Hey Kid - I was trying to relax

Calico Jack had not planned to cross over the border today and he, definitely had not expected to be running for his life. The day had started like any other, the sun appeared, signaling to the growing pup that it was time to go meet his friend. It had been the same as every other day, except for one, glaring thing. Nico was not at the meeting spot. Calico had tried to wait, he really had, but as the minutes stretched on and the coyote pup did not appear, Jack began to, nervously, toe the invisible barrier. Would the world end if he stepped over? He paced and thought and the minutes turned into an hour.

Finally, Calico takes a deep breath, squares up to the border, and stepped over. The pup flinches, eyes slamming shut in anticipation of something happening. However, the world did not end and, as his eyes flutter open, it doesn’t appear that anyone noticed. A smug smile appears and Jack trots onward, determined to find and, if necessary, help Nico. Not too far into the flower strewn land, the wide eyed, awestruck pup heard a rustling from nearby. Jack turns, full expecting Nico to appear and laugh at him for worrying.

However, when a loud roar fills the air, a heavy rock sinks itself into the pup’s gut. The loud thundering of paws greets his ears as a grizzly bear bursts onto the scene and the small, terrified Calico Jack turns to run. This is not good! The bear chases the pup as he starts to race away… only to trip and tumble over the paws of a huge earthen wolf. He ends up on his back, between the stranger’s paws, staring up with dismay. It all happens within a split second, the grizzly appearing, the pup turning to run and ending up flat on his back between the stranger’s front legs. Mouth pumps as Jack squeaks out, “Uh… little help?” Another roar pierces the air as the grizzly gets closer.


"Calico Jack"