Patricio bounded through the tall grass, his nose twitching at every new smell. A bright blue butterfly fluttered by, and he chased it past the last bush.
He followed the butterfly into the deep green forest. The trees grew thick and shadowy. The path behind him vanished.
The butterfly flitted higher and higher. Patricio's tail stopped wagging. A cool breeze whispered through the leaves.
Patricio tried to find his way back, but every tree looked the same. He lifted a paw to sniff a mossy rock, then froze. His ears drooped. The forest went very quiet.
A golden butterfly drifted past his nose. Patricio's ears shot up. His tail gave one slow wag.
He followed the butterfly, stepping over roots and ducking under branches.
The butterfly landed on a familiar fence post. Patricio burst through the last trees into his yard.
He sprinted across the green grass toward the back door. His tail thumped against the porch in happy bursts.
He pressed his wet nose against the glass. Inside, he was home.
The adventure was over. Patricio had found his way back.
He had chased a butterfly deep into the woods. But he knew the way home.
Home.