The leader of the guardians ambled toward her. Sniffling, the girl managed a smile, hoping to gain its favor. The four-legged creature stopped inches from her face and gazed into her teary eyes. He raised his nose to gain her scent. Judging her agreeable, he stretched out his head and nuzzled her. She smiled and touched him, feeling the softness of his mane. The beast purred in delight, and she hugged him. Now the other guardians came to her side, and she hugged them all. After a few minutes, the leader nudged her forward. She gave her new friends a wave and departed. Mid-morning found the girl walking into a small town, her white dress tattered and dusty from her walk-through scrub brush and along a dry dirt path. There was a crowd gathered listening to a man talk, and curiosity got the best of her. She walked up to the crowd and wriggled her way through to the front.There she saw a middle-aged breaded man talking. She judged his face as being kind and listened to him.
