He took the risk

The animal barked a few times and then began to walk away from Mark, pausing to see if Mark would follow him. It was getting close to dark and he was still far from home, and the darkness would make it even colder. He did not want to be outside in the cold, but he also did not want the animal to be cold, either. Taking a chance, Mark followed the animal, hoping that he would be able to catch and bring it home, or to its owner if he was safe from the cold.

A happy dog

The animal was very happy, almost jumping and wagging its tail as Mark watched, and Mark was so pleased that he smiled. However, the smile quickly faded when he realized where the animal was leading him. The first two minutes were spent walking deeper into the forest, and Mark began to doubt himself as he walked away from home. Every time he slowed down or tried to turn back, the small dog began to bark again, almost pleading with him, “Don’t leave me!”