The Queen's Sojourn

They were in flight on their way to Alaska, after Luna completed a tour in Canada. Nuzzling up to her human companion, the elderly woman with the knobby fingers caressed Luna’s soft fur. Luna heard something coming from the plane. She knew bad things were going to happen. She barked and howled. The plane rattled.
“Shh, it’d okay little one,” her human reassured her and held her tight. The plane shook and then spiraled to Earth. Her human squeezed her tight.
The little Cessna lay crumpled. Luna, still in her owner’s tight clasp, wiggled herself free. She sniffed the air, smoke, and smoke meant fire. Luna nosed the woman, nothing. Luna had to get out of the plane. She spotted an opening through the wreckage and scurried out leaving her favorite toy.
Alone and frightened in the Canadian wilderness, the Shetland Sheep dog had not a clue what to do. All around her were trees. She walked some, wincing from the pain in her paw. Luna started her journey in the thicket of trees.
Luna, the proclaimed Queen of the Shetland Sheep Dogs, a title she earned. Many years, judges awarded her the coveted “Best in Show” and “Best in Breed.” Others in her breed adored and respected her. Where ever Luna went, her loyal subjects bowed their heads. Luna enjoyed the attention from humans and dogs alike. With her status, humans invited her to many different functions and even commercials. Life was great.
Luna continued on. She saw a shimmery creek. Lapping up the water, she revitalized herself. Water never tasted back home in New York. Yet, she hungered for food. What would she do with no human in sight. Of course, she seen wild dogs on the television hunt. Hunt? She never tried it but figured it couldn’t be at all hard.
Another hour she walked and came upon a dead chipmunk. Good, she could eat this and not have to kill. She thought she couldn’t really kill anything.
The meat made her nose flinch. She wished for home with chef prepared meals but a dog had to eat. Sampling only a small bit, rancid, Luna spit it out. Deciding on some grass, she ate what she could. By no means was it tasty but it filled her stomach. Nightfall loomed, riddled by hunger, tiredness, and the need of a bath, she curled into a hollow tree and slept.
The following morning, she ventured forth. She had no idea where to go but knew she had to keep moving. The days after the crash, she wandered through the forest eating grass and drinking water. At night, she found a new hovel to sleep in; often dreaming of her human companion and home.
Three full days after the crash, Luna came face to face with a hungry Kodiak. She rested at a stream and noticed him lumbering out of the woods. Her ears perked up and her muscles tightened. He sniffed the air and a hungry bear was just that. Figuring a small dog like Luna as easy meat, he lunged for her. She dodged his claws and ran. He chased. Up ahead, she saw a little cave in the rocks. Luna squeezed in and moved as far back as she could. The massive paw reached for her. The Kodiak soon grew tired and sauntered away.
Luna waited and left the safe spot. Traveling further, she became discouraged. She should’ve let the bear eat her. Luna’s body ached, her stomach growled, her fur matted with everything imaginable; she gave up and laid on the carpet of pine needles and closed her eyes.
Something sniffed her; a cold, wet nose, a dog’s nose. The large mutt barked deep. A tall man came over. Luna wagged her tail slowly. The man checked her collar, then scooped her up in his strong arms and carried her inside of his coat.
She awoke by a blazing fire. Beside her was bowl of water and dog food, regular old dog food. It didn’t matter to her as she gobbled every bit of the food. It wasn’t all that bad. The big dog came over and sat beside her.
“Hello,” she said.
“You’re the one everyone’s looking for,” he replied, “Rex is the name. The boss was lucky to find you. Million dollar reward. I can see it now, no more kibbles for me, just big juicy steaks every night.”
“When is bath time?” she asked.
“Don’t get to comfortable, miss. You going home tomorrow. Boss is taking you away. Damndest thing, they say when they showed your picture on that picture box all them dogs like you howled. So they say anyways.”
“Dogs like me?”
“Mmhmm the ones that look like you, making a big fuss over you.”
“I am their queen,” she said.
“Well that don’t matter to me non. I’ll be dreaming of steak tonight,” with that Rex stretched out and fell asleep.
Luna’s spirits lifted, thinking of her dear friends and the human who offered the reward. She couldn’t wait to be home to retain her throne among the Shetland Sheep Dogs.