Canid Undead: A Dog's Story

31 - The Journey Begins

Gunner and Token woke the others, urging them to eat the fresh kill - it was Gunner's pack-mates' catch. After, they leave, Gunner leading them out of the zoo's exit.

Gunner announced, "There are two options here - which way to go."

"Wait, what? We have to go to Fellinground," said Juno, angling his ears.

"There are two ways to go to Fellinground. From here, there are three ways to go." Gunner lead them through a town, cutting through the roads that lay before them. The town they stumble upon had abandoned cars everywhere - the wilderness was also taking over in this little town's roads and the humans' huts and dens.

Not much happened that day. It felt very slow, and no one talked much. They took a pawful of breaks now and then. Prey was becoming more scarce, and they hadn't had any water in several hours, though the concept of time was unbeknownst to the group. But Gunner knew. Gunner was a humans' pet, of course.

Tom took this time to get to know Kyan and Juno a bit more. Gunner talked to Tom too, and he was really nice. He felt like he wasn't going to see much of Gunner, though, at least by time they reached Fellinground. Gunner would leave. Tom guessed he'd come back eventually.

They didn't discuss anything special. This here just wasn't the time to develop any closely bonded relationships, Tom could admit. Maybe once Tom got to Fellinground, he thinks, he will do so. Kyan, Token, and Merli would be there. He could start by getting to know them more. Though, he knew they were his pack-mates, through and through, and they knew that, too.

***

Tom, Kyan, Merli, Token, Juno, and Gunner had cut between two convenience stores, venturing into the wilderness that sat beyond the line of buildings. They slept out in the open, as they didn't know of a more sheltered area.

They talked for a while, mostly about Fellinground. Nothing too extraordinary. Afterward, Tom remained silent; he laid his head on the grass and closed his eyes.

As they rested, Gunner spoke. "For the next night, I know a place that we can catch our breath..."

Tom blinked his eyes open. He noticed Juno had become progressively worse, just... worse and worse. He was as sick as a dog. He did not have to look to Juno to know that.

That night, Kyan, Tom, and Merli had taken Juno into some woods that night to decide what they'd do. Token didn't want to come - he knew Juno's fate. Juno had quietly comforted Token, touching his nose gently to his.

He told Token he loved him. Token replies, "I love you, puny cat."

"Maybe I'll see you again," Juno tells him. Token knew this wasn't the case.

Once in the woods, Juno turns to face them. "I'll miss you, Kyan, and Merli."

Merli was silent; she was out of it. She simply says, "Yeah."

Juno glances up to tom, "It was nice knowing you, Tom."

"You'll find your purpose someday, Tom. All of you, make it to Fellinground for me."

He was touched by this cat's dying words. Tom felt as if they were heading down a deadly path. One that grew thinner and thinner each passing day.

Juno lays down, closing his eyes. They would lay there, just until he passed.

His breathing became raspy. Juno's tail curled over Kyan's back, as he gave his final breath.

Before he'd completely turned, Kyan carried his body far, far away; Tom and Merli sat in this bleak moment, the sun leaving the sky.

Merli looked to the sky... to the moon.

("What happened?")