CC:R4 Lost in the Dark P.5

Chernobyl-Curs
Lost in the Dark

Round 4: Part 5



The chill night air consumed my burning lungs. After running for who-knows how long, my paws finally gave up and I was forced to slow my pace. I had set Stan down in order to free my mouth, letting myself pant the tiredness off. After awhile my hot breath melted away all my shivers. If only they could melt away my aching body.

"Stan, who were those dogs?" I asked once my panting stopped and my breathing returned to a steady rhythm.
   
"I don't know," he replied, ears twisting around, "I didn't like the sounds of them."

"I'm confused. Wouldn't a rebellion against the tourney be a good thing?"

Stan merely shook his head. He closed his eyes and let out a sigh, "Nothing is truly good in this city anymore. Just don't think about, Caesar. You just have to focus on surviving what's set before you now."

But how could I? Nothing made much sense, but how could I just walk around pretending the problems weren't there? How had I never noticed all these things before? I wanted to solve my questions, not let them stall and fester in the back of my mind. Lately I had very few questions answered…

I guess I'd have to figure them out at a different pace. No matter how much it bothered me.

Rather than pursuing the subject, I changed the topic and said, "Alright. What do we do now, then?"

The rabbit thought for a moment, his eyes wandering around the darkness. "I'm not sure. We've strayed a good ways off from the gathering grounds and your opponent. I can only hope and assume that this… 'Jet' fellow got killed or perhaps chased off too."

"Should we go back then?"

"I… I don't know."

I looked down at him, a chill running across my back. "You don't know? Then what are we supposed to do? I thought you were gonna help me."

His eyes flared and he sat up, fur bristling, "I'm trying! I know I haven't done the best I could do, but I don't have the ability to help you much more than I am. If I was a dog too it would be less of an issue, but I'm not so it can't be helped."

A tinge of guilt surfaced within me when his words faded to silence. "I'm sorry. I just… I don't like this."

The rabbit nodded understandingly, his gaze falling to the ground. He hopped a few lengths away and stood up to gaze around the surrounding area. I just watched him, curious of the thought process going on inside his head. I could never predict what he would do or say next, even after being with him for so long.

I looked around too, peering through the darkness at the location I had run to. It was a grassy open area, away from the cramped quarters of the buildings. A few trees were scattered around here and there, their leaf-less figures silhouetted into skeletons from the moon's light. It all appeared more suspicious than inviting.

The free space made me feel exposed and vulnerable, even more than the open city streets. Stan must not have felt the same since he stood up and began to make his way across the crisp, frozen ground. Reluctantly, I followed, feeling the chill air sweep over me with every step. There were no buildings to shield their wrath.

The rabbit stopped at a frozen grassy bank a short ways off, sitting down and wiping a paw across an ear. He then huddled down in a thick patch of weeds, the frost that covered them beginning to melt at his touch. I walked ahead of him, observing a river that resided just a few dog lengths down an embankment. It was to no surprise that it was frozen over completely. A thought then occurred to me that the lake Del and I had ventured in just the other day had likely been iced over as well. It was strange to imagine.

"It's quiet," I said, tilting my head up to the sky. The clouds, for once, began to drift away. The dark space above was sprinkled with pale stars; I had to squint to make them out, and even then their faintness was hard to see. The moon, however, proved to be a prominent source of light, even through the few wisps of clouds that covered it.

It was almost peaceful… if only a tournament was not going on at that very moment. I couldn't help but wonder how many dogs had lost their lives right then, or how many had just lost in some bloody, exhausting manner. What would they do when they lost? What would I do if I lost? I guess go back to doing the same things as before, minus a properly working tail. And… and have to fight harder for food… and territory… a place to sleep…

Sleep…

I shook my head. No. No time to sleep now. I have things to do. Important things.

"Stan, do you know anythin' about my opponent?" I asked, trying to bring the silence back to life.

The rabbit shook his head. "Not much. I barely even remember him. He was of least concern to me during the initial gathering faze. Didn't look as intimidating as a few others did. I was more worried about them. Seems a lot of the fiercer foes have since lost or dropped out. Easier for us, I suppose."

Yeah, easier…

A breeze drifted into the area, ruffling the bare, iced branches of the trees. I braced myself to keep the cold from stabbing into my flesh. As I was pelted with the wind, a scent tickled at my nose. It was faint, barely noticeable, but something about it felt familiar.

The wind died down but still the scent remained. I lifted my head and inhaled deeply. Small remnants of the scent lingered. Curious, I took after it, smelling the ice-covered ground that trailed along the side of the river.

"Where are you going?" Stan asked, getting up from his spot and hopping after me.

I didn't say anything, I just kept walking, nose to the earth. The scent was incredibly weak, likely disguised by the frost and other wandering scents, but I picked it up the best I could. I swore I had smelled that scent before. After following along the river's edge, I drifted a short ways, my nose still hard at work.

The scent grew stronger and before I knew it a large object bumped into my snout: a coarse, stiff object. I lifted up my head and observed it; it was hardly familiar at all, its covering consumed with shimmering fragments of ice. Yet, something about it looked as if I had seen it once before. It was dark and curled up, having a texture that was somewhat fur-like. Was it… a dead animal of some kind?

I skipped over it, its presence not jogging any memories. Stan lingered behind, sniffing it over and prying at its surface curiously. Not wanting to stray too far, he gave up on it and followed after me. We walked a short ways off where a fallen tree rested, its roots pulled up with fresh dirt. It gave me a haunting recollection of the falling hazard back at the gathering den.

My fear rung true even further when I rounded the end of the tree, frightening a small flock of black birds in the process. They instantly took to the sky, their forms blending in with the night; one nearly smacked its wing into my face as it struggled to get airborne. They cawed in detest at being interrupted.

When they had disappeared, I peered down at the subject that had grabbed their focus so intensely. Amongst the dead grass and weeds lay a pale creature, its fur coated with ice flecks and coagulated blood staining its pelt and surrounding ground. It took me a moment to recognize the figure that rested lifeless by the fallen tree.


Priest Vendel.


I stood in shock. For a moment I wondered if it was really him or just some other dog of his breed. I had to know for sure. I cautiously walked forward, the grass crackling under my paws. I felt Stan hopping along beside me, likely curious of the scene.

Stopping in front of the corpse, I gazed down at its form. His mouth was slightly agape, blood pooling from his exposed tongue. His eyes were shut as if he were sound asleep. However, he had already begun to be picked upon by the scavengers, his speckled hide torn and ripped open.

I knew it was him. The scent didn't lie.

Stan hopped up and took a quick sniff of the deceased dog. He gave a revolted cringe and backed away, immediately wiping his face clean.

"Was that a competitor? Doesn't seem entirely familiar," he said, licking his paws spotless.

"Yeah," was all I said, my eyes returning to staring at his frozen body. It appeared the tree, rather than an opponent, had brought him to his death. I couldn't even see his rump or hind legs. He had been crushed virtually in half by the massive thing.

I wondered if he saw it coming. I wondered if the God person watched it happen.

Releasing a shaky sigh, I finally tore my gaze away. I couldn't keep doing this: getting attached to these dogs. They were my enemies here. Death was a part of this city and there was no getting around it. No matter how much I wish we could.

My companion must have seen my distress and perked up to ask, "Did you know this dog?"

"Yeah."

Stan didn't ask anymore.

I had hardly taken a few paces away when a piercing cry suddenly erupted in the air. My fur went on end and my eyes flew wide. A shiver crept up my spine as I stared through the darkness, trying to find the owner of the voice. The scream called out again, and it was then that I realized it wasn't a scream at all: it was a howl.

The recent memories of the pursuing creatures flooded back into my mind and I jerked my head to Stan's direction. "We need to leave."

He did not debate the issue and we immediately took off into a quick, steady rhythm. We followed the more open expanse of land, weaving between the trees for cover. The cries of the hungry animals seemed to grow louder, no matter how far we ran. Could they really be that fast? Was I hallucinating? I was pretty hungry… and tired…

No. I could think about that. I had to keep going, keep running. Stan sprinted ahead of me, his white tail flashing in the dark of the night, leading me along like a beacon. All the while I kept my mind as awake and active as I could, preparing for an enemy to jump out at any moment. No place was safe anymore.

Just as another howl drifted into my ears, a loud snap sounded from nearby and my body froze. Stan bolted for a cluster of grass, concealing himself within their shelter. I stood tall and looked around, eyeing every shadow amongst the trees. Someone was there. Something was there.

A small wisp of fur caught the corner of my eye and I whirled around to face it. Behind me stood nothing more than another bald tree. I squinted at its direction, certain of what I had seen. Everything around us went silent for a moment or two, not even the chirping of bugs making a sound.

Snap. The sound came again. I felt my legs stiffen and a deep rumble escaped from my throat.  

In response, a figure emerged from behind the very tree I stood before. Distinctly canine at first, it took me a minute to adjust to the lighting to see a sturdier frame, triangular ears, and a broader-shaped face; the face of which was covered in old scars. Another wolf? I wasn't quite sure. It bared no fangs at me, its posture calm and, if anything, peaceful.

I stopped my growling and stared at it curiously. There was something strange about it, but I couldn't quite tell what. It tilted its head to the side as it observed me silently, its two-toned eyes scanning me over. It then opened its mouth just slightly, preparing to speak.

A single, drawn-out howl called from my opposite side and I instinctively turned around. The tone echoed within the trees, making pinpointing both its direction and distance difficult. It was close, though. Very close.

I quickly turned back to the wolf-dog, only to find it… was no longer there.

I simply stared at the empty space, dumbfounded. It took the rustling of Stan's hideout and his prying words to bring me back to the present. "Caesar, come on! We need to go."

With one last look at the empty space the stranger once stood, I followed Stan out of the mesh of woods. The many rows of buildings loomed nearby and the howling of creatures still trailed behind us. I didn't like this.

I didn't like this one bit.