The Ox pranced about the meadow proud to show all his might and handsomeness.

‘What a good day to be alive!’, the Ox told himself, as he watched the other animals watching him in awe.

The pastures were lush and the sparkling stream bubbled away at the edge of the forest. To sum it up, the world was just right.

As he was prancing about, the Ox’s beautiful scenery was suddenly tainted by a large Irish wolfhound lying under a sumptuous tree, and making pain filled noises.

The first instinct the Ox had was to go round the tree so as to avoid any conversation. But then, a little voice inside his head said, ‘You are The Ox, you do not avoid anything, not only that but you should tell that smelly old dog to move along and stop dirtying the meadow!’

Encouraged by his own arrogance the Ox approached the whining dog.

‘Ahem …’ and followed it by a polite throat clearing.

The huge grey Dog opened blood shot eyes, and looked up at the well built Ox throwing a shade on him with his large bulk.

As the Dog made no reply, the Ox went on.

‘I say, in the village below there is bound to be a human to help mind your … whatever is wrong with you …’

The Ox stopped there convinced the Dog will take the hint. What animal wouldn’t?

The Dog though did not do what the Ox expected, get up and go, but he let out a low growl, that was enough to signal to the Ox that he would better put some distance between himself and the oversized Dog.

‘Yeah, all right my dear fellow! Feel better!’

The Ox left allowing the other animals to admire him while grumbling to himself about that dirty old Dog. Honestly, some animals!

The day passed in the blink of an eye and soon night covered every corner of the meadow.

The Ox found a lovely, comfy spot and settled in for the night. Just when his sleep was sweeter, he was woken up by unusual sounds, and he was shocked to see that he was surrounded by a pack of terrifying looking wolves.

The Ox did not get too much time to contemplate his faith, when one of the wolves attacked him going straight for his throat, but just at that same moment the old Dog appeared out of the dark night and jumped on the attacking wolf.

The Dog fought the wolves away and the Ox just got a few scratches, but was otherwise safe and sound.

In the new day the Ox was so grateful to be alive! Just imagine, his perfect little world could have been no more, if the Dog hadn’t saved him! The Ox was an honorable animal and he felt he was completely in debt to the old Dog, so he went to express his gratitude.

The only reply he got from the Dog though, was the same low growl as the day before. But the Ox was not easily deterred, so he made it his daily duty to go and visit the Dog.

The Ox would bring water, would provide shade when the sun was too hot, would just chat away to the Dog until an unusual bond formed between the two.

As it turned out, the Dog was just not used to interact with the animals he was quietly guarding. In time though, they both found that, everybody has something to give, even if that might seem doubtful at the first glance and, true friends are sometimes found where pride least expects them.

The Proud Ox and the Old Dog