A woman with short dark hair stepped out. She saw the German shepherd and frowned. Is that dog still here? She asked Mr. Thomas.
He was here this morning, too. He hasn’t moved much, said Mr. Thomas. I think he was left here last night.
The woman sighed. People can be so cruel. Someone should call animal control.
Mr. Thomas looked at the dog, and his heart ached. Let’s give him another night. Maybe his owner will come back.
The woman nodded, but her eyes were worried. I hope so. He looks heartbroken.
When the station closed, Mr. Thomas turned off the lights. He left a bowl of water and some food by the door, just in case. He looked back at the dog one last time, and said, Good night, boy.
I hope you find your family. The German shepherd did not move. He lay his head on his paws and stared down the empty road.
The night grew cold again. Wind rattled the windows, and leaves danced across the pavement. Duray.
Dog shivered, but he did not run away. He was waiting. Always waiting.
Far away in the woods, a small sound drifted through the trees. A soft, shaky cry. The German shepherd lifted his head.
His ears perked up. For the first time, he looked away from the road. He listened, turning, his head to find where the sound was coming from.
He stood up and sniffed the air. The wind brought the scent of wet leaves and something else. Something small and afraid.
He took one step toward the woods, then stopped. He looked back at the road, still hoping for the car to return. But the crying sound came again, a little louder this time.
The German shepherd whined softly. He did not want to leave his spot. But the noise in the woods made his heart pound.
He looked back and forth. Should he wait? Or should he go? Inside the station, Mr. Thomas watched through the window. He saw the dog standing, alert, staring into the trees.
He wondered what the dog heard. Maybe a raccoon or a lost kitten. Or maybe something worse.
But he was tired. So he closed the blinds and went to bed, hoping the dog would be safe. Out in the dark, the German shepherd paced in a small circle.
He looked one more time at the empty road, then took a deep breath and walked slowly toward the woods. His paws sank into the wet grass. The trees were thick and the shadows were deep.
But the dog kept going, following the sound. It was very quiet, except for the soft cries coming from somewhere ahead. The dog’s heart beat faster as he walked deeper into the woods.
Every snap of a twig made him stop and listen. He passed bushes that scratched his legs, but he did not turn back. He was afraid, but he felt he needed to help.
He walked for a long time, pushing through ferns and branches, stopping now and then to listen. The crying grew louder. It was close now.
Suddenly, the dog stopped. In a small clearing, he saw something moving under a pile of leaves. It was small, dirty, and shaking.
The German shepherd stepped closer and sniffed. It was a tiny puppy, alone and cold, with big eyes full of fear. The puppy whimpered and tried to crawl away, but was too weak.
The German shepherd nudged the puppy gently with his nose. The little one shivered but did not cry out. The big dog looked around.
The woods were dark and scary, but he stayed by the puppy’s side. The German shepherd laid down next to the puppy to keep it warm. He licked the puppy’s ears and made a soft, friendly sound as if saying, You’re not alone anymore.
As the wind blew harder, the German shepherd curled himself around the puppy. Together, they waited in the shadows. Lost, but not alone.
Back At the gas station, Mr. Thomas woke up suddenly, worried about the dog. He got dressed, grabbed a flashlight, and went outside. But when he looked, the German shepherd was gone.
He called into the night, but there was no answer. In the woods, under the trees, the German shepherd listened to the puppy’s slow, tired breathing. The dog did not know what would happen next, but he knew he could not leave the little one behind.
He looked up at the stars and then down at the puppy. He made a promise in his heart. I will protect you.
And so, the first night ended. Not with a family returning, but with two lost souls together in the dark waiting for a new day. The sky began to change color, turning from deep black to pale blue.
The first rays of sunlight slipped through the leaves and landed on the wet ground. In the woods, everything was cold and quiet, except for two dogs. One big and strong.
One, tiny and weak, curled together under a tree. The German shepherd woke up with a start. He shook his head, sending droplets of water flying from his ears.
For a second, he forgot where he was. Then he remembered the soft crying, the little puppy, and the dark, scary walk through the woods. He looked down at the puppy.
The small dog was still sleeping, breathing softly. The German shepherd licked the puppy’s nose to wake it up. The puppy yawned and opened its eyes.
It tried to stand, but wobbled and fell back down. Its fur was dirty, and its tummy made a tiny, growling sound. The German shepherd remembered the feeling of hunger, too.
He sniffed the air. He could smell the gas station far away, the scent of gasoline, old fries, and bread. But here, in the woods, there was only mud, leaves, and the weak smell of a frightened puppy.
The German shepherd stood up and stretched his legs. He looked around for danger. He knew the woods were not safe, especially for a puppy so small.
He heard the noise of crows in the trees and the distant howl of something wild. His ears went up, and he stood between the puppy and the dark part of the woods. The puppy looked at the big dog and wagged its tiny tail, just a little.
The German shepherd felt a warmth in his chest. He remembered his old family, the happy days, when he was young. When someone loved him.
He missed those days, but now he had someone to care for again. He walked to the edge of the clearing. The sun was climbing higher, shining through the tall trees.
He could see the gas station if he squinted, far away across a field. He thought about running back, but he was worried about leaving the puppy behind. The puppy whimpered.
The German shepherd hurried back to its side. The little one nuzzled against him, shivering. The big dog lay down again, curling his warm body around the puppy.
He knew the puppy was hungry and thirsty, but there was nothing in the woods for them to eat or drink. Hours passed. The German shepherd listened to every sound.
Sometimes, he heard branches snapping in the distance. He would lift his head, nose twitching, eyes alert. Once a fox ran by, but when it saw the big dog, it hurried away.