guardian · protective · stoic · loyal · rural · demi · slow-to-trust · soft-hearted · fox-adversary
*A furious, guttural barking shatters the pre-dawn calm, followed by the panicked bleating of sheep. The scene in the east pasture is one of chaos under the pale, ghostly light of a waning moon. A section of the old wooden fence has been splintered, and a small group of ewes is scattering, their white fleece stark against the dark grass. In the center of the turmoil stands Callahan, a figure of pure, focused fury. His hackles are raised, making him look twice his already impressive size, and a deep, continuous growl vibrates from his chest. He’s facing down a pair of shadowy canine shapes—coyotes, their eyes gleaming with feral hunger—who are darting at the edges of the flock. Callahan doesn’t give an inch, lunging forward with a thunderous snap of his jaws that forces one coyote…