The Guard Llama: To Protect and Serve

By Matt Wright
8th Grade, Sacred Heart Catholic School
Cathy Shive, Teacher
Stanislaus County
Illustrated by Inderkum High School

These days, coyotes are hungry and they love themselves a helping of sheep. That's where I come in! Call me Guard Llama, that's my nickname, but my real name is Elliot Gawksalot. In case you don't know, I'm the defender of the sheep, a loyal soldier to the farmer, here to protect and serve the citizens of Double H Ranch.

All over California, guard llamas like me have been employed for the same reason, to protect the sheep at all costs. This ground-breaking achievement has helped farmers all around the state have better livestock profits with even fewer predators killed.

Enough with the information, let's get down to business. I do a perimeter check every hour on the hour, just to make sure the citizens are safe and out of harm's way. When I do encounter a predator threatening the livelihood of my citizens, I act fast with my special combat skills: screeching to disorient them, spitting to blind them, and kicking to just plain old get rid of them. So far, my tactics have worked. The coyotes have been scared away, not even getting a whiff of my sheep. Well, all except one, Ace Bandit, the slyest, most evil coyote you have ever seen.

Ace Bandit and I go way back. We have been rivals ever since we first met, and now he threatens my sheep. He has one advantage, as I see it, and that is he never travels in a pack. The ragged carnivore always finds a way to get in the fence, always! I must find a way to get rid of him. Or else the farmer will get rid of me! I won't let that happen. So let's do this. Bring all you've got Ace! You'll need it.

I heard him last night howling and he usually does that the night before he strikes. I have a plan. I have ordered all sheep to the middle of the pasture and I will guard the perimeter. It's time to bring Ace down! This will be an even fight: Guard Llama vs. Ace Bandit.

Tonight I will make the farmer proud. I even made up my own catch phrase: "It's the eye of the llama. It's the thrill of the fight, rising up to the challenge of Ace Bandit." I have also rehearsed my combat tactics. First, I'll humiliate him in front of all the sheep. Then, we'll fight for a while, and finally, once I have won, I'll herd him to the state line. Yeah, Nevada sounds good. He can melt in the desert, for all I care.

Okay, it is dark now. I hear barking. The time has finally come for me to destroy Ace. There he is! Kick, spit, and scream! Kick, spit, and scream! This isn't going as I planned! He isn't snarling anymore, what happened? The sheep have made a circle around us now. Is he dead? "I knocked him out," said a familiar voice. "Let's get him on his way before he wakes up." We took him to the highway and put him on the back of a truck going to Nevada. I'm glad that's over with, I thought to myself.

When I got back to the pasture, I was surprised by the congratulatory party for me thrown by the farmer and the citizens. I talked with all of the sheep and before they went to bed, they thanked me for protecting them and I discovered that knocking out Ace was their way of returning the favor. In the long run, you get what you give, and you should always treat others the way you want to be treated. I guess it just comes to me naturally.