Chasing the sun



The forest was silent. The animals, the plants, were waiting. And then the sickening crack echoed through the trees.

Protector
My paws raced over the forest floor, my heart pounding. I could only hope Talon, Lunar, and Fang were safe. Only that hope kept me running, even after exhaustion.The pads on the bottom of my paws were worn and bleeding. Gunshots seemed to fly through the forest, wounding everything they hit. The crack had signaled the guns. The forest’s fate was in my paws. I was the protector. Only my friends could help me. And they might not even be alive I looked at the sun, my eyes blazing. The war had begun.

Lives
I continued to run, without a sense of direction. I didn’t know where I was going. I didn’t know where I would end up. I just knew I was running for my life, and my life could be could be as short as rumplestiltskin. I suddenly felt like a cheetah, even though I was a fox. I fell. Sounds of the shots surrounded me. The pattern of Lunar’s fur flashed past me. A strong shoulder pushed me upward, and together, we continued to run. I didn’t need help from someone I didn’t even know! I glanced over. It was Talon. I was completely fine with that. === Wailing === But where had Lunar gone? I soon got my answer. She slowed, looking back at as. Fang’s familiar shape brushed past me. The sound of another shot bounced off the forest trees. An anguished wail sliced through the air, stopping as abruptly as it had come. There was silence. A mourning howl soon followed the wail. There was the sound of footsteps toward where the wail had come. Another gunshot. Another wail. BrokenI realized we had stopped running. I nudged Talon, wincing. I must have broken a paw when I fell, but it was not the time to heal it. “Run!” Lunar called.She was far ahead now. She was right, there were footsteps closing on us. I bolted through the forest. With every step a feeling of pain shot up  my leg  all the way to my jaw. Fang pushed ahead of us all, swerving into a narrow crack between to boulders. “Follow Fang!” I yelled over the sound of our paws hitting the floor, “ It’s our best chance!”Another gunshot sounded. ===Determined=== Talon yelped and shoved me into the crack, soon squeezing in after me. The sound of Lunar’s pawsteps pounded after us, she must have fallen behind. There was another shot, and a yowl of pain, followed by more footsteps. They were right behind us. And by the look of things, Lunar might not be able to help me. ===Friends=== I whirled around, shoving Talon behind me. Bolting forward to help Lunar, I snarled as loudly as I could. As soon as my paws hit close ground, my jaw snapped open. I leaped at the ‘humans’.

Protecting
They were surprised as I bit one of them.“Lunar,” I growled, “get away from here. Go with Talon and Fang. And don’t come back for me.”She stared at me for a moment, then backed away, disappearing into the shadows. I launched myself at the intruders, gasping as one of them held up a gun. It was gleaming. I shook my pelt in midair, confused. I realized it was a sharp metal pick right as it hit me. ===Coming back=== Apparently, it also had ridges. Also apparently, it can hurt really badly. And draw blood. In case you didn’t know, that’s bad. Partly because they came back for me.