He stands at my side, huge and unafraid. He is Dink and this is his domain. I watch as Cynthia walks toward William, unsteady, legs wobbly. Stopping, she waits and then moves towards hot-box of good smells. Dink looks to me. I run and stop between Cynthia and box with meat.

I’m Buttercup and Cynthia is my Good Girl. “No, Cynthia!” I say. “No, hot-box! No, hurt!” Cynthia cries. I lie at her feet. William come. Finn come. Dink come. Dink rest his head on my back.

Days go by. Warmer out. Follow Dink’s look. Tree. Squirrel! Nasty, bad invader. Buttercup yell with Dink. “Bad squirrel! Go squirrel!” Dink protect. Buttercup protect. Jennifer primitive speak. She say, “Good boy, Dink. Good girl, Buttercup.” Jennifer laugh. Jennifer give treat. Squirrel run.

Buttercup and Dink lie on grass in delicious warmth. Buttercup dream of Old Pack. Buttercup stir, look up. Dink sniff air. Danger? Pack safe? Pack safe. Buttercup dream.

Buttercup watch street. No Bad Boys come. Always watch. Fall! Tumble! Dink run into Buttercup. Dink nip Buttercup. Dink run. Buttercup run. Run, run, run. Dink too fast. Dink slows. Buttercup push Dink. Dink fall. Buttercup nip Dink.

More days go by. Dink not so big now. Buttercup big. Dink still bigger. Dink push Buttercup. Smell air. Dog! Other dog. “No, dog! You no come here! Dink here. Buttercup here. Not other dog home. Not other dog pack.” Run, run, run to front of house. Other dog yell. Other dog say bigger than Dink. No dog bigger than Dink! Buttercup with Dink. Dink yell at other dog. Buttercup yell at other dog. Dink protect.

Many days go by. Cynthia grow. Cynthia walk with William by water. Cynthia pick up shiny rock. Dink by Buttercup. William’s paws in water. Dink run to William, push William out of water. We walk. Cynthia in water. Dink wait. Buttercup rush to Cynthia, push Cynthia out of water. No hurt Cynthia.