Country walk on sunny day took dark turn

Last week Flossie disappeared on our walk.

It was a rare sunny day so I decided we would make the most of it and enjoy an extended outing. 

It turned out not to be enjoyable for me. 

The walk started off well as we ventured down a steep country track. Flossie was responsive to me and didn’t stray too far. 

There were a lot of pheasants around. I wasn’t too concerned. Flossie loves scampering after them but it’s fairly half-hearted.

Unfortunately, she found one that was already dead.

I know from previous experience that if I ignore her, she will find somewhere “safe” to place her treasure and then we can continue on our way. 

So, I carried on walking. 

However, when I turned round to check she had deposited her find, she was nowhere to be seen. 

I waited. 

And I waited.

The track was eerily silent, so I made my way back up, peering through hedges to see if I could spot her.

Nothing. 

I must have walked up and down for 20 minutes, calling her with increasing urgency. It seemed like much longer.

There was no sign of her. 

I wondered what to do. We were in the depths of the countryside and I didn’t want to go too far from where I’d last seen her. 

By this point, I was running out of places to look. I assumed she must have gone through a hedge and made her way across the rolling fields.

I was now worried.

I walked back down to where she’d vanished, trying not to panic.

And, out of nowhere, I heard the galloping of paws, thundering down the track.

Flossie arrived as if she was being chased by a tiger. She was panting heavily. 

There was no pheasant. 

That was something.

I have no idea where she’d been, but I clipped her lead on, did an about turn and took her straight home.

That was enough excitement for one day.

Last week Flossie disappeared on our walk.

It was a rare sunny day so I decided we would make the most of it and enjoy an extended outing. 

It turned out not to be enjoyable for me. 

The walk started off well as we ventured down a steep country track. Flossie was responsive to me and didn’t stray too far. 

There were a lot of pheasants around. I wasn’t too concerned. Flossie loves scampering after them but it’s fairly half-hearted.

Unfortunately, she found one that was already dead.

I know from previous experience that if I ignore her, she will find somewhere “safe” to place her treasure and then we can continue on our way. 

So, I carried on walking. 

However, when I turned round to check she had deposited her find, she was nowhere to be seen. 

I waited. 

And I waited.

The track was eerily silent, so I made my way back up, peering through hedges to see if I could spot her.

Nothing. 

I must have walked up and down for 20 minutes, calling her with increasing urgency. It seemed like much longer.

There was no sign of her. 

I wondered what to do. We were in the depths of the countryside and I didn’t want to go too far from where I’d last seen her. 

By this point, I was running out of places to look. I assumed she must have gone through a hedge and made her way across the rolling fields.

I was now worried.

I walked back down to where she’d vanished, trying not to panic.

And, out of nowhere, I heard the galloping of paws, thundering down the track.

Flossie arrived as if she was being chased by a tiger. She was panting heavily. 

There was no pheasant. 

That was something.

I have no idea where she’d been, but I clipped her lead on, did an about turn and took her straight home.

That was enough excitement for one day.

As published in the Bath Chronicle, 24 November 2022