The Angel of Protection

Max was a stray dog whom Kirn's family took in when she was six years old. He was unlike any other dog they had ever seen; they had discovered him, dirty and skinny, but with eyes that seemed to be wise beyond his years, wandering close to the outside of their town. Max integrated into their family quite fast, but Kirn had a particular connection to him right on.

Max had a remarkable awareness of danger. Max would bark and stand guard between Kirn and anything he thought posed a threat, be it an ominous rainstorm looming overhead or a visitor hanging too near to their land. However, one gloomy late spring afternoon marked his real turning point as Kirn's angelic protector.

On a Saturday, Kirn was having fun in the backyard of their small house, which was tucked away on the edge of a thick forest. Kirn ran after a beautiful monarch butterfly that flitted just out of reach despite the heavy air filled with the prospect of rain. As she rushed deeper into the woods, her laughter resounded through the trees, blinding her to the sky above that was growing darker.

The first drops of rain started to fall as Kirn walked farther from the protection of their yard. Though there was some cover from the overhanging forest canopy, the ground soon turned muddy and treacherous. Kirn followed the butterfly, its tiny orange and black-painted wings enticing her to venture farther into the forest and away from the well-traveled trail.

Kirn had no idea that a storm was approaching. The trees swung nervously in the wind gusts that preceded the downpour, and thunder rumbled menacingly in the distance. Kirn, on the other hand, was enthralled with the butterfly and kept moving farther from home on her little legs.

Max, who had been slouching around the porch, realized something was wrong. He lifted his head to take a whiff of the air, his ears perking up. He leaped from the porch and into the trees without thinking, his claws sinking into the soft ground as he ran to where Kirn's faded laughing was coming from.

Kirn eventually caught up to the butterfly at a little creek that meandered through the center of the woodland, oblivious to the storm looming overhead. Normally calm and shallow, the stream's currents had become rapid and dangerous due to the accumulation of precipitation. Kirn leaned over the edge, her hand reaching out to touch the butterfly perched on a fern frond, her eyes gleaming with pleasure.

Kirn was startled as a crack of thunder shattered the air as her fingers touched the butterfly's fragile wings. Her foot slid into the chilly water as she staggered forward after losing her balance on the slick shore. She could feel herself being drawn toward the rapid river, and panic broke out in her.

The person yelled, "Kirn! No!" Though it was an alien voice, it was frightened and urgent. With his fur drenched and covered in muck, Max charged through the undergrowth, stopping Kirn dead in her tracks with his intense gaze.

Kirn cried out, "Max!" the sight of her loyal buddy brought a wave of relief through her. She extended her hand to embrace him, her digits grazing his damp coat as he bound in her direction. With a loud bark, Max circled around her, gently nudging her away from the edge of the water with his nose.

Heart thumping in her chest, Kirn staggered back. Above them, the storm let loose, sending rainfall hammering against the foliage and seeping into Kirn's clothing. But at that precise time, Max was the one person who mattered—he had saved her once more.

Kirn said, "You saved me, Max," her tears blending with beads of rain on her cheeks. She flung her arms around his neck and held on to him like if they would always be. With his tail wagging slowly, Max stood his ground in the thunder and rain.

Kirn was certain that Max was more than simply a pet after that day; he was her guardian angel. Max was Kirn's constant companion during all of her childhood's events, whether it was protecting her from harm or just being there to console her.

Together, Kirn and Max grew older as the years went by. Their relationship became stronger over time, which is evidence of the unshakable tie they made that wet afternoon in the woods. Though Max was formerly a stray dog, Kirn always considered him to be her guardian angel, companion, and source of protection.

And Kirn would grin to herself every time she saw a butterfly pass by or heard a thunderclap in the distance because she knew that Max was keeping watch over her, a silent sentinel with a heart full of love and loyalty.