The sun had barely risen when the first signs of worry began to show on CUTIS’s face. It was subtle at first—just the way his ears twitched, the way his nose kept lifting into the air as if trying to catch a familiar scent. But soon, it was clear to everyone in the household: Dad hadn’t returned, and CUTIS knew something wasn’t right.
CUTIS was no ordinary dog. Intelligent, sensitive, and deeply bonded to his family, he had a special connection with Dad—one built from years of trust, adventures, and little routines they shared every single day. Dad was the one who tossed the ball farthest, the one who rubbed CUTIS’s ears just the way he liked, the one who whispered, “I’m here, boy,” whenever a storm rolled in.
But this morning, Dad’s usual footsteps, his whistle, his warm laugh—none of it came.
CUTIS paced anxiously across the porch, glancing back at Mom, who tried to soothe him.
“He’ll be back soon,” she said gently. “He just went out earlier than usual.”
CUTIS didn’t believe it. His instincts told him otherwise. Something was wrong.
He nudged open the gate with his nose—Dad often forgot to latch it fully—and slipped out. Mom called after him, but he was already trotting down the path, tail low, ears sharp, heart pounding.
CUTIS was going to find Dad.
The First Clue
The air was cool and filled with the smell of morning dew. CUTIS stopped at every familiar corner, sniffing the ground intensely. Dad always walked the same route when he went to the market, so CUTIS followed that trail.
At the big tamarind tree, he found the first clue—Dad’s sandal print, still fresh in the soft dirt.
CUTIS let out a short, hopeful bark.
He pressed his nose to the ground and continued tracking. But the trail abruptly faded near the old wooden bridge. CUTIS circled several times, confused. Dad’s scent ended here—but why?
Just then, a gentle chirp came from above. It was the same small bird Dad often fed crumbs to. CUTIS tilted his head, watching the bird hop along the branch. It pecked toward the far side of the bridge, as if giving a direction.
CUTIS barked once, thankful, and rushed forward.
Meeting Friends on the Way
As CUTIS ran deeper into the village, familiar faces noticed him.
“CUTIS? Out here alone?” one woman called out.
Her young son crouched beside CUTIS, patting his head. “Looking for your dad, huh? I think I saw him carrying some boxes toward the river earlier!”
CUTIS barked excitedly. Clue number two.
He sprinted toward the river path, ears flapping, paws pounding the dirt.
Along the way, he encountered an old buffalo resting under a palm tree. CUTIS wagged his tail politely. The buffalo snorted and pointed its massive head toward the river.
Even the animals knew Dad’s path.
CUTIS hurried on.
The Riverbank Mystery
When he arrived at the riverbank, CUTIS expected to see Dad fishing or talking with the boatmen.
But instead, he found Dad’s hat lying near the water’s edge.
CUTIS froze.
His heart thumped loudly as he picked up the hat gently in his mouth. Had something happened to Dad? Had he fallen? Why would he leave his hat?
He sniffed the air—Dad’s scent was strong, but mixed with something else… the smell of the wooden boats and river mud.
CUTIS barked urgently toward the boatmen.
One of them, a kind man Dad often chatted with, walked over. “Looking for him, boy? Don’t worry—your dad isn’t in the water,” he reassured, patting CUTIS’s head. “He borrowed a boat earlier and went to the other side of the river.”
The other side?
CUTIS’s tail wagged with relief and determination.
The boatman smiled and pointed. “Go to the crossing bridge. He’ll be walking back from there.”
CUTIS didn’t waste a second.
Crossing the Bamboo Bridge
The bamboo bridge that stretched across the river was narrow and slightly shaky. Humans crossed it carefully.
CUTIS? He didn’t care about the wobbling or the height. Dad was on the other side, and that was enough.
He stepped onto the bamboo slats, balancing carefully. The water rushed below, but CUTIS kept his eyes forward. Halfway across, he heard something rustle in the bushes—it was the baby monkey who often followed CUTIS on little adventures.
The monkey tilted its head, then chirped as if asking, What are you doing out here?
CUTIS barked twice: Looking for Dad.
The monkey understood instantly and followed, leaping lightly across the bridge. Together, they reached the far side.
CUTIS sniffed around. Dad’s scent was stronger here.
He was close.
The Unexpected Discovery
CUTIS dashed down the small forest path, the monkey clinging to his fur to keep up. Birds scattered from the trees as the two moved quickly.
Then—suddenly—CUTIS heard a voice.
A familiar one.
Dad’s voice.
CUTIS stopped, ears perked, nose twitching. The monkey froze too.
“Yes, put them all here,” Dad said to someone. “We’ll bring these supplies to the shelter.”
Supplies?
Shelter?
CUTIS pushed through the bushes.
And then he saw him.
Dad.
Standing in the shade, helping a group of workers unload boxes of food and medicine. He was perfectly fine—just busy helping a community project he forgot to mention earlier.
CUTIS let out the loudest bark of his life.
Dad turned.
“CUTIS? OMG!”
He dropped the box and knelt down as CUTIS bolted toward him, tail circling in excitement so fast it nearly lifted him off the ground. The baby monkey jumped too, landing on Dad’s shoulder.
Dad laughed in disbelief.
“How did you even find me, boy? You tracked me all the way here?”
CUTIS whined, pressing his head into Dad’s chest. He didn’t care about explanations—Dad was safe. That was all that mattered.
Dad hugged him tightly.
“I’m sorry, CUTIS. I should’ve told you where I was going.”
CUTIS licked his chin forgivingly.
The workers chuckled, amazed at the dog who had traveled half the village just to make sure his dad was okay.
The Walk Home
On the way back, Dad carried the monkey, while CUTIS walked proudly beside them, chest puffed out as if he had completed a heroic mission.
Everyone they passed smiled and waved.
CUTIS had become a legend that day—a dog with loyalty deeper than words.
Dad looked down at him and said softly, “I’ll never leave without telling you again.”
CUTIS wagged his tail.
He believed him.
And as the three of them walked home together under the warm afternoon sun, CUTIS felt the world settle back into place.
Dad was here.
Safe.
Home.
And everything was perfect again.
