Chapter 1

Anna and Lucy, two sisters, loved their dog Spot very much, and they often played with him in the backyard. But they never went near the old kennel. They felt a cold shiver whenever they looked at it. They sensed that there was something evil about it, something that did not belong in their happy home.

Spot also avoided the old kennel. He would bark and growl at it whenever he passed by it. He would never go inside it, even when Anna and Lucy threw his favorite ball or bone into it. He seemed to know that there was something dangerous inside it, something that wanted to hurt him.

One day, Anna and Lucy were playing with Spot in the backyard. They were having fun, throwing a frisbee and chasing each other around. They did not notice that the sky was getting dark and cloudy. They did not hear the thunder rumbling in the distance.

Suddenly, a flash of lightning lit up the sky, followed by a loud clap of thunder. Anna and Lucy screamed and ran towards the house. Spot followed them, but he was too slow. He was caught by a gust of wind that blew him towards the old kennel.

Spot yelped and tried to resist, but he was powerless against the force of the wind. He was dragged into the old kennel, which slammed shut behind him.

Anna and Lucy reached the door of the house and turned around. They saw Spot disappear into the old kennel.

“Spot!” they cried.

They ran back to the old kennel, hoping to free their dog. But they stopped when they heard a horrible sound coming from inside it.

It was a sound of pain and fear, mixed with a sound of anger and hunger. It was a sound of something alive and something dead, something human and something animal.

It was a sound of a werewolf.

Anna and Lucy stared at the old kennel in horror. They realized that it was not just an old kennel. It was a trap.

A trap for unwary travelers who wandered into the backyard at night.

A trap for curious children who dared to explore it.

A trap for innocent dogs who got too close to it.

A trap for anyone who crossed its path.

A trap that turned them into werewolves.

Anna and Lucy backed away from the old kennel slowly. They hoped that Spot would not come out of it. They hoped that he would not recognize them. They hoped that he would not attack them.

They hoped that they could escape before it was too late.

They hoped that they could survive until morning.

They hoped that they could find a way to save their dog.

They hoped that they could break the curse of the old kennel.

Just as Anna and Lucy were about to run away from the old kennel, they heard another sound coming from inside it.

It was a sound of joy and relief, mixed with a sound of gratitude and love. It was a sound of something alive and happy, something human and animal.

It was a sound of a dog.

The old kennel opened slowly, and out came Spot. He was no longer a werewolf. He was back to his normal self, a friendly and playful golden retriever.

Spot wagged his tail and licked Anna and Lucy’s faces. He barked and jumped around them. He seemed to be very happy to see them.

Anna and Lucy hugged Spot and cried. They were overjoyed to see their dog. They were relieved that he was not hurt. They were amazed that he had changed back.

They looked at the old kennel with wonder. They realized that it was not just a trap. It was also a test.

A test for unwary travelers who wandered into the backyard at night.

A test for curious children who dared to explore it.

A test for innocent dogs who got too close to it.

A test for anyone who crossed its path.

A test that challenged them to overcome their fears.

A test that rewarded them with a miracle.

They heard a voice coming from the old kennel. It was a soft and gentle voice, like a whisper in the wind.

“Well done, my children,” it said. “You have passed the test. You have shown courage and loyalty, kindness and compassion, faith and hope. You have proven yourselves worthy of my gift.”

“Who are you?” Anna asked.

“I am the spirit of the old kennel,” the voice said. “I am also the spirit of this land. I have been here for a long time, watching over the people and animals who live here. I have seen many things, good and bad. I have seen love and hate, joy and sorrow, beauty and ugliness.”

“What do you want from us?” Lucy asked.

“I want nothing from you,” the voice said. “I only want to give you something. Something that will help you in your life. Something that will make you happy.”

“What is it?” Anna and Lucy asked.

“It is a secret,” the voice said. “A secret that only you can discover. A secret that lies within your hearts.”

The voice paused for a moment, then continued.

“Listen carefully, my children,” it said. “I will tell you a story. A story that will reveal the secret to you. A story that will teach you a lesson. A story that will change your life.”

Anna and Lucy listened attentively. Spot listened too, with his ears perked up.

The voice began to tell them a story.

A story about an old kennel.

A story about a magical land.

A story about a fairy tale.

The voice told them:

“Once upon a time, there was an old kennel in the backyard of a house. It was built by a wise and kind man who loved animals. He wanted to provide a shelter for stray dogs who had no home. He also wanted to teach them a lesson about life.

He made the kennel in such a way that it had two doors. One door was always open, and it led to the outside world. The other door was always closed, and it led to a secret chamber. The chamber was filled with treasures and wonders that no eye had ever seen.

The man invited every dog he met to stay in his kennel. He gave them food and water, and he treated them with love and respect. He also told them about the two doors. He said that they were free to choose which door they wanted to enter. He said that if they chose the open door, they could go back to the world and live as they pleased. But if they chose the closed door, they would discover something amazing and beautiful.

He also warned them that once they entered the closed door, they could never come back. They would have to leave behind everything they knew and loved. They would have to face a great challenge and a great change. They would have to become something new and different.

Some dogs were curious and brave enough to enter the closed door. They found themselves in a dark and narrow tunnel that led to the secret chamber. Along the way, they encountered many obstacles and dangers. They had to overcome their fears and doubts, their greed and pride, their anger and jealousy. They had to learn to trust and obey, to love and forgive, to give and receive.

When they reached the end of the tunnel, they saw a bright light that blinded them for a moment. Then they saw the chamber that was full of treasures and wonders. They saw jewels and pearls, flowers and fruits, birds and butterflies, stars and rainbows. They also saw a mirror that showed them their true selves.

They realized that they were not simple dogs anymore. They were lions.

They were lions who had courage and strength, wisdom and dignity, grace and beauty. They were lions who had found their true nature and their true purpose. They were lions who watched the source of all life.

They were happy and grateful for their transformation. They thanked the man who had given them this opportunity. They also thanked each other for their companionship and support along the way.

They lived in the chamber for eternity, enjoying its treasures and wonders. They also shared their stories with each other, remembering their journey from dogs to lions.

They also heard a voice that spoke to them from time to time. It was the voice of the man who had built the kennel. It was also the voice of the source of all life.

The voice told them that they were his beloved children, his chosen ones. He told them that he was proud of them for passing his test. He told them that he loved them more than anything.

He also told them that they were not alone in the chamber. He said that there were many other lions who had entered the closed door before them or after them. He said that they were all part of one family, one community, one kingdom.

He said that one day, he would open another door for them. A door that would lead them to an even greater treasure and wonder. A door that would lead them to him.

He said that until then, they should be happy and peaceful in their chamber. He said that he would always watch over them and protect them. He said that he would always be with them.

He said:

’You are my lions, my suns, my moons,

You are my roses, my gardens, my fountains,

You are my songs, my stories, my poems,

You are my light, my love, my joy.’”

The voice finished the story and said:

“This is the end of my story, my children. I hope you liked it. I hope you learned something from it. I hope you will remember it.”

Anna and Lucy were speechless. They were moved by the story. They were touched by the voice.

They said to the voice:

“Thank you for telling us your story. It was wonderful. It was amazing. It was beautiful.”

“You are welcome, my children. I am glad you enjoyed it. I am glad you appreciated it. I am glad you understood it.”

“Who are you, really?” Anna asked.

“I am such as I am,” the voice said. “I am the spirit of the old kennel. I am the spirit of this land. I am the spirit of life.”

“Why did you tell us this story?” Lucy asked.

“I told you this story because I wanted to share with you a secret. A secret that only you can discover. A secret that lies within your hearts.”

“What is the secret?” Anna and Lucy asked.

“The secret is this,” the voice said. “You are not simple mortals. You are the chosen ones”

Anna and Lucy were puzzled. They did not know what the voice meant.

The voice explained:

“You are not the ones who live in fear and ignorance, who follow others blindly, who settle for less than what you deserve.

You are the chosen ones who have courage and wisdom, who lead yourselves wisely, who strive for more than what you have.

You are the chosen ones who have a true nature and a true purpose, who are connected to the source of all life, who are part of a greater family and a greater kingdom.

You are the chosen ones who can transform yourselves and your world, who can overcome any challenge and any change, who can become something new and different.

You are the chosen ones who can enter the closed door and discover the treasures and wonders that await you there, who can find your true selves and your true happiness, who can become my friends.”

Anna and Lucy were amazed. They felt a warm glow in their chests. They felt a tear roll down their cheeks. They felt a smile on their lips. They felt a love in their hearts.

They said to the voice:

“Thank you for telling us your secret. It is wonderful. It is amazing. It is beautiful.”

“You are welcome, my children. I am happy you liked it. I am happy you appreciated it. I am happy you understood it.”

“Can we see you?” Anna asked.

“No, you cannot see me,” the voice said. “But you can feel me. You can hear me. You can know me.”

“Can we stay with you?” Lucy asked.

“No, you cannot stay with me,” the voice said. “But you can visit me anytime. You can talk to me anytime. You can love me anytime.”

“Will we see you again?” Anna and Lucy asked.

“Yes, you will see me again,” the voice said. “One day, I will open another door for you. A door that will lead you to an even greater treasure and wonder. A door that will lead you to me.”

“When will that be?” Anna and Lucy asked.

“That will be when the time is right,” the voice said. “When you are ready. When I am ready.”

“How will we know?” Anna and Lucy asked.

“You will know,” the voice said. “You will feel it in your hearts.”

Anna and Lucy nodded.

They said to the voice:

“Goodbye for now, then.”

“Goodbye for now, my children,” the voice said.

They hugged Spot and thanked him for being their loyal friend.

They thanked each other for being their brave sisters.

They looked at the old kennel with wonder and gratitude.

They turned around and walked towards their house.