Five-Ever Series ... Book One: Dog of the Ancients

By Tammy Berg

DOG OF THE ANCIENTS

Brodie is a Golden Retriever...
A dog of The Ancients, but even such dogs are not allowed to talk to just anybody. The rules require those he is allowed to correspond with to be a soul of The Ancients, not just any human.
He knew that if a human truly believed, then they too could hear the animals speak.
Problem was that not many believed anymore, making it that much harder for the Golden’s to keep balance between animals and humans...

Book One of the Five-Ever Series
...because 5-ever is so much longer than 4-ever!

• Language: English
• Publisher: CUSTOM BOOK PUBLICATIONS
• Release date: Oct 19, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311203687

Book preview

DOG OF THE ANCIENTS

Brodie is a Golden Retriever…

A dog of The Ancients, but even such dogs are not allowed to talk to just anybody. The rules require those he is allowed to correspond with to be a soul of The Ancients, not just any human.

He knew that if a human truly believed, then they too could hear the animals speak.

Problem was that not many believed anymore, making it that much harder for the Golden’s to keep balance between animals and humans…

Book One of the Five-Ever Series

…because 5-ever is so much longer than 4-ever!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The Author has an insatiable love of the written word. As for many, life got in the way of her dreams but she raised her family exactly as she wanted to… as a young mother. She did not, however, plan to care for her elderly in-laws but having worked in a nursing home for five years equipped her to take on the task, something she did for eighteen years. When her mother-in-law passed away two years ago, though missed, it left her to once again chase her dreams.

Attempting to write as her girls were growing up proved to be a no-no but since she has written the first three of her planned Five-Ever series. She hopes publication will help to fund her other new project – Tam’s Tails – an animal sanctuary for large farm animals that have been abused, neglected or abandoned.

The animals in her stories include Brodie and Annie, both Golden Retrievers, and her cats – Binx, Molly, Cornelius, Smokey and Jacob. Sheeba, a disabled horse and Maximus and Percius are two goats. They all started her small sanctuary. She plans more animals will have a part in stories yet to come.

Copyright © 2015 Tammy Berg

All the characters are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

DOG

OF THE ANCIENTS

Book One of a series of Stories by Tammy Berg

In loving memory of my Father – Mister –and his unending ability to spin a quick tale, which I am sure you are sharing with all in the next realm.

To my Mother, for giving me the love of the written word, because of that love I had to make you a High Priestess.

This one is for you guys!

T

o all who had unbending belief in this book being published. Willy and Deb for reading the manuscripts and giving positive feed back; my sister Becky who sees it as a movie and gets lost in the farm I created. To Belle for whom this first book was written, my friends awaiting the published version, and finally to my husband Don and my daughters Jessica and Amanda for the unending hours of reading and re-reading; their patience and warm encouragement, and never losing faith.

I could not have done it without all of you. Love and kisses 5-Ever.

…and a special thanks to Jess, for the map of 5-Ever you created. 

CHAPTER ONE

The snow was falling in a gentle cascade, even though the calendar said it was now spring. His chocolate brown eyes showed the worry he so often kept hidden from those he lived with. The thaw would be coming soon, within days and nothing had changed since before the winter began. He stared out at the hills and gullies, the trees still standing in their state of slumber. He watched for bud formation on the trees every morning and again before sunset.

The first bud that appeared on the maples and oaks would be the sign of his friends returning. It appeared as though this year they would be returning later then the year before, and each year seemed to foretell of a longer winter then the one previous. He hoped when they arrived they would arrive with a plan; something, anything, that would help him to show Josephine what they needed from her. He knew without a doubt if they could get Josie to understand, she would help them, but how was he to make her understand… it’s not like he could just pull up a chair and say, ‘Josie I need your help.’ If he could only do that, but it was impossible… at least until she believed.

Why, you’re asking yourself, is it so impossible? Well, I will let you in on a little secret.

He – Brodie – is a Golden Retriever. A dog of The Ancients, but even such dogs were not allowed to talk to just anybody. The rules stated that those he was allowed to correspond with had to be a soul of The Ancients, not just any human. But he also knew that if a human truly believed, then they too could hear the animals speak. Problem was… not many believed anymore. Which made it that much harder for the Goldens to keep balance between animals and humans.

All Goldens were sent to earth by The Ancients such as Zeus and Hera, and not many people know this little fact of history. The Ancients did not want the people to know for fear of them corrupting the Goldens. They were sent with a specific purpose, to keep balance between All things of nature, they were also given great authority over the earthly creatures. It has been their job for centuries to help the animals as well as the other creatures of the earth to stay in sync with the universe and the ever-expanding human race, or as The Ancients called them – mortals.

So when a new subdivision went in, it would be a Golden’s job to let the creatures of that area know that more mortals where moving into the creatures domain. With much compromising the creatures would move a little deeper into the forests and hills which were fading fast, due to new developments going up every single day. Now you ask how the Goldens could do this?

Very simple… The Ancients gave the Goldens the ability to speak any of the mortal’s languages, so in doing this the Goldens could then translate to the creatures what the mortal’s intent was.

If you have ever had the privilege of living with a Golden then you know they are quite different than any other dog. They have many facial expressions. For instance they can smile when happy, and sit with noble pride when watching over their homes. They get big droopy eyes when something has hurt their feelings and even raise their eyebrows when you speak to them, acknowledging that they understand your every word. They love to swim and play with the children of their families just as well as walk in solace with their adult’s.

Goldens instinctually know when they are needed and go to help no matter why or where the call for help comes from. Mortals call them a soft mouth breed, which means they pick things up in their mouth very gently, so as to never hurt what they are carrying. Though adults see them as just another dog breed often children can see the very special breed that they are. Why? Because children still have the ability to believe, an ability too often lost to adults.

That brings us to another part in our story of Brodie – Dog of the Ancients. Goldens are not the only creatures which the Ancients have placed on the earth with special abilities. You will come to know more of them as we go on in the story. One of the creatures which Brodie is dutifully watching for morning and night, they are known as the Fae. They have many different classes to their species. Some are Fae of the air, earth, fire and water, some are even Fae of the underground. There are many more then listed here and too many to cover. You only need to be familiar with the five I have mentioned.

Now, a little more on Brodie’s story.

Brodie has been on earth for over three hundred years although he still looked quite youthful, he has lived with many different families and has helped numerous living beings. He is considered to be the General of the earth bound Goldens. Many came to Brodie with questions to help them take care of the regions they were delegated Each Golden is given a town or village as well as a family and is required to care for them. If they should have any problems, then Brodie was the dog to advise them.

Goldens are a noble breed and take pride in their hygiene. Even though Brodie has many responsibilities, he always remembers to take time to play, for there must be balance in one’s life. His favorite games are to chase a stick, swim in the creek amd the making of snow angels in the snow. He is accomplished at digging holes within the banks of the creek or in snow drifts that make cool snow huts in which to play. But for now he had a job to do, the inspection of the woods and gullies while awaiting the arrival of his Fae friends.

So let’s get back to Brodie now that you understand better who he is and his job.

Seeing nothing had changed overnight, Brodie turned tail to head back home for some breakfast and Josie time. The sun was burning brightly through the clouds as the snowflakes fell as big as quarters, in that lazy lack of a dilly way, the way that spring snow often fell. It had no intention of accumulating but still wanted its presence known.

With his familiar smile and tongue lolling out, Brodie made his way through the trails to the back of the barn. Josie would be feeding the barn animals their breakfast now and every once in a while it would result in a treat for Brodie. Whether it be a carrot that Sheeba the horse dropped, or an apple that did not quite make it to the donkeys stall occupied by Topper or Tooey.