• A child, a little girl no doubt, stood out in the forest, watching as the snow came down.
    Her cheeks, red with a subtle blush from the cold. Her eyes, an ember green. Her little blue dress, stopping just below her knees, and her stockings almost blending in with the winter snow had it not been for her maryjanes.
    She started to walk, and beckoned for a german shepard to follow. Her heels clicking against the covered rocks in the whitened grass. Her pink lips gave a smile as she called to her brother, who was sitting in a cottage not too far away. His blond hair stopping at his eyebrows, and his skin looked almost tan. The little girl smiled at him with an inviting look, as she picked up a snowball and threw it his way. Causing him to get up and chase after her and playfully tackle her to the ground, trying not to be rough. He was happy with just the two living there. A cottage in a forest where no one could find them. A little sister with a smile that could light up the night, and a who,since puppy hood had been a mischievious though protective companion. The fact that they're parents were gone would never affect them. The life the three lived was good.
    Until one day, the little girl became very sick, and her brother did everything he could to help her. He had studied certain medicines and how to make them. He fed her broth, when she was too weak to feed herself with a spoon. The dog also stayed at the little girls side, hoping for her to get better as much as her brother did. Unfortunately the winter had become far too harsh for the little girl, and her illness continued to get worse. Her brother worked harder and harder for his sister to get better. The dog continued to stay by her side, and only let the little girls brother near her. He on occasion went hunting for rabbits or ducks for the boy to cook as he was trained to do. He even disappeared for a few days just to reappear with fresh vegetables or mushrooms. The dog would howl a song for a little bit, even though it would sound tone deaf to his human room mates. He would also chase away the pests who attempted to climb through the holes the cottage, the chimney, or the windows. He protected her and her brother while they slept, and did his best to take care of them as much as they took care of him. Until one day, he noticed a red cloak wrapped around the girl, and her older brother pleading that she would get better.

    "She's all I have left." he said. "Please god, if you are going to take anyone, please take me instead." The young man held the little girls hand in hopes that she would wake up. Her eyes closed, her breathing growing faint. The dog, not wanting anything to happen to his companions walked out into the forest and howled to the moon. Standing in an area where an encirclement of trees mirrored the moons embodiment. The dog continuously howled offering himself for both of his companions lives. He did not want to lose the little girl or her brother. He did not to live in a household darkened. He wanted his companions, his masters alive and well. He heard the little girls brother calling for him. The dog looked back for a brief moment, but then continued to howl in prayer. Until finally, the dog felt tired, and laid himself down, knowing he would never wake up or see his beloved masters again.

    The young man shed a tear as he heard the german shepards howling come to a silence.
    The young man prayed that his dog would be alright. Prayed that he didn't die from the cold. He ran in the direction from which he heard the dogs howling, and found nothing but snow. He looked around and called his dogs name. Not a bark or trot was heard. He called his dogs name again. . .still, nothing was heard. "Brother?" called his sisters voice. For some reason stronger than it was earlier. Frightened he ran back to the cottage as fast as his feet could carry him. He hoped that the cottage hadn't set fire. He hoped that no one had gotten inside. The moment he got there, to his surprise, a woman with snow white hair and blue eyes had been sitting by his sisters side. Holding a sleeping puppy in her lap, and smiling sweetly as though she were their mother. The young man rushed inside and demanded the womans name impatiently. Demanded to know why she had gone into their home. The young woman simply smiled and looked down at the puppy. "You're friend asked if he could give his life for the both of yours." she said in a voice that sound as though she were singing. "He told me the situation and said that he cared for you very much. And wanted you to live your lives to the fullest. So I granted his wish." The young mans eyes widened as he looked over to his sister. Who had gained color back into her cheeks, and the ability to lift a spoon with her tiny hands. Thankful, though feeling loss, the young man cried as the woman disappeared. And his little sister, continued to stay by his side, saying nothing.