace with a deep blue jewel. For a while I just stared at its beauty, but I couldnt resist not putting it on. So I tied the lovely necklace around my neck. Look Millie! I said, holding it up to her. Its a necklace! Millie whimpered and stepped back away from it. Whats wrong girl? I said. Its only a necklace. Millie looked at me, frightened, and then started to bark at the necklace with anger. Silly dog. I said. Anyway, Im going to try to catch some food. As I walked outdoors, I admired the jewel on the necklace. It looked like a crashing ocean with deep wonders. It was very eye catching. Suddenly I remembered that I was here to catch food, not to look at a jewel. I crouched low to he ground and kept very quiet. But all the animals took one sniff, and ran away. They never did this before. And when a little baby deer came over to me, she took one look at my necklace, and ran off. Hmm. I said to myself. What is with these animals? Even Millie wont come near me. I walked home sadly with no food. Did the animals hate me? Why are they only acting strange today? Once I was home I smiled at Millie, but she only whimpered, keeping her eye on the necklace. Maybe it will all be better tomorrow. This was probably just a dream.
Chapter 10
I woke up that morning and saw disaster. I was trapped in fire! My house was on fire! I looked around quickly to find Millie. I wouldnt leave without her. Millie! I called. But there was no answer. I waited to hear a bark, but none came. Come on! I told myself. Icant just stand here! There is a fire out there! I rushed to my bedroom and searched for Millie, but there was only fire there. I went into the living room, but it was half burned up! Millie? I called as a piece of flaming wood came in front of me. I was trapped in fire. Millie? I called again. Fire was coming closer and closer to me. Millie! I screamed as loud as I could. Help! Just when I thought I was dead, I felt something scoop me up and soon I was riding it. Although I knew Millie was a great jumper, I didnt think she could ever jump a 2 story flame! I looked around us. Everywhere there was fire, half of the forest was burned in flame, animals were being killed. I gasped as Millie took the jump. I closed my eyes and felt a slight burn on my leg. Suddenly I was on the grass; safe. But where was Millie? I heard a little whimper and there was my beloved hero, lying on the grass, with burns all over her body. She had took the jump, but it was only to save me, not herself. I tried to fight back tears as I softly petted her fur. I remembered what I had said before: I couldnt always be happy, after all; everyone gets sad once in a while. Those words kept racing through my mind as if haunting me. I looked down at Millie, she no longer whimpered or barked, she lay there on the grass, not moving. I remembered all the good times we used to have, and I wished we could keep having those times. But it was not meant to be. Both of us had to move on to a new life. Just then, I heard a little whimper and there beside me, was Millies puppy. Right then I knew just what to name her: Hope. [spoiler][spoiler][spoiler][spoiler]
