It is true what they said.

  The other dogs were right, the air and land is getting colder.

  It must be because of what they called winter.

  It is not here yet, but will be soon.

  All of this makes me really excited, since this will be the first time I will see it. The time I have been training for, for very long.

  I have been trained to herd sheep and so have the others, before the winter really starts we have to get the sheep out of the mountains.

  Every day I've trained, my humans help me with their funny birds, they call a whistle.

  So many commands I have learned and many compliments I've gotten.

  I am ready for this.

  I leave the village with my boss and one of the other dogs.

  Niall is an older dog, he has always been quite nice to me, so I'm happy that he is here.

  "Remember what you have been learning all this time, Paddy." He lets me kindly know and I answer that I will be fine.

  We follow our human up the mountain.

  The first group of sheep is there, grazing on what little is left of the cold grass.

  I have never understood why that would seem tasty to them.

  Our human plays their bird, letting me and Niall know when we need to go right or left.

  The sheep run before us in a group, with their thick wool they almost look like dirty clouds.

  We bring them around a tree and through a small road down to the village.

  The next group is a little further up the mountain.

  This one is going well- Wait, what is that?

  I stop to stare at a little white thing falling slowly like a feather from the sky.

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  Slowly, slowly.

  It looks cold, but it isn't rain.

  "Paddy! Stop staring and keep going! We need to get those sheep's back before the sun leaves." Niall barks at me.

  "What is that?" I ask.

  "That is snow and it is rather early, so we need to hurry!"

  Our human seems to be getting a little stressed too and starts playing their bird louder and faster.

  Right. Left. Right. Left. Stop. Go.

  The snow starts falling faster and with more.

  Slow, but also fast.

  Making the ground all white and scrunching beneath my paws.

  If I was home now, I would have been able to enjoy it.

  I feel a bit jealous when I think of the others, who are playing in the snow right now.

  Oh well, I was the one chosen for this job and they weren't.

  Without knowing I have ran too far and I am left alone with one of the sheep.

  The sheep looks annoyed at me and I decide to chase it back to where I think the path is.

  The sheep takes a few steps back, but then out of nowhere it rams me with its head.

  The snow beneath my paws drops, taking me with it.

  I fall.

  I fall.

  I keep falling.

  There is only white surrounding me.

  I can't breathe.

  I fall.

  I fall...

  When I open my eyes I see that I am not falling anymore.

  I shake off the cold, wet snow.

  Maybe it is not as fun as I thought.

  Carefully I walk as I look around me for anything I can recognize.

  It would be dangerous to just return the way I got here, it's too slippery.

  As I get used to the sound the snow makes I continue walking, there are a lot of trees here.

  More than before I fell.

  Suddenly I hear a human bird.

  Like the one my human has.

  I run towards the sound as fast as I can.

  While I run, it gets darker and darker.

  Not only are more trees blocking out the light, the sky itself seems to be getting dark too.

  Another whistle, right behind me.

  I turn around as fast as I can, but there is no human...

  Another.

  But no human and no Niall.

  Another. Another. Another.

  I can feel danger approaching.

  I try to growl at it, but can only whimper.

  Another. Another. Another. Another. Another. Another. Another. Another.

  Louder and louder.

  Another sound.

  Not human.

  Not dog.

  Not even an actual bird.

  Not an animal I know.

  I can't stay here, I need to leave here and fast.

  I turn around and run as fast as I can in a straight line.

  The roots of trees scratch me, but can't catch me.

  I just run.

  Tired, cold, hurt and alone I walk.

  I can't run anymore.

  I can't bark for help anymore.

  I can only shiver and limp.

  Then at last I smell something familiar.

  I walk faster, ignoring the pain.

  Finally, I see something I can recognize, just barely. But it looks like the village.

  It smells like it too.

  As if they had their fires on a little while ago that warmed the houses.

  But isn't that wrong?

  There is no smoke coming out of the roofpipes.

  The smell of warm food is also missing.

  And the barking of the other dogs.

  Not even the birds sing.

  Where is everyone?

  Did they leave without me?

  Even though I'm exhausted, I somehow find the energy to run home.

  The door is open.

  I call for them, the humans and for the other dogs.

  No answer.

  I bark again.

  Only silence.

  With my snout I push the door open a little bit further.

  A terrible smell quickly fills my nostrils, making me want to gag.

  Blood!