Felix was up front in our trek back to camp. I took up the rear position with Bear just in front of me. I wanted to be able to keep an eye on the new pups, Tito and Floppy Joe. I didn’t want them wandering off since it was getting late. Young pups can get so distracted very easily, much like little children. Since there were eight of us pups this year it was a lot to manage and keep together. It was getting a little dark and we didn’t seem to be getting close to camp. That was a bit worrisome for me as I certainly didn’t want to spend the night in the woods. I didn’t see much that looked familiar and I have been all over these parts in my seven years coming to camp. I signaled to Felix for our group to circle up and reconsider our position. As we all huddled in a group I noticed Tito and Floppy Joe were nowhere to be seen. How in the world could they be missing? My greatest nightmare had happened right before our eyes. They were right in front of me the last time I checked but now they were gone. We started howling our camp howl in hopes they would hear and come running. Nothing! Now it was almost completely dark. We couldn’t go on because we could hardly see anything before us. And if Tito and Floppy Joe were lost nearby we didn’t need to leave the area. Felix and I decided there was nothing to do but stop and make camp. Felix, Bear, Coco, Willow, Hank and myself would all huddle together and make the best of a horrible situation. No food, no way to start a campfire, and two of our youngest pups lost! We continued to howl every now and again to see if they would hear and find us. Poor little Tito and Floppy Joe I’m sure are scared out of their minds. They must have scampered off chasing an animal when I wasn’t paying close enough attention. I feel so responsible for them getting lost. I won’t sleep a wink tonight worrying about those two. The night sounds are beginning to get louder and louder. When we are in the safety of our camp it’s pretty cool to hear all these sounds unfold. The crickets start first and get louder and louder. The cicadas join in and almost drown out the sounds of the crickets. In a bit the hoot owls start. First one owl and then another owl maybe a little ways away. It’s as if they are talking to each other, maybe they are. Are they discussing the lost dogs in these woods? Do they know where the lost pups are? As the night gets later, I hear a mountain cat screaming in the distance. Geez, those things can sound just like a woman screaming sometimes. Really, really spooky! I don’t like being lost in the woods at night. It’s actually the first time I’ve been lost in the woods at night. We’ve always managed to get back to camp before dark. I’m talking to God about now. Praying big prayers for our lost pups and for all six of us pups huddled up here. Talking to God is just like talking to your parents. You just say everything that’s on your heart and mind. Just let it all spill out. “Dear God, please keep us safe out in these woods tonight and keep little Tito and Floppy Joe safe and help us find them in the morning?” Oh dear, was that a coyote I just heard? Surely we’re not back in their territory. We promised them to never venture into their woods again back a few years ago. It’s gonna be a long night with lots of prayers offered up to God. The other pups were awakened at the sound of that coyote howling. Now there are several more coyotes howling. We all get really close together. At least I am with the biggest pups. I am so worried about little Tito. Floppy Joe has long legs and can really run fast but little Tito had a hard time keeping up earlier today. I circle the six of us, Felix, Bear, Coco, Willow, Hank and tell them we all need to pray. So one by one they offer a prayer to God for His protection this night for our cousin pups, Tito and Floppy Joe and us. “God please watch over and protect Floppy Joe and Tito.  Hide them in the darkness of your woods until morning and help us to find them at first light.” The hours are creeping by. We hear noises in the woods. Many animals come out at night looking for food, like armadillos and opossums. They make a lot of noise. Wild hogs come out at night when it’s cool as well. If you don’t bother them sometimes they are harmless but they can be pretty mean at times. I won’t soon forget a few years back when we had to run for our lives from a big team of hogs. So as we lay there waiting for the minutes to tick off the clock until daylight we try to guess what animals are in those dark woods surrounding us. We pray it’s harmless armadillos scratching for insects to eat. Every sound of a limb breaking gives us cause to think the worst! What’s that I hear in the distance? Is that thunder? Great, as if things couldn’t get any worse we’re about to have a big summer thunderstorm. Mercy! I remembered seeing a few large rocks near where we had settled in for the night so I told the others we had better move over towards those large rocks for a little protection from tree limbs that could come crashing down. “Please Lord let this night end soon. I am terrified!”