[First in Genre, Action/Adventure - The Shadow Awards]
[Best Heartbreaker - The Shadow Awards]
Alema (aw-leh-may) is the dominant male of a small African wild dog pack, dedicating every day of his life towards his family. He has remained blissfully...
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Alema's pelt quivered in the stale air. He shut his eyes tight, trying to distance himself from the noise of the roaring Tramplers and babbling upwalkers. He backed farther into the alley behind him, hindquarters quivering with fear. He pulled his ears back and let out a long whine as his gaze darted between the two walls of the sky-reaching dens that formed the alley. They seemed to close in on him, taking in all the air until Alema felt as though he might suffocate. Darkness cornered the rims of his vision. The edges of his torn ear stung. What was he thinking? He couldn't survive out here! If not the upwalkers, lack of food, or stifling air, he was sure his terror would mark the end of him. He peered around his surroundings in despair until a peculiarity caught his eye.
A small line of rainbow light was plastered against the side of the sky-reaching den. Alema approached the curious colors and pressed a fore-paw against it, watching as the light bled through his paw and rested on top of his toes. His breath shuddered. He could feel his eyes grow wet as he rested his forehead against the band of color.
It was the third month of the wet season of Alema's third year.
"No way," Alema whined. "I'm not going in there."
Kamaria's speckled face peeked out of the darkness. "Come on," she called. "It's just a hole."
Alema examined the hole that Kamaria had fled into. Dug out by an aardvark, he suspected. "It just ... doesn't feel safe, that's all."
Kamaria rolled her eyes. "You were the one who wanted a hiding place from the lions while you slept."
"Yeah but—"
"But what?" Kamaria pressed. "Please don't make us travel to the other end of the savanna to find the nonexistent den that will suit you most."
Alema backed up. "It's just so ... unfamiliar."
Kamaria glared at him. Then her eyes softened, and she clambered out of the den. "Just because something's unfamiliar doesn't mean it should be scary," she soothed. Her white and brown pelt was tinted pink in the rays of the setting sun. The velvety fur around her face was inches away from his muzzle. "Besides," she added. "It's just one night. Tomorrow we'll get up as soon as possible and travel to the nearest pack." She laughed. "Who knows? Maybe this one will accept me, and I'll be off your back once and for all." She nudged him playfully. Alema didn't respond. Her smile faded. "Come on," she said confidently after a long pause. "Let me show you something." She began heading back down into the tunnel.
"Wait, wha—"
"Just trust me," Kamaria hooted, looking back at him. She held his gaze for several moments before disappearing into the shadows.
