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He had seen everything from the bushes. Lily and Mopple getting chased by the big doggies, Sebastian fighting the doggies followed by Lily curling up to Sebastian as he had fallen to the ground.
He had also watched how Lily and Mopple had left, looking all distraught. As a winter lamb, there was not much he could do for Sebastian but still he hobbled his way towards the big sheep. He had always been nice to him after all. The only one of the flock, actually, that had not shunned him for being a winter lamb. Sebastian did not look good, not good at all. He nestled up next to him, just like he had seen Lily do before. As he did, he felt a little bit of a breeze right in his neck. He looked up. He was lying right under Sebastian's nose. The wind had come from Sebastian. That must mean there was still time to help him! He needed to think of somewhere to go for help, quickly! The winter lamb thought real hard. The flock would probably not listen to him as he was a winter lamb. The town seemed a good option but it was way too far and he needed to be quick. Caleb Merrow was nearby but he would never help, that he was sure off. He must have been the luckiest lamb that night though, because right as he was about to give up, he heard a car stopping.
He ran as hard as his little legs would allow towards where the sound had come from. Right at the edge of George’s land stood officer Tim Derry. Bleating as hard as he could, the little lamb demanded the officer's attention.
“What is it, little buddy?” The officer asked.
He had looked deep in thought when the winter lamb had approached but was on high alert now. The lamb kept bleating as he ran to where Sabastian was. Miracle of all miracles, Tim Derry followed him all the way back.
“Oh jeez, that doesn’t look good.” Officer Derry inspected Sebastian.
“Get back little one. I’m going to try to get this one to my car, don’t let me fall over you.”
The winter lamb watched as officer Derry braced himself and threw Sebastian over his shoulders. He was surprisingly strong for such a slender man. Maybe he could also be strong someday, just like the officer, even though he was small right now.
He followed the officer to the car, saw how he carefully placed Sebastian inside and watched them speed off. There was nothing more he could do for Sebastian now. He decided that the best thing he could do was to go back to George’s caravan and try to get some rest.
However, the rest had to wait a little longer. He arrived back just in time to hear the tail end of Lily and Mopple’s conversation. It sounded like they needed help too.
“I can fit places,” the winter lamb said. “And I didn’t forget.”
So much happened at once after that, that Sebastian completely slipped his mind. Only when he watched Lily, Mopple, Reggie and Ronnie walk away after finally catching the real killer, did he remember how badly Sebastian had been injured. He really hoped that he would come back again and that everything would be better. Lily had seemed really sad.
Despite the thrilling morning, the rest of the day went achingly slow for him. He sat atop Sebastian's cliff and observed the field. He saw how Rebecca brought all of Caleb Merrow's sheep into their field, uniting the two flocks. He watched as all the sheep were introducing themselves and getting to meet each other. And he noticed Rebecca disappear into the caravan for a little while only to emerge again with a book in her hands. She sat down in the exact spot George used to sit and as all the sheep started gathering and bleating at her, she began to read aloud. He had been watching the group for a while when he heard the sound of hooves coming up from behind him. It was Lily.
“It’s nice up here,” she said. “But a bit lonely.”
He didn’t answer her.
"George. That’s your name. Every sheep should have a name.”
“George,” he repeated.
George liked that name, it filled him with a sense of honour. He nestled up to Lily as a way to show his gratitude. Then she brought him back with her, back to the caravan to listen to Rebecca read. The other lambs welcomed him and he bounced around with them for a while. It was a little awkward to finally be between all the others instead of being off to the side, but he felt all warm and cozy at the idea of being welcomed instead of chased away.
When Rebecca was done, she stood up. So did the sheep. As she turned to go inside the caravan and the sheep were beginning to return to the barn, the sound of a familiar car started getting louder and louder. George abruptly stopped walking, making Lily bump into him in the process. The car stopped and from the drivers side officer Derry emerged.
“Rebecca, I have something for you!” He exclaimed.
Rebecca quickly made her way to the car. So did George, with Lily in tow.
She frowned. “Is it about my father? Or my brother?”
“No no no, don’t worry,” Officer Derry answered. “ Yesterday I found one of your sheep. Well uhm, actually, that one found one of your sheep.” He pointed to George.
“Go on,” Rebecca said. One of her eyebrows raised slightly higher than the other.
“It looked in a real bad shape so I took it to the vet. They told me it took some doing, but he looks better now, I think. Still needs some gentle care, though. Anyways, here he is, back home now.”
Officer Derry opened the side of his car. George couldn’t believe it. He had done it. He had saved Sebastian's life because there he was, in the backseat of the car. George immediately sprinted towards him.
“You’re here! You’re back!” He bounced up and down before Sebastian’s face.
“Hey kiddo, you saved my life,” Sebastian softly answered.
George could feel Lily’s presence behind him. He immediately calmed down and backed away. He did not know exactly why, but he had the feeling he should give the two of them some space.
“Sebastian,” Lily whispered. “I thought you died.”
“So did I. But it appears I am not done here just yet,” He gave a small wink.
Officer Derry helped Sebastian out of the car and onto his feet. Sebastian wobbled a bit as he took a few steps, just like George always does.
“Thank you, Tim” Rebecca pushed herself upon her toes and gave officer Derry a small kiss on his cheek. George could only describe the colour of officer Derry’s face at that moment as matching that of the yew tree berries.
He turned his gaze back to Sebastian who appeared to put all his concentration into slowly moving towards his cliff.
Lily appeared beside him. “Where do you think you’re going?”
Sebastian grunted, “Back to my place.”
Lily moved in front of him, blocking his path. “No, you’re not. Look at the state of you. You’re much too weak to go out alone right now. You should stay with us in the barn, at least for tonight.”
“No, thank you.” Sebastian took a step to the left to go around Lily.
“She is right, you know,” Mopple said. “We owe you for saving our lives. You are not well right now because of that. The least we can do is look out for you tonight.”
“I don’t need anyone looking out for me,” Sebastian replied, but the words did not sound as harsh as they would have before. He took a quick glance between Mopple and Lily, resigned himself and dutifully turned to follow the rest of the flock towards the barn.
Lily sighed quietly. “Thank you.”
George watched them leave. They only made it a few paces when Sebastian stopped and turned his head around. He looked George directly in the eyes.
“You too,” he said. Then he turned back and continued walking. George ran after him.
That night he slept the best he had ever slept. Sebastian had dozed off very quickly, likely due to the exhaustion from all the heeling his body had to do. Lily had rested her head upon him, like she had done the previous night and also slowly drifted off. George had stayed up a little longer. Not because he wasn’t tired. No, he was completely drained. He stayed up because he wanted to take it all in. You never knew what could happen and he wanted to be able to always conjure up this image again. All the sheep, save and warm, together. Eventually, Mopple had nudged him to go and rest his head. As soon as he did, George had been in dreamland, dreaming of all the clouds looking over him.