Lily, that was her name. She waited in the small barn that stood behind her master's house, always waiting for the young girl to come for her. And of course she always did, almost everyday save for when she went to the market with her father. Lily refused to call the father master, for only the young girl was her master. It had been that way since Lily was a pup, and it would always be that way.
And so, as she saw the young girl walk out of her house, she began to leap on the door of the small barn in excitement. The door swung open, and out Lily barreled, almost knocking her master over. A happy laugh escaped the master as she said, "Lily, calm down. It's not like you haven't seen me in awhile."
Still, Lily was excited to see her, despite the fact she had seen her just the day before. The girl turned to lead Lily back to the house, or more follow her since Lily managed to run from her to the house three times in a row. Lily was a tall, strong dog with beautiful, long, silky fur. She stood up to the girl's waist normally. As Lily's master opened the door for Lily and her to enter, Lily bolted into the house where the mother dropped some bread onto the floor for Lily.
"Seble, your father said to take Lily to the river to bathe."
Lily's master stopped and looked at her mother, her brows furrowed in confusion as she asked, "By myself? Pa never tells me to go to the river by myself."
The mother just shrugged as she continued to chop the carrots up, "Don't know what to tell you Seble. But you aught to get to it before your father gets back from the neighbor's farms."
Seble just nodded as she whistled, "Lily, here girl."
Lily abandoned her bread immediately, trotting behind Seble as the two walked out of the house, making their way down the hill towards the entrance to the city. They then made their way to the river bank. Lily lunged out into the water, splashing up on her master. She could here the laughter from Seble, causing Lily to splash more to increase the laughter.
The two played in the water for awhile, splashing each other. It was one of the best days in Lily's own memory, the only day where it was just her master and her. The father and mother were not there, no one else was there to take away the master's attention.
Well, for the most part. Until a group of kids who had to be the same age as Seble came by. Lily was in the water as Seble sat on the bank, waiting for Lily to come back with the stick she threw until Lily heard the sound of crying. When Lily looked over, she saw the kids standing around Seble who was curled into a ball. The kids laughed, Seble cried. Lily couldn't see her master's face, but she knew her beloved Seble was upset.
So in Lily's head, she thought, 'Master is in trouble. Save master!" And she swam to the bank, bolting at the kids as she snarled and barked. She managed to take a bite out of a particularly nasty boy and tear the dress of a smaller girl. They all scattered and made their way back to the town as Lily turned to trot back to Seble.
Lily poked Seble's cheek with her wet nose, attempting to get a reaction, but nothing. She then licked Seble's ear, which caused the girl to giggle and look up at Lily who began to wag her tail and lick Seble's face. After a few short moments, Lily could feel Seble's arms around her neck. This assured Lily that she completed her job.
The two then finally made their way back to the town and up the hill to the house. To their home where they found Seble's mother and father to tell the tale of their day.
