[ WP ] Tell the story of what humans did to deserve dogs .

She was beautiful, her prismatic white coat blending in with the mounds of snow that surrounded her form. Her body heaved with effort and she tried to raise herself from her prone position, but she failed, her legs buckling under her great weight. 
 
 Then I noticed the growing pile of red melted snow that was pooling under her. She was dying. Without a thought I slowly made my way to the beast, my hide boots and walking stick making little noise in the loose powder. 
 
 Her nose twitched and her head snapped in my direction, piercing yellow eyes glared at me, her lips curled back over her enormous dagger teeth. A snarl tore through the still air and I raised my aged hand in supplication, this strange creature was obviously dangerous, but I could n't let her just die here. 
 
 As I approached she tried to stand again, her great white ears flat against her skull, snout still wrinkled in a grimace. most would have probably run from her in abject fear, but age had brought me apathy to my own safety, and an insatiable curiosity about the few things int he world I had yet to see. 
 
 `` Shhh calm.'' Tentatively, I reached into my pack, a simple affair made of buckskin and bone buttons. My wrinkled hand produced a chunk of boar meat wrapped in leaves. At the scent of meat her ears perked up and her snarl vanished, her large piercing eyes regarding me warily. A chuckle burst from my chest and I toddled a bit closer on my old bowed legs. 
 
 `` Here.'' I tossed it within range of her snapping fangs and she sniffed the meat, the blood from it mingling with her own in the snow. With two bites it had vanished and she looked at me expectantly, licking the red clean from her muzzle. 
 
 I chuckled at her again. Gravely wounded, and this creature was still hungry, so I obliged, tossing her a larger chunk this time. While she was distracted I took a few steps towards her, almost within arms reach. From here I could see the gaping wound in her side, obviously caused by a spear, deep and jagged, it was spilling her life all over the snow. 
 
 She shifted her weight and I could see her ribs exposed in the wound, cautiously I closed the distance, dropping my cane and pulling another piece of meat from my bag. I offered it to her with an extended hand, maintaining eye contact with her while she sniffed my appendage and the meat I held. Gently, she took it from me with her front teeth and I knelt down on creaking knees to inspect her side a bit better. Dirt and leaves crusted the wound while bits were covered in crystallized blood. I would have to start a fire to melt and heat water to clean it, that is, if she would let me. 
 
 Lost in thought I had n't noticed that she was n't eating, but watching me very closely. I reached a hand out to move some of the fur away and I hear a soft growl as I did, but no pain from her teeth came, she was just watching me. 
 
 Slowly I got up and began to gather wood for a fire. Her eyes never left me as I circled the small clearing I had found her in, grabbing dry death sticks and leaves as quickly as I could without upsetting her or my aching joints. 
 
 While I made the fire I placed my body between her and the pile of wood. I did n't want to frighten her with the flames, it would n't do for her to get up and try to run away in her condition. With a strike of flint and a bit of blowing I had a decently large fire, it chased away the cold that had settled into my cracking limbs. She regarded the fire curiously, and without fear. Good, so I set about heating water in a small hollow stone I kept on me specifically for this. 
 
 While I waited for the snow to melt I pulled a bone needle and some thread made of rabbit gut. Her eyes did n't leave me as I crawled about in the snow, wisps of my own white hair escaping my hood to stick to my now sweating face. 
 
 When I approached her with the hot water her lips pulled back again and I shushed her, I did n't have the time for her protests. 
 
 To keep her occupied I emptied my pack of the meat I had been transporting home. She buried her nose in the food while I gently smoothed the fur from the wound, I pulled a clean piece of hide from my bag and dabbed it into the steaming water. A snarl rang through the woods and pain lanced through my arm when I touched the hot cloth to the wound. My arm was clenched firmly between her jaws, her eyes boring holes into me. I resisted the urge to cry out and instead I smoother the fur of her head gently with my free hand, before taking the cloth from my now useless one. 
 
 She kept my arm in her teeth with I dabbed the wound, her snarls turning to whimpers as she watched me work. 
 
 When the wound was clean I regarded her, now soft mouthing my arm. 
 
 `` I need that back please.'' As if she understood she released her grip and I flexed my hand. A little stiff but it would do to hold the wound while I sutured it. 
 
 When the needle entered her skin she reached her mouth again for my arm and I reprimanded her with a gentle pat on the neck. She allowed me to seal the wound with little trouble and I went about treating the series of lacerations on my own arm before breaking out my poultices to ensure our wounds did n't become infected. 
 
 With a whimper she licked my arm and butted her gigantic head against me in apology before trying to lick her own wounds. I shooed her face away and set my stone bowl before her, now full of clean water for her to drink. She lapped it up greedily while I applied the smelly mix of herbs to her side and my arm, covering it with leaves to seal it. 
 
 The fire was the only light now, the stars above me shown like crystals dangling in the blackness. I scooted myself beside my new companion, her soft white fur providing me with a little more warmth. My old body was cold and exhausted from all the work I had put in treating this unknown creature, but it had been worth it. Something this magnificent should be allowed to live forever. This was my thought as I closed my eyes, snuggled up against a warm body of white fluff. 
 
 
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 Morning came and I woke with a yawn, stretching my aching limbs. With curiosity I regarded the small, pink faced creature curled against me. I licked her cheek to wake her but the flesh was hard and cold. She had died in the night, lips tilted upwards in what appeared to be a satisfied expression. 
 
 Sadness struck my heart. One of her race had injured me gravely, but she, an ancient for her kind, had stopped to help me. I had even caused her great harm, and she still helped me, probably at the expense of herself. Again I nudged her and licked her cheek, hoping that I was wrong in my first assessment. 
 
 The senses of a dire wolf are exceptional, and I had of course been correct despite my wishes. So, I stood and shook my body free of snow, dusting my savior with a light covering of diamond powder. Unlike these creatures I could not shed tears, but I released a heartbroken howl into the cold morning air, telling my brethren of this brave little human who had saved their queen. 
 
 Out of respect I buried the body to avoid scavenging, resting the bag that had produced food for me, and the magic stone that had held water, onto the mound of snow. 
 
 I padded my way from the clearing, regarding the old woman's grave with sadness and determination. Such sacrifice, and selflessness was worthy of loyalty, and devotion. From that day, I vowed that we would protect the humans, to pay my debts, and to honor their ability for selfless love. 
 
 
 
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 Thanks for reading! Any comments are greatly appreciated!
