Painted Flowers

Chapter 19 - Aftermath

The moon inched its way further and further above the smoky gray clouds until it sat and shone right above them. Not one star dared to show its face. Feoria and Kichea had remained still for the entire night, staring at the destruction occurring on the horizon, watching in vain for any sort of life that remained

"The fires are getting worse," Feoria remarked grimly.

Three dogs were still exposed to the danger, for hours now, and not one had come back yet. What happened to them being familiar with the shortcuts? Did the twins split up, so they could find Layali faster? She wasn't sure they could manage to leave each other's side at all.

Feoria gritted her teeth with frustration, losing her patience for this ridiculous plan of theirs. If any dog came back from this she'd much prefer it to be Zahra or Zain over Layali. Was that mean? No, the Meadow dog wasn't her friend. She could never be friends with a Meadow dog. It was her fault that her friends were still out there! But still...she felt bad for the feud between them, deep down.

Meanwhile, Kichea hesitated as she parted her jaws, as if running through her mind any sort of comfort she could offer her dear friend. "I'm sure they'll make it...it's Zahra and Zain after all. We grew up with them, and they're the toughest dogs I know. They'll find Layali, and will be with us before you know it."

Feoria twitched an ear, but didn't reply.

Kichea went on, her voice rising anxiously. "I'm sure at any moment we'll see them swim across this river, and Zahra will tell us that we shouldn't have worried, and everything will be fine, and-"

"Shut up, Kichea."

Kichea flinched under the mamoyo's harsh tone, getting to her paws and taking a step back. "I-I'm sorry, I just thought...never mind. I know you care about her...a lot. I'm not helping matters, I'm sorry-"

"-No, no, that's not...ugh, I just meant..." Under her nervous rambling Feoria felt incredibly guilty.  She sighed, wiping away tears she didn't realize she was shedding. "We should just be listening out for them. I can't relax...until I know everyone is here."

Kichea nodded timidly. "Yeah, you're right. Sorry, I..." she broke off. "Never mind. Need to stop talking. No more talk, just listening. Got it."

She sat on the pebbles again, and the pair continued staring intensely across to the unsafe side of the river.

___________________

Shaking uncontrollably, Layali sat crying, huddling behind a stone.

She had failed. Again.

Zahra needed her, just like Mosi needed her. Both of them were gone, all because of her.

The cheetah cub had remained hidden during the dreadful event. They crawled forward timidly towards Layali, as if wondering if she was alright, but the sobbing dog took no notice. After a moment, they nudged her with a paw.

Layali jerked her head up, and without thinking, suddenly snapped at the cub. The cub jumped back in shock, fur sticking out in all directions.

"GO AWAY!" she yelped. "Get out of here! I can't save you...I can't save anyone." She broke off sobbing again.

The cub stepped back, but their escape route was interrupted by yet another looming, creaking tree with its bark set alight. Before it could collapse and strike them both, Layali lunged forward, grabbing the cub in her jaws before taking off in the opposite direction. Common sense told her that taking her sorrow out on this pitiful creature was useless, and there was no time for breaking down right in the middle of the plight. If they had stayed there in that clearing a moment longer they would have perished.