our small guardian

When Barnabas and I drove into the parking area for Obed, we were greeted by Ethan, Kindrea, and Kyrin. This little guy was also standing there waiting for us as we got out of the car. We asked Ethan and Kindrea who he was, and they said he had just wandered in to greet them too.

He was very dirty and had a bad case of mange on his backside. But his face was sweet and his chocolate brown eyes were large and trusting. I was the only one to touch him for the most part, but I was also not handling a baby, nor was I allergic.

He trotted along behind us as we lugged our packs to our camp. Though the path was treacherous, he never seemed to get underfoot. We decided to try to name him something. We started off with Mange, then Mange-Butt, which eventually transformed into Butt-Much. Not sure why, but that stuck.

It came around to dinner time and he was still around. He didn't beg, but just looked hopefully at our food. We didn't feed him, hoping he would go home to be fed.

Instead, he curled up in the corner of the cave we were camping in.

The next morning, he was still there, and rose with us for breakfast.

He followed Ethan, Barnabas, and I up to the top of the cliffs where we were tying off some climbing ropes. He wound his way expertly through the brush, coming perilously close to the edge of the rock. Always sure-footed.

We ended up rappelling down the rock. As each of us went down in turn, Butt-Munch got more and more anxious. We told him to go find the trail. That he couldn't come with us.

When we had all made it down, we heard piercing, anxious barks from the top. "Go around, buddy! Go around!" The barks continued for a few minutes, and we worried that he would try to jump. Eventually he stopped.

We sat down to eat lunch, and about a half-hour later, Butt-Munch trotted triumphantly over a distant hill and we exploded with yells. "There he is! He made it! Yay! Good job, buddy!" I think we kind of scared him with our enthusiasm, because he started to cower, but he came over, and we gave him some tortilla which he scarfed down.

He stayed with us the rest of the day. Curling up in the leaves while we climbed.


At dinner, Barnabas accidentally charred a piece of chicken, so we gave it to Butt-Munch once it cooled. He practically inhaled it.

As we set up camp again, he wandered around, but stuck close. He never got too close to Kyrin, never got into our bags, and if we told him to stay away from something specific, he would.

But he would come instantly when called, and loved to be scratched and cuddled.

Sunday morning came, and we packed up. He followed us back to the cars. Even as other climbers came, he showed interest, but never wandered from our sides. We knew the time was coming when we'd have to leave him.

As a parting gesture, Barnabas bent down and gave him a good scratch. Butt-Munch's little body wriggled with happiness. We got into our cars, and with fake force told him to go home. Ethan and Kindrea drove off. But Butt-Munch waited for Barn and I. As we started to drive, he trotted beside our slow car. We drove past a couple houses, Butt-Munch trotting along the bank of the road, almost at level with our windows. From out of nowhere, a huge bull-dog came running toward him. I gasped in horror as the dog bowled Butt-Munch over and the two rolled in a momentary scuffle. Barnabas was about to pull the car over, when they broke apart and Butt-Munch looked again at us.

"Buddy, we have to go," I said. Barnabas looked at me sadly, with a look that said, "I have to do it." and he gunned the accelerator.

I looked behind us to see Butt-Munch running as fast as he could after us. His legs pounding the dirt. I let out a dry sob and turned around to face the front. I started to cry.

So, this post is the least I can do to remember our brave friend and guardian who brought a spirit of courage, adventure, and love to our small cave that October weekend.