Flower's Story

Chapter 2

The smell of dead mice, rotting wood, and litter of fox pups. It was home. But home hasn't been the same ever since my only brother died. I cant exactly remember how he died. I must have forgotten. Now it's just me, my mom, and my 3 sisters. I never knew my father. Only ever heard stories about how brave and kind he was. I really wish I could've met him.

"Ow! That hurts! Stop!" I heard one of my sisters whine. I decided it was a good idea to go help her, givin that she is the runt.

"Alright leave Echo alone." Echo was the name I called her. It really seemed to fit. We don't really have names so we nickname each other. The names seem to stick. And our mom seems okay with it.

"Yeah! Leave me alone!" Echo barked, tears swelling up in her eyes.

"We were just playing. You know how over-dramatic Echo is." That was true. Echo can be a bit over-dramatic. But the thing is that Echo isn't just over-dramatic. One time she ran off and was found by a hunter who shot Echo in the ear.

"You know what happened and why we cant pull on her ear," I said, trying to get my sisters to leave Echo alone.

"Come on Flower. Its all fun and games," my jokester, albino sister, Sunny, remarked.

"Yea its all fun and games until someone gets hurt!"

"Oh you mean like this?" Sunny got into a crouched position, smiled that evil smile, licked her lips, and jumped right on top of me. As she started pulling off tufts of fur, I yelped and went to scratch Sunny. I missed. I tried again and again but she had me pinned to the ground. I could feel the blood running down my whole body and all I could do is watch as bloody fur flew off my body. I wanted to kick and move around, but every time I did my whole body started to ache.

I started to think all hope was lost until I heard a familiar yet angry voice. It was my mother. I felt so relieved. Sunny finally let go, and I opened my eyes to see my mother licking my wounds. IT was painful, but at the same time I felt relieved and happy that I get to live. Sunny didn't seem too happy, mainly because she got in trouble. But deep down, I know there is much more than getting in trouble that bothers her.

"How are you feeling?" my mom asked in a soft voice.

"Okay, I guess. What about Echo? Is she okay?" I tried to keep my calm, but the thought of Echo not being okay left a painful emptiness in my heart.

"I'm okay Flower. My ear just hur-" I didn't give her time to finish. I reached over and cuddled her soft, dark fur. I was too happy to see that Echo was alive to notice my mother's ears go up and the fur on her back stand on edge. It was only when she started growling that I noticed something was wrong. I listened closely and figured out what she was growling at.

First I heard footsteps, then a zipper, and rustling. Everyone else seemed to notice and crouch behind my mother. The footsteps became closer by every step, until they stopped. Right in front of our door. I couldn't do this. I freaked out and hid under a box. What else was I supposed to do?

I watched as the door slowly opened till it reveled a human wearing all black. He was holding something very familiar. But what was it? I just couldn't put my paw on it. All I can remember is it was the same object that hurt Echo. I was too stressed to think. But, I did know one thing. That I was not gonna let her get hurt again.

The person looked all around the room and then he spotted my family. What was he going to do to them? I didn't want to be alone. My mom never taught us to live on our own. But even if she did, I dont know if I could deal with being alone. What to do? What to do!?

"Well, well, well. What do we have here?" The human said it like he expected an answer. And with each word he stepped a little bit closer. It also seemed that every third step he took the object seemed to move a bit higher. It went higher and higher until it pointed right at Echo's face. And out of nowhere my legs started to move. I didn't want to go. It was like my legs had a mind of there own. Then I started to run. About four feet in front of the person, I leaped on the object and bit down as hard as I could. I knew this was a bad idea but it was like something else was controlling me.

The human didn't seem happy about this either. He tossed me around, trying to get me off. But I couldn't let go. That was until I lost my grip and flew half way across the room into a wall. I hit my leg and the pain was unbearable. I started to whimper as I watch the person pick up my mom by the scruff. It looked so painful. I just wanted to help, but something was holding me back. This picture looked so familiar. But why? Then I remembered. This was the same way my brother died. And now my mother was about to die too. At least that was what I thought until Sunny jumped on the human and started to bite and scratch him. But what happened next shocked everyone, including the human.

Out of nowhere I heard a loud bang and watched as Sunny fell into a bloody heap on the ground. I couldn't believe my eyes. She didn't move at all. No sign of life. Just a bloody mess and nothing more. It was clear that she was dead.

"SUNNY NO!" Feather, my other sister, squealed, reveling her new position behind a pile of old books. She was crying helplessly. I couldn't do anything or I was gonna die as well. I know its a mean thing to think about yourself before others but what else could I do? I was just a pup and nothing more. All I could do is watch as the human lifted the object up to Feather and BANG! Just like that she was gone. There was now a hole right in the center of her head, blood dripping down her face as she fell lifelessly to the ground. Two down, two to go.

Wait! Where was Echo? I looked frantically for her, but I couldn't see her dark fur anywhere. I wasn't the only one looking everywhere though. The person seemed to be looking for something as well. Maybe he was looking for Echo too. I only hope he doesn't find her. If he does then I dont know what Ill do.

"I thought there were four pups, not two," the person mumbled under his breath. "Get your bushy tails over here NOW! Don't make me shoot up the place." As he said it a shot was fired. Then, a few seconds later another shot was fired, this time it was so close that I could feel the wind. The bang was ringing so loudly in my ears that I didn't even hear my mom say "Take care of Echo and I love you both," as she was taken away. Gone forever.

I ducked completely in the box. I couldn't bare to look at my dead sisters. It was just too much. I started to cry, and as I did I could feel something warm curl up by my side. I got scared and jump. I looked down to see what it was. It was unbelievable. Echo was okay and she was curled up at my side sleeping peacefully, dirt covering her fur. I guess from this point forward it was just going to be me and Echo against the world.

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Sorry that chapter took so long to finish. I kept changing the story over and over again because it didn't sound right. Ill try to finish chapter 3 a lot faster. Anyway, hope you enjoyed chapter two. :3