My heart started pounding so hard I could feel it in my throat. Ruger didn’t hesitate. With a low growl that sent shivers down my spine, he lunged at the snake. The copperhead reared back, striking wildly, but Ruger danced out of the way, snapping at it with his teeth. He moved with this intensity I’d never seen in him before—focused, determined, fearless. It was like he knew exactly what he was doing. Like he was willing to risk everything to keep me safe.
I wanted to scream at him to stop, to get away from the snake, but I couldn’t move. My legs felt frozen, my brain scrambling for what to do next. Finally, I spotted a thick stick lying nearby. Grabbing it, I rushed toward the chaos, adrenaline surging through me. Using the stick, I managed to pin the snake down long enough to finish it off. When it finally went still, the silence that followed hit me like a wave.
I dropped the stick and turned to Ruger. He stood there panting, his sides heaving, his fur damp with sweat—or maybe blood; I couldn’t tell yet. His dark eyes locked onto mine, wide and wild, but also… relieved? I don’t know how else to describe it. Without thinking, I sank to my knees and pulled him close, wrapping my arms around his neck. My hands trembled as I ran them over his body, checking for wounds.
“You stupid, brave boy,” I choked out, tears stinging my eyes. “You saved me.”
He whimpered softly, leaning into me, his big head resting against my chest. For a moment, neither of us moved. We just stayed there, surrounded by the quiet woods, both of us catching our breath. My mind kept replaying the scene—the way he’d nipped at me, refused to let me go forward, and then thrown himself into danger without a second thought. All to protect me.
The cuts on my leg from his dew claws stung, but they were nothing compared to the lump in my throat. If Ruger hadn’t acted when he did… I didn’t even want to think about it. A copperhead bite wouldn’t have killed me outright, but it would’ve meant a hospital trip, pain, and weeks of recovery. And here Ruger was, risking his life to save mine.
