Ash: The Wolves of the World's End

Chapter 14

Ash had never felt so tired in his life, not even after his and Selena’s water crossings. He wheezed, sucking in air as they fled down, away from the haven and up towards the northern mountains. Their huge peaks touched the sky, like giant canines jutting out of the earth. It they could survive those, they could survive anything.

     Assuming he could survive this; already he had tripped over his paws two or three times, only for Selena to rush to sturdy him and ask, “Are you fine?” He shook his head no, but all of them knew that while they were in Samson’s grasp, no one was safe. So he ran on by them, his thick grey fur preserving the last flames of heat within him.

     “We’ve reached the edge of the territory!” called out Remus, and the others began to slow. Ash could smell the change in the air as they crossed the invisible barrier Wyrden had created months ago. They stood for a while to catch their breath under the waning moon, which had a soft, glowing halo around it. As he gazed around at the other pack members, he smelled their apprehension at the coming events; where they were going; and if they could make it. Apprehension, mixed with down-to-earth fear and a pinch of suspicion and doubt; this was the result of his recklessness.

     A hard gust of wind blew through the valley near the mountains where they stood, making the trees shiver almost as much as Ash was. Yet the wind seemed more dangerous than it appeared, as if it was a northern demon heralding even worse news. “Blizzard winds,” confirmed Bard in a low tone, making Ash only feel worse. “We need to take cover before it gets here, or we’ll get separated.”

     Selena was studying the sky, her forehead furrowed in thought. “There’s no way we can go back towards the south. But if there really is a blizzard coming from the north, we have to find shelter in the mountains.” Ash nodded in agreement, hoping his fatigue was hidden from the others.

     The wind was growing stronger as they weaved their way up through the steep mountainside. Looking up, he noticed the dense, gray clouds hanging low over the horizon had gotten closer, carrying with them their grey veils of rain and snow. The wind barreled through the pack as they continued up the treacherous, muddy slope. Keep going, he thought, watching as the mud struggled with his paw, letting it go with a sucking noise.

     Selena was working her way past him now, and he began to realize just how tired he was. Whatever had happened while Samson and him were fighting seemed to leave a vacuum where his energy had once been. He squinted his eyes in the fierce wind and looked back at the others, who were trying to encourage him to keep going. “Ash!” he heard Selena cry out as he slipped, collapsing in the mud.

     As he fell into unconsciousness, he noticed tiny, white flakes falling from the sky.