Canid Undead: A Dog's Story

12 - On The Road Again

Yawning, Tom stretched his limbs. A crack in the window allowed sunlight to shine through; it landed upon him, warming his face. In the sun his fur soaked, the sun's light sharp in his eye.

Juno had woken me up pretty early. He prodded me in the side with his cute little paw (so stubby and tiny) (I wanted to be angry, but...)

I rise to face Merli. She waves at me. Tez was looking off into space; Kyan was stretching her wings and yawning, grunting. Token was gone.

"Token went hunting. He should be back shortly, probably." Juno smiled.

Merli and Tez chattered quietly. Kyan stood there, rocking back and forth.

"Well, what now? Where do we go? What's our goal here?" Tom's pelt prickled; he didn't like to wait.

"Token mentioned trying to find some primary objective here, so we aren't aimless. We'll do that," Juno responded.

"Maybe a meteor will put us out of our misery," Kyan grumbled.

"If a Feral doesn't kill us all first, that is," Juno joked.

Tez exhibited a brief show of panic in her eyes.

"Until then-" Juno was cut off.

Merli's howl broke into Juno's words. Kyan grunted as Tom, Tez, and Juno turned to see that Token had returned with some freshly killed rabbits. Token commented that he'd found a few puddles of rain that they could drink from, just around the building. He set down the prey.

They ate the rabbits quickly, lapping at the puddle outside afterward.

Tom and the others spotted Ferals lurking by some of the buildings. Thankfully, they weren't paying attention to the group.

One of the Ferals looked like... a plant, Tom observed. Mushrooms grew from its throat, dark velvet blood seeping from them. Its eyes white orbs, like a dead fish. Vines dangle from the chin, the rest of the body green and grass-like. It would be beautiful if it weren't for the rotting animal that inhabited the sight, blood bubbling/foaming at the mouth.

Those types of Ferals are usually ones that have been undead for a LONG time, Tom concluded, since most don't look that way - most only have flesh peeling off, rotting. I hope I never become one of those creatures.

Tom analyzed a few others, the Ferals clawing at an empty, befallen building. Tom thought they had to be regular ones: lanky, giant, mutated, rotting.

Within seconds, more Ferals appeared. The group sneaked past the rotted creatures, keeping a safe distance. Tom acquainted himself with the others a bit more. Him and Juno and Kyan quickly befriended one another. Tom didn't know much about Kyan, though they became acquainted fast, now that Kyan knew he wasn't so dangerous.

"I hope Zeck is okay." Kyan's mind wandered.

As if to reassure her, Juno added, "We will find Zeck."

Tom wasn't so sure about that.