I Follow Master
I follow Master.
Master is strong.
Master is wise.
Master is my master,
So I follow Master.
Master cares about me.
Master knows what is good
And what is bad.
And shows me
Which is which.
Master protects me.
Master keeps me behind a great barrier
Where I eat and drink and sleep.
The great barrier protects me
On all sides,
And is made of wood and twisted metal
So that none can break it.
Master teaches me.
Master screams in fear
And pushes me away
With all his strength
When I do something
That I am not supposed to.
I am reminded of these dangers
By the scars and scratches and blood
Master leaves on my brown fur
So I do not forget.
Master loves me,
And I love Master,
And will defend him
From whatever dangers
That get close.
There! One draws near now.
A creature like myself,
Except grey fur instead of brown
And with a look of madness
In its eyes.
I bark at it.
I scratch at it.
I bite at it.
I do anything to protect Master,
Who cheers for me
With his friends on the side.
The creature is fierce.
The creature is murderous.
The creature seeks to rip Master open
As it tries to do the same to me.
I see by its rabid behavior
That it has no love,
That it has no friend,
That it has no master,
That it has none of the gifts Master gives me.
That it is only filled with anger
And hatred
And insanity,
And only wants to kill.
It bruises me.
It makes me bleed.
Yet I keep fighting
To defend Master.
With all my strength,
I leap for this creature of madness,
As I go for its throat.
…
…
…
The fight is over.
The battle is won.
I have defended Master.
I take a moment to lick my wounds,
As the creature collapses, dying,
Blood spilling from its throat,
And gashes scattered all over
Its brown fur.
I glance at my Master,
Who cheers for my success
As he trades green leaves with his friends.
I pant heavily, relieved for Master’s safety.
For I love Master.
I defend Master.
I follow Master.