Dark Forest Family Roadtrip

Chapter One

Hawkfrost stared blankly at the clunky van. It had been silver once, but the thick coating of dust and dirt made the thing look more like an ancient sarcophagus than a working vehicle.
"There's no way in hell I'm getting in that thing." Hawkfrost turned to go back inside the house.
"Where do you think you're going?" Tigerstar exclaimed.
Hawkfrost thought the answer was pretty obvious. "I'm going back inside. Feel free to leave without me. Send pictures when you get to... wherever the hell we're going."
Tigerstar grumbled a bit to himself as he started up the engine. Hawkfrost almost felt bad. Almost. "Where are your friends, anyways? Isn't this some sort of business trip?"
"No. Well, yes, kind of. It's a bonding exercise-"
Hawkfrost scoffed.
"A bonding exercise ordered by the boss," Tigerstar finished.
"Seriously? How did he manage to get you to agree with that? You hate that stuff,"
"Well, a pay raise can be very persuasive,"
"You make a good point, old man. How come I have to come along?"
"I'm not planning on suffering alone, son,"
Hawkfrost chuckled. "Fine, I'm in. As long as I get to bring along a friend."
"Sure, can't make this shit any worse,"
"Ashfur,"
"No."
—
The van doors opened with a creak, presumably from the rust. Ashfur hoped into the last available seat, cramming himself next to Hawkfrost.
Hawkfrost had the misfortune of getting the middle seat. Darkstripe on one side, Ashfur on the other while Brokenstar and Thistleclaw shared the back row. Mapleshade looked comfortable enough, sitting with her legs crossed in the passengers seat.
Ashfur sniffled, "Sorry if I'm a bit late, I didn't have much time to pack on such short notice,"
The car was silent. This wasn't anything new. Nobody had said a word since they'd left the first house.
Tigerstar cleared his throat. "Alright, I think that's everyone. Let's get this show on the road."
The van backed up slowly, silence sharp as ever. As the vehicle left the driveway, it went over a bump.
"Just a speedbump. Damn things, who puts them at the end of a driveway!"
Ashfur's face was twisted in concern, "Uh, Mr. Tigerstar, there aren't any speed bumps at the end of my driveway."
There was an anguished cry from beneath the car. Tigerstar continued to back up.
"It's probably just a log or something," Tigerstar shrugged.
"Logs don't cry," Mapleshade pointed out, not looking up from her phone.
"You and I have had very different experiences with logs,"
Hawkfrost looked out the window nervously, shoving Darkstripe out of the way. There was a small backpack lying a few feet away from the van.
"A child," Hawkfrost deadpanned, "We are running over a child,"
Tigerstar started backing up faster.
—
They were a few feet down the street before anyone starting talking again. Ashfur looked like he was going to puke. Hawkfrost was waiting for the sound of police sirens.
Mapleshade looked up from her phone. "You're gonna need to take a right at-"
"I know where I'm going!"
So far, the road trip was going great.