A majestic Bond

We knew this was the end of us. Why did we follow that dog? Of course the dog led us straight into our doom. I should’ve trusted my gut — the moment I saw Butch grinning, I knew this day wouldn’t end well. And yet, here I am, sitting beside him, hiding like fools in some upper hallway, just waiting for the guards to find us.

“You! Two!”
The sharp voice of a yellow-haired guard rang down the hall, echoing like the final nail in our coffin.

“Oh, Loufas... That’s the handsome guard who were with the princess! ” Then he stood up like a wild hero in a bedtime story. “ Let’s get him down right now! He hurt you, didn’t he?! ”

What an idiot! I immediately grabbed him by the arm and ran as fast as we could.

While we were darting down the hallway, I overheard two servants whispering near the corner.

“His Majesty would do anything for that dog! I wonder where it went… it’s been missing for weeks,” one of the ladies said.

“Yes, didn’t you see what he did? He sent over a hundred guards just to search for it,” the other replied.

An idea struck me like lightning.

“Butch! Where did you find that dog again?” I asked, turning to him with a huge, hopeful grin.

“Oh, now you care about the dog?” he said, clearly offended.

“Just tell me — I’ve got a plan!”

“I’m not telling you anything until you tell me what you’re planning to do,” he said, clearly annoyed.

“Fine!” I snapped.

After quickly explaining everything to him, I finished with, “Now let’s go — quick!”

“Wait… I’m confused,” Butch said, tilting his head with a completely lost expression.

“What’s confusing, Butch?! All we have to do is find the dog, give it back to King Lay, and save the day! He’s been searching for that dog — we could end up as heroes! What’s hard about that?” I yelled, already running.

“I mean… what if he thinks we kidnapped it? Or what if your plan doesn’t work at all?” he shouted after me.

I didn’t even reply. I just kept moving, focused on finding that dog.

“Wait! I’m coming too!!” he cried, chasing after me.

I told Butch to search the upper floors of the castle, and I took off toward the lower levels.

I ran—only for my body to suddenly remember that my legs were already hurting. Gritting my teeth, I scanned for a place to sit and spotted a chair tucked near a column. I sank into it for just a moment… but peace didn’t last. Two guards appeared to my left.

So much for catching my breath.

I jumped up and sprinted again. The hallway twisted in all directions, but one small room caught my eye—it was much smaller than the other chambers and rooms in the castle. With nowhere else to go, I darted into it.

The moment I stepped inside, I saw it—the orange tail of the dog slipping through a half-open window.

Finally.

“Hey—nooo! Come here!” I shouted as I rushed toward it.

The dog leapt out the window and onto the branch of a nearby tree.

Of course. Of course he did.

He started walking across the branches like a tightrope artist. I had no time to lose.

I dashed back out into the hallway—only to run straight into two guards coming the other way.

One tried to grab me—I ducked and slid beneath him, then dodged the other and broke into the open.

I found myself in the royal garden.

There, the orange dog made another jump—from the tree to the tall stone wall that surrounded the castle grounds. Then he was gone, vanishing down the other side.

The front gate was too far—I had no choice.

I sprinted to the tree and began climbing. It wasn’t too hard. I’d climbed plenty of trees before to get better views for my sketches.

I reached the top, and jumped on the wall, nearly slipped so i pushed myself, Then I dropped over the wall and landed in a bush on the other side.

I groaned, rolled over, and looked up.

There he was.

The orange dog was standing in front of another dog—a calm, silvery one. He nudged a piece of meat toward her.

She looked at it, then back at him, and finally took a bite. But she didn’t eat it all. She pushed part of it back to him.

They shared the food.

I froze.

Even in this chaos, I could see it—something simple and sweet between them. A quiet kind of love.

I approached the two dogs, reaching out carefully toward the orange one. He turned and barked at me, clearly trying to protect the silver dog beside him. I froze for a second—he wasn’t being aggressive, just defensive.

It didn’t feel right to just grab him and run. That wouldn’t be fair… not to him, and not to her. They clearly cared for each other, just like we humans do.

So I slowly lowered myself to the ground, showing my hands. I sat calmly in front of them, giving him time. Then, inch by inch, I reached out. When I finally touched his head and stroked his soft fur under his chin, he relaxed and started to wag his tail. I smiled and gently pulled him into a hug.

I turned to the silver dog, who was watching closely. I extended my hand. She hesitated for a moment… then stepped forward. I scratched under her chin too, and before long, I was hugging them both.

"Butch was right," I whispered with a smile, "You two are majestic."

They licked my face in return, and I couldn’t help but laugh. I laid back in the grass, arms around them both, feeling like I’d fallen into a little heaven.

But that peace didn’t last long.

From somewhere far behind, I heard the guards shouting.

The moment shattered. My heart sank.

I looked at the two dogs. I couldn’t take just one of them. I couldn’t break them apart. They loved each other… I saw it. I felt it.

I was stuck.

Just then, the orange dog looked at me—his gaze calm and wise. Then, to my absolute shock, he spoke.

"Do not worry, human. We can help you... but only under one condition."

I said "what? yo.. you talk ?"