Canid Undead: A Dog's Story

14 - Fellinground

Token rose his tail as a sort of signal. The rest of the group's paws came to a stop. He turned up his nose, tasting the air.

A scent trail?...

Ruby.

Token whispered to Juno.

"Ruby?" asked Juno, his face quizzical.

"What? Who's Ruby?" Tom craned his neck.

Token halted, as did the others. Tom's eye caught a few canines between the trees ahead of them. As if on cue, Ruby and a few other mutated canines appeared, emerging from several twisting trees.

Juno hissed, "Whuh- Ruby?"

Deadheads started to pick up on them, their heads bending to face the group of animals. The group fled with Ruby's pack, following Ruby and her minions to her little set-up. It seemed to be a temporary shelter; assortments of bedding, makeshift dens, bushes acting as the walls. Leaves, stones, berries, and freshly killed prey were scattered about.

Token questioned Ruby. She ignored this, telling him and his group of a "place" called... Fellinground.

Fellinground?

"I didn't ever say we were going there in the first place," Token growled, arguing with Ruby.

"Ah, we haven't been there in awhile. Everything good there, Ruby?" Juno meowed, inquisitive.

"Probably. Should be. We haven't been to Fellinground in awhile." Ruby told him.

Token started going again. "Are you listening?"

"Token, the place is safer now. It won't be like last time."

"Says the one who hasn't been there in "awhile"."

"What now?" Tom interrupted.

"Okay, guess we're going to Fellinground," Kyan added.

Token sighed.

Ruby added onto her speech, pulling Token aside. Token listened in, his group and Ruby's curious eyes focused on them.

In a hushed voice, Ruby told him, "...there is a possible cure or vaccine Fellinground has come up with - aside from that, there's protection, food, water... what more could you want, selfish dog?"

Disgruntled, Token agreed to go to Fellinground. "Your group isn't coming with. You lot will just get in my way."

"I-" Ruby was cut off. Token stepped away from Ruby.

"With us, you'd just be an attraction to the Ferals. It'd give them another reason to want to eat us, seeing a full course meal."

Juno chipped in. "It'd be foolish not to give that place a chance."

Kyan couldn't care less about what the group did. Tez said nothing.

Merli and Tom agreed with Juno. "Why not?" Tom was the first one to say.

As they left, Ruby warned them. "Don't let the deadheads vomit on you. Try to get their blood off of you as soon as you can. And, kill them quick, if you got to kill. It's a little difficult to, so I wouldn't suggest it..."

Yeah, yeah, whatever. We know this already, Token's subconscious retorted. He didn't have the energy to make his words verbal. Not exactly something necessary, either.

Token turned to face what looked to be his group.

Juno commented, "There's hope for a cure," his head hanging low.