Auntie Tara's March prompt

This month's prompt is for heartwarming animal tales.

Auntie Tara found a call for short stories for a great cause at

Madeline's blog Scribble & Edit.

 

My short story was inspired by one of my favorite childhood shows,

The Littlest Hobo.

I wanted to be the littlest hobo when I was a kid.

Sure, he was a dog, but he was a hero and had an adventurous life.

 

Here's my story:

 

The air was ripe with the new smells of spring. Some people sneezed and blew their noses, unable to concentrate solely on the search for the missing toddler. The German Shepard kept his focus and sniffed at the ground. His nose blew out the tang of pollen and found the warm scent of the boy.

 

No one led him by a leash. No collar jingled around his neck. The dog looked for the child because he was needed. He never questioned his instincts or shied away from danger. He was needed and that was all that mattered.

He wove through the trees, crawled under low hanging pines, and ignored the needles that pricked his paws. The child had went this way and hurt his bare feet. A hint of the coppery smell of blood urged the dog into a trot. A helicopter flew over head and somewhere a woman was crying. The compelling sound let him know time was running out.

Splashing through a series of mud puddles, he almost lost the child's scent. This was a baby, a pup. He couldn't have gone far, and all directions except one led up rocky hills. The boy would take the path of least resistance. The dog loped down into a sinkhole and skidded to a stop.

He cocked his head to the side and twitched his ears.

The faintest sound of a creature sleeping. The dog stuck his head into a hollow log and nudged the child with his warm wet nose. The boy whimpered and curled up.

The German Shepard pulled his head out, not wanting to frighten the poor thing, and called to the other searchers. His barks echoed through the woods.  Three men came running, and he showed them where to find the boy.

There were cheers and tears and much celebrating. The boy would be fine.

 

Before anyone had a chance to thank the dog, he was gone. Something was pulling him on to the next town. His tail wagged behind him.

Auntie Tara's Short Story Prompt for February

Auntie Tara gave us a prompt fit for St. Valentine's Day this month. Write 250 to 500 words about a secret admirer.

Last month's short was great Greek fun. I'm going to go a bit silly and paranormal this time around. Enjoy!

HOPELESSLY DEVOTED

Reanna ripped off the lid of the heart-shaped box and tossed it behind her. Her eyes went wide. "Chocolates filled with blood! However did he manage to do it?"

"I'm sure I have no idea, mistress." Wallace was an old man and his back cracked as he bent over to retrieve the lid. He straightened up with a groan and shuffled over to lay it on the table.

"Oh, virgin blood. These are divine." Reanna sucked the liquid middle from one candy and let the chocolate melt in her mouth. She licked her fingers slow enough to savor the taste and ran her tongue over her fangs to collect any morsels that might have been left behind.

"Your secret admirer knows you well." Wallace straightened his black jacket and coughed a few times. His body rattled painfully with it, reminding him he had only a few days left to live.

"And are those roses?" She ignored him as she skipped over to where a great bouquet was arranged in a vase. "I don't smell...." Reanna fondled the petals and gasped before laughing with delight. "Flowers made from the soft skin of his victims. How brilliant!" She scooped up the flowers and hugged them to her. "I'm in love with a vampire I don't even know."

Wallace's jaw hardened, but he said nothing. He merely watched her with his one good eye.

"I wonder if he'll reveal himself to me this year." Reanna heaved a great dreamy sigh and danced over to pluck another candy out of the box. "It's been twenty years. A good show for anonymous romance, but I need someone with which to share my coffin."

Popping yet another chocolate into her mouth, she strode by her manservant without a single glance. "Prepare a hot bath and an evening snack. My true love will come for me tonight."

"Yes, mistress. He'll be here." Wallace turned to let his love for her show upon his wrinkled face. She always adored his gifts, but never believed they could possibly be from him. She never even looked his way unless she was displeased.

Reanna fell to the floor in an elegant heap. He had served her since he was a young man. He had loved her from the moment he set eyes upon her, but she never considered him worthy. He thought the gifts might change her mind, but only another vampire would do for her and she never offered him the dark gift.

The poison he had secreted into the candies would keep her unconscious for at least fifteen hours. Long enough to prepare her to watch the sunrise with him. He couldn't have a life with her, but they could die together.