"Man, Rick must be back at the truck by now" John muttered to himself. It was a bi-weekly ritual of and Rick's to go hiking on the trails outside of Otter Falls. John had been on his own for a little over an hour, ever since Rick's dog Sarge had suddenly taken off and Rick went chasing after him. As much as he enjoyed being outdoors, John knew it was time to turn back and head back to the truck, if nothing else, to wait for Rick's return.
He was on a downward slope when he happened to glance up and see Sarge sitting off the side of the trail.
"Sarge!" John yelled, somewhat shocked to see Sarge still sans Rick. Rick and John lived in the same apartment, so John was like a second owner to Sarge. Or a roommate, depending on how you look at it. Sarge ran up to John, tongue hanging out and tail wagging. "Hey boy! Hey!" He said, squatting down and grabbing him, closing his eyes as Sarge licked his face. "Haha, quit it boy! Where ya been?" John said pushing Sarge's mouth away from his face and scratching his back. Sarge's nose immediately went to John's crotch, taking in the sweaty new odor of his roommate. "Whoa buddy, I know we live together and all, but I'm not cheap!" John laughed, denying Sarge's advances for a second time. "Hey boy, where's Rick?" Sarge's ears perked and he backed up. He began barking in a way John had never heard him do before. "Is he ok?" Sarge continued to bark, almost becoming more frantic. "Sarge! Where is he boy?" Sarge spun, and John could have sworn he saw him nod in a particular direction. John had no idea Sarge was this intelligent. Figuring it was worth a shot, John commanded "Take me to him boy!" And Sarge took off down the slope, through the woods again.