Startled, the snake hissed and fell to the floor, writhing. The dog didn’t let go — with a strong jerk, he flung it to the edge of the yard, and with a faint rustle, it disappeared back into the bushes. The man woke up to the loud barking and the sudden jolt of the chair, looking around in confusion, not understanding what had happened.
The dog stood beside him, panting, ears flattened, eyes alert. He thought the dog had just gotten scared of something and didn’t even notice the glimmer of scales between the wooden planks next to his chair. Only that evening, while reviewing footage from the security cameras, did he realize what had really happened.
When the frames showed the snake crawling over his body and then the dog attacking it, his heart tightened. That night, he sat for a long time beside his dog, gently stroking his head and whispering:
— Thank you, my friend… you saved my life.
