So once upon a time, a litter was born in the kennels of King Georges and Queen Isolde.

Mother always said that she knew something strange was going on with the humans the moment they paid extra attention to my litter. Not that they ever ignored my older brothers and sisters before. Most of them ended up going to high born ladies as companions. But she could tell that they really wanted a particular puppy.

Some humans assume that dogs just think about chasing squirrels, rabbits and whatever toy is flying over their heads. To an extent, it’s true. Even after being with Rose for a long time, I still jump whenever I see something fluffy and fast going by…what was that?!

Sorry, got distracted. What was I talking about? Oh yeah, why humans are wrong about dogs.

Mother always told the story of the Far Away Wolf every time she nursed us. The one that all dogs are descended from.

“Once upon a time, my pups, long before fairies gave humans gifts and bigger monsters roamed the Earth, there was the Far Away Wolf.

“The Far Away Wolf was the Chieftain of a Wolf Clan…but he was lonely. All the wolves respected him. But nobody loved him. Especially the humans. They’d chase him away with fire and rocks each time.

“He went to them because he could smell from far away that they had an emotion wolves don’t express but can feel. They had love. He wanted that. To snuggle with his mate as they watched over their pups and rub against other wolves in a friendly manner.

“One night, while he was patrolling, he came upon a boy that was running towards a cliff. This boy he had seen from afar and knew him to be friendly to animals. The Far Away Wolf ran after the boy and grabbed his sleeve with as much gentleness as he did the other pups and pulled him back.

“The Far Away Wolf bowed his head and tucked back his ears…waiting for that awful smack….instead the boy stroked his head and said ‘Thank you’.

“And it was that first time that he felt love for the boy…and knew he’d do anything for that boy.

“From then on, my little pups, the Far Away Wolf and the boy became good friends. The Far Away Wolf introduced his pups to the boy and when the boy became a man, he brought his children to meet the Far Away Wolf.

“And wherever the man went, the descendants of the Far Away Wolf would follow. One day, my pups, you will meet that one human and you will know Love. You will follow them and do whatever they say. Now to sleep, my pups...you'll be meeting your Humans soon.”

As Flopsy and Cottonbutt would sleep cuddled next to Mother and she would lick my head to encourage me to sleep…I would think of the Far Away Wolf…and wanted to be that brave, loyal and above all, loving.