sanctuary

BY LILY INMAN

trigger warning: mention of blood and pain

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A loud explosion booms through the forest; shaking the ground.

 

Pain, harsh and searing, flows through her body.

 

The metal ball tears through her flesh, sticking itself into her side.

 

She must go to the middle of the forest, to the sanctuary that lies there. 

 

Maybe he can help her, save her from this pain. The metal ball feels like cancer within her body. As her muscles move around it, it stays still, burning anything it touches.

 

She can hear the humans behind her, yelling and spitting their primitive curses at each other. Her ears twitch as she picks up on the sounds.

 

They are chasing her still.

 

She needs to run; the damned metal within her leg hindering her speed.

 

Her breath catches in her lungs as she tries to pick up speed. She looks at her hind leg, blood is flowing from the wound, tainting the white fur that coats her body. As if blood was spilled on snow.

 

She must call to mother; she must let her know she’s been hurt, but if the humans hear her howl, they’ll find her, and they’ll kill her.

 

She doesn’t want to die. Her heart picks up pumping blood through her veins, only to seep out of the hole in her belly.

 

They’re catching up, the moonlight reflects off her white fur, giving her location away. She hears them clearer, yelling after her.

 

She tries to keep running, it’s only a little farther now. Her paws slamming against the dirt, her breath heaving in and out of her bloody mouth.

 

The cool forest air around her, chilling her once warm body.

 

Steam rises from the wound under her ribs, the blood leaving her warmer than the wind.

 

Her lungs begin to sting, her vision is starting to fade, but the humans are still close by and she must keep going.

 

Their rifles explode once more, firing their metal cancer into creatures of the forest around her.

 

They do not care what becomes of the forest and its inhabitants, they care only for themselves. They care only for their progress.

 

She shakes her head, clearing the thoughts, and keeps running. Pushing past the pain, the need to survive overwhelming the crippling feeling of the metal ripping through her muscles as she runs.

 

Her head is swaying, her body is cold. She is beginning to shiver. She’s lost too much blood.

 

She slows her pace, the grotesque humans farther behind now. She stops and looks back, listening to their destruction. The forest screams in pain beneath their feet, yet they don’t listen. They only hear what they want to hear.

 

She turns back toward her path, limping now that the pain has become too much to bear. She has almost reached the sanctuary. She is almost free.

 

Her head is hanging low, each breath feels like something is stabbing her in the lungs. She’s tired.

 

The moon has begun to set, dawn is near.

 

 She can’t hear the humans anymore, but she can’t hear much of anything anymore.

 

The light of the moon blurs in her vision, she can barely see where she is heading now. The only thing leading her on is the smell.

 

She can smell the sanctuary; it calls to her with its scent of fresh grass and blooming flowers. It’s the only place left in the forest that is truly alive anymore.

 

Each step feels as though the earth beneath her feet is shaking, but she keeps going.

 

The smell is getting stronger now, her heart flutters, feeling hope in this hopeless situation.

 

Mixing with the smell of the sanctuary is the overwhelming smell of her own blood. There must not be much left in her own body now.

 

Then, she feels the soft caress of the water on her paws. She’s made it.

 

She whines as her body collapses into the shallow water. She has just enough energy to keep her head above the water.

 

Tears of joy leave her eyes; she is finally safe. She can finally be saved.

 

She can see a little clearer now, and can sense him coming. She can see him, she can smell him.

 

He hovers just above the water, making his way toward her, he has what looks to be hundreds of antlers, and a thick coat of fur.

 

She whines with each breath now; breathing has become too painful. The water around her stained red with her blood. Her once white coat of fur, now light pink where the bloody water touches.

 

He comes closer now, her breaths are getting more labored, she doesn’t know how much longer she can hold on. Her head starts to fall farther into the water, but she will wait for him.

 

Her body shivers, she feels so cold now. The warmth she should feel from the sun not reaching her.

 

He stands in front of her now. His face almost human-like, she wants to growl at the resemblance, but knows better.

 

His face comes closer to her, she is so tired. She wants the pain to end. She wants to be free.

 

His forehead barely taps hers, and with a final tear leaving her canine eyes, the pain disappears.

 

Her breath no longer visible in the air, her back no longer rising and falling, her lungs no longer breathing. She is no longer whining.

 

Her eyes close, and her head falls beneath the water.

 

She no longer feels the metal ball in her side.

 

She will no longer need to run from the humans and their destruction.

 

There is no more pain for her.

 

She is free.

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