We moved into a house that had belonged to someone who had passed away, and every day a dog would come to visit us. One day, I decided to follow her.
When Maggie moved into a new house with her son Ethan and husband Kyle, she was more than ready for a fresh start. Her son needed a fresh start and a new school, and Maggie just wanted him to be happy. But one day, a husky wandered into their yard, started eating their food, and became close to Ethan. Soon after, the husky led Maggie and Ethan into the woods, ready to show them something terrible…
When we moved into our new home, I had a good feeling about it. It was a new chapter in our lives, and I was more than ready for it. Kyle, my husband, and I were excited to give our son Ethan a fresh start. He had recently been bullied at school, and we all just wanted to put that behind us.
The house belonged to an elderly man named Christopher, who had recently passed away. His daughter, a woman in her forties, sold it to us, saying that it was too painful for her to keep and that she hadn’t even lived in it since her father’s death.
‘There are too many memories in this house, you know?’ she said to me when we first met to view the property. ‘And I don’t want it to fall into the wrong hands. I want it to be a home for a family who will love it as much as mine did.’
‘I understand you perfectly, Tracy,’ I assured her. ‘We’ll make this house ours forever.’
We were eager to settle into the house, but something strange happened on the very first day. Every morning, a husky would appear at our doorstep. He was old, with grey fur and piercing blue eyes that seemed to look right through you.
This sweet dog didn’t bark or make any noise. He just sat there and waited. Of course, we gave him some food and water, assuming he belonged to the neighbours. After eating, he would leave, as if it were part of his routine.
‘Do you think his owners just don’t feed him, Mum?’ Ethan asked one day when we were shopping for groceries and picked up some husky food.
‘I don’t know, Ethan,’ I replied. ‘Maybe the old man who lived in our house used to feed him, and now it’s become a habit?’
‘Yeah, that makes sense,’ Ethan said, adding dog treats to the basket.
At first, we didn’t think much of it. Kyle and I wanted to get Ethan a dog, but we decided to wait until he got used to his new school.
But then the dog came back the next day. And the day after that. Always at the same time, always waiting patiently on the porch.
This husky didn’t seem like just a stray. He acted as if the house belonged to him and we were just temporary guests. It was strange, but we didn’t think too much of it.
Ethan was thrilled. I saw my son slowly becoming attached to this mysterious dog. He spent all his free time with him: running, throwing sticks for him, or just sitting on the porch and talking to him as if they had known each other all their lives.
I watched them from the kitchen window, smiling at how quickly Ethan had become attached to this dog.
It was just what he needed after everything he had been through at his old school.
One morning, as Ethan was petting the husky, his fingers stumbled upon a collar.
‘Mum, there’s a name on it!’ he called.
I came over and sat down next to the dog, brushing the fur off the worn leather collar. The name was barely legible, but it was there:
Christopher Jr.
My heart skipped a beat.
Was it just a coincidence?
Christopher — like the man who owned our house? Could this husky have been his dog? The thought sent a chill through me. Tracy hadn’t said anything about a dog.
‘Do you think he comes here because this was his home?’ Ethan asked, his eyes wide.
I shrugged, feeling slightly uneasy.
‘Maybe, dear. But it’s hard to say.’
That day after lunch, Christopher Jr. suddenly started acting strangely.
He whimpered quietly, pacing nervously at the edge of the yard, his eyes darting toward the forest. He had never behaved like this before. Now it seemed as if he wanted us to follow him.
The dog froze and stared straight ahead, and then I saw it.
‘Mum, I think he wants us to follow him!’ Ethan said excitedly, already pulling on his jacket.
I hesitated.
‘Darling, I’m not sure this is a good idea…’
‘Come on, Mum!’ Ethan exclaimed. ‘We need to see where it leads! We’ll take our phones, and I’ll text Dad to let him know. Please?’
I didn’t want to go, but I was intrigued. There was something in the dog’s eyes that made me think this was more than just a random walk in the woods.
So we went.
The husky walked confidently ahead, looking back from time to time to make sure we weren’t falling behind. The air was fresh, the forest was silent, only occasionally did branches crackle under our boots.
‘Are you still sure?’ I asked Ethan.
‘Yes!’ he replied enthusiastically. ‘Dad knows where we are, don’t worry, Mum.’
We walked for about twenty minutes, going deeper and deeper into the forest. I was about to suggest turning back when the husky stopped abruptly.
Right in front of him, in a hunter’s trap, lay a pregnant fox, barely moving.
‘My God,’ I whispered, rushing towards her.
The fox was emaciated, her breathing was ragged, and her fur was stained with dirt. The trap had dug into her paw, and she was trembling with pain.
‘Mum, we have to help her!’ Ethan exclaimed anxiously.
We freed the fox, took her to the vet, and then, a few days later, brought her home. The fox soon gave birth to four tiny fox cubs.
When they were old enough, we released them into the forest. Now every week, Ethan, Christopher Jr. and I go to visit them.
The fox always runs out to greet us, followed by her curious cubs.
What would you do in my place?
