The Barn Owl and The Bulldog

There once was a Bulldog puppy and a barn owl who lived together on a farm with other types of animals and a wooded area. The little puppy stayed with his mother and his siblings but the one animal who looked out for all the puppies while their mother was asleep and the puppies would tend to roam around.

The barn owl would watch the young puppies from her perch on a tall pine tree on the edge of a forest. The barn owl was a pale brown with a white face and the young bulldogs were all black as night while their mother was a chocolate color and the father was a blue color. The puppies would chase after their mother while the father watched dutifully from the doors of the barn where the young family lived on a large farm.

While the young barn owl would sleep during the day, at night she would keep a dutiful eye on the young family as they slept at night making sure things were all right while she hunted for food and tended to her own young. While she hunted she would make sure that not only were her young ones all right, but that the young dog family was all right as well while they slept.

The barn owl had begun to befriend one of the pups, who had told the young owl that her name was Caydance. The barn owl always made sure that Caydence got back to the barn when the sun began to rise so she was back with her family before her parents and siblings awoke. Before she fell asleep, the barn owl always waited up to be sure that the young family of bulldogs was doing all right.

As days went on, every night Caydance and the barn owl, whose name was Destinie, would spend time together and wander the woods while Caydance talked about her family and Destinie listened closely memorizing every detail Caydance barked about. When the sun would begin to rise, Caydance would get sad while Destinie would reassure her that they would see each other again that night and gently usher the young pup back towards her barn and family.

Over time, the owl and young pup grew closer with their nighttime strolls in the woods. During a chilly, fall night while Caydance is sneaking out of the barn to meet Destinie, she is met by her father at the entrance of the barn.

“Where are you headed off to?” Her father asks, barking low

“To meet my friend Destinie in the woods.” Caydance barks softly

“The woods? Is that where you have been coming back from as the sun begins to rise?” Her father barks, concerned

“Yes father.” The young pup softly barks

“Go to bed. I will meet your friend and let her know you will be staying in the barn from now on at night. No more sneaking away. Understood?”

“Yes father.” Caydance barks, head down

Her father nudges her and she heads back towards her mother and siblings, tail between her legs. Her father watches for a moment then heads towards the woods. He finds Destinie on a low branch, waiting for something or someone.

“I’m Caydance’s father, Baxon. She will not be accompanying you tonight. I appreciate that you have been looking out for my mischievous, young daughter but if she comes this way again, please send her back home to the barn.”

Destinie nods, “Of course. I’m sorry if I have caused any inconveniences with your family. I have been watching out for her while getting to know her and want you to know I have looked out for her as if she were my own young one.” Baxon nods back then turns and heads back to the barn without so much of another word on the matter of his pup.

As the days went on, Caydance tried to sneak away more and more, but each night was met by either her father or mother and told to go back to bed and forget about Destinie as the two were not meant to be friends. This, of course, made Caydance rather upset but she did as she was told.

It’s been a few weeks and Caydance is the last one of her brothers and sisters to find a home with a human family. She has been enjoying being the only puppy left but at the same time she misses having someone to play with and she is really beginning to miss Destinie as time goes on since her brothers and sisters have all gone so she feels so truly has no friends left to play with. What she doesn’t know is Destinie has been watching from her home in the pine tree on the edge of the woods, as a barn owl of course she sleeps during the day, but at night she makes sure to make her way to the barn to check on her sweet puppy companion. Destinie has seen her friends’ siblings leave and can tell how lonely Caydance has started to become.

One night, Destinie is sitting on top of the open bar door, watching her children fly around when she hears a puppy whining. She flies into the barn and lands on a rafter just above where her friend sleeps and finds her whining in her sleep. Flying down to the floor of the barn, she gently nudges Caydance with her beak to wake the pup. When Caydance opens her eyes, she barks-startled-once she realizes it’s Destinie, she relaxes and wags her tail at her friend.

“I’m so happy you’re here! I’ve missed you!” Caydance barks happily

“I’m happy to see you too my young friend. I have missed you also.” Destinie hoots

Caydance rubs her head against the owls’ belly and quietly follows her friend out of the barn and into the night.

“Why don’t you come live with me in the woods?” Destinie hoots quietly

“You mean it?! I’d love that! But...what about my parents?” The young pup barks quietly, concerned

“I will tell them that I have taken you under my wing and not to worry as they can come see you as often as they wish in the woods.” Destinie hoots proudly

The young pup looks back at her sleeping parents then wags her tail as she looks at the aging barn owl, “This sounds like an excellent idea. We shall tell them together.” Destinie shakes her head, “No. I will tell them when you are safe in the woods.” The pup looks at her parents once more then nods her head and follows the owl into the woods to begin her new life.