Winter Rose

XIV. Hidden Truth

"Oh god, Splinter. Don't die. Stay with me." Billy knelt on the forest floor, struggling to gather the big dog up in his arms. "Help me!" he begged Lance, his voice cracking. "We have to get him out of here!"

Lance stood his ground, eyeing the two men suspiciously. "Who fired the shot? Was it one of you!?"

"It came from the woods!" the officer said. He swung his gun in the direction the shot had fired. "He's somewhere out there, hiding. We need to head back. It's not safe here."

"What we need are some real cops out here that know what the hell they're doing!" Lance spat. He turned, catching sight of us. "When did these two get here?"

His brow furrowed as his eyes came to rest on Sparky, still perched proudly on Winnie's back. His mouth formed a word that hung on his lips. "What the hell is going on here?" he said finally.

"Please," Billy pleaded from the forest floor. "Help me pick him up so we can get him back to the car. He's been shot in the hip. It's bleeding pretty bad."

Something bit me, Splinter projected painfully amidst all of the chaos.

Hang in there, monster dog, I said, eyeing the bullet wound on his hind quarters. Dark, nearly black blood seeped from it.

Splinter must have possessed nerves of steel. He managed to maintain his composure, giving not so much as a flinch under the severe pain of the bullet lodged in his hip. In front of me, Lance ran his hand through his hair, clearly trying to pull himself together. He stripped off his shirt and rolled it, kneeling next to Billy and the bleeding dog. With swift movements, he tied it firmly around the dog's wound, applying as much pressure as he could to stop the bleeding.

The stubborn dog tried to get to his feet, pulling himself up with his front legs. The scent is so close. I must go there. I must finish my job.

You were shot, ignorant canine! Stay still before you bleed to death! Sparky chastised from Winnie's back.

Splinter's dark eyes fired at the bird as he desperately tried to stand on all fours. He growled. You are a very small bird, I could fit your whole little body in my mouth.

Splinter managed to rise, rocking back and forth as both Lance and Billy tried to hold on to him. 

"Calm down, boy. Calm down," Billy whispered. "We've got to get you back to the car."

With Lance's help, Billy gathered the defeated dog up in his arms, stumbling as they trudged back the way they came. The officer followed in the rear, he gun cocked and ready, swinging at the slightest sound in the brush.

Halfway to the clearing, a shock of terror spread over my body. From my neck to my tail, the fur stood on end. Overcome with a strong magnetic pull, my eyes were drawn to the branch of a dying pine tree above me.  The hypnotic yellow eyes of a large owl held mine, sending a chill that racked through my body like a lightening bolt. With one fell swoop, it dove into the woods.

                                                                                            *** 

Winter and her father were sitting on the porch swing when the first three shots rang out. They both sprang to their feet and stared woodenly at the trees, Winter covering her hand with her mouth. The swing rocked behind them, hitting the backs of their knees.

Silence. Nothing but the cheerful chorus of birds singing in the distance. A minute or two later the fourth shot rang out. Agonizing cries echoed from the forest.