During the fallen officer’s funeral, his loyal dog suddenly jumped onto the coffin….

Not the way animals usually whimper, but with grief that was startlingly human.

Ranger pressed his head against the coffin, pawing at it, as if begging for Nathan to answer. As if pleading for his friend to come back. The dog’s body trembled uncontrollably while desperate, devastated sounds escaped him.

A few soldiers instinctively stepped forward, intending to gently pull the dog down—but then Ranger’s behavior changed.

He stopped crying.

He stiffened.