Blossom

 

Lil pup’s half-opened eyes squinted against the glaring rays of sunlight that fell in a line across his delicate, sallow face. He rubbed against his red rimmed eyes, dried of overnight tears and coerced himself up to continue with the search. It was already day twelve since little pup got separated from his family. Day after day, he tried tracking down the whereabouts of his loved ones; he looked frantically everywhere but to no avail.

As he sauntered through the solemn forest, Lil pup felt the helplessness piling up within him; slowly and mercilessly devouring away his feeble will to survive. His footsteps became heavier as the feeling of lost evolved into depression. Dreadful thoughts besieged him like a snake entangling its prey. A gentle breeze brushed past but it felt extremely cold, Lil pup is longing for warmth, longing for love from his family.

“Don’t give up! Be strong!” Lil pup affirmed himself as he tried to eradicate all dissenting thoughts that have been haunting him relentlessly. He remembered how his mother always taught him to be brave and strong when he is by himself. Picking up his pace, little pup carried on with his quest.

“Have you seen my mum and dad?” he asked each and everyone he saw along the way but his effort was futile. None of them had seen his family, it all seemed as if they had vanished from this world.  At the spur of the moment, a miracle happened.

“Hey kiddo, are you looking for your family?” a mellow voice inquired from behind. The heartened little pup turned around immediately and in front of him stood a beauteous and amicable red fox.

“Yes! Yes! Have you seen them?” A tinge of hope surged up in Lil pup’s eyes as he looked at the lady with ebullience.

“Yea, I did, they are just a couple of miles away. Come on, follow me kiddo.” The red fox assured him as she gave him a comforting pat on his head. Blooming with exuberance, Lil pup followed the stranger deeper into the woods without further ado.

Streaks of sunlight began to fade away as the foliage grew thicker, stripping the land off illumination as darkness befalls. As the wraithlike atmosphere sets in, Lil pup felt a cold chill tingle down his spine. An ominous feeling emerged from within, however the anticipation of reuniting with his family kept him going. Finally, the duo came to a small ramshackle hut that looked like it had been dissipated for ages.

“Come on in! Your parents have been waiting eagerly for you, little fellow.” The red fox said with a warmhearted smile. Lil pup could not wait any longer as he hastened towards the house. The door creaked open as if nobody had ever opened it before. The interior of the hut was poorly lit and a filthy stench lurked around the room.

Creeek~ Lil pup stepped onto something as the door closed from behind. He glanced down to check what was below and to his horror; there were bits and pieces of animal remnants lying everywhere in a muddle. His heart pounded against his ribcage as he sensed something amiss. Turning around for the door, he noticed the red fox standing in his way with a devious grin.

“Where do you think you’re going, kiddo? Your family is here, in my STOMACH!” The red fox burst into a maniacal laughter as she glared menacingly at him. Not even a trace of her initial friendliness was left on her face.

The panic-stricken Lil pup could only depend on his survival instincts at that instant. He pounced against the villainy vixen with all his might, hoping to knock her out but his actions were halted as a cage suddenly descended down swiftly from the ceiling, enclosing him within. Unwilling to give in, Lil pup continued thumping against the metal bars with his brute strength to break free but the cage remained rigid and intact.

After repeated attempts, Lil pup soon gave up as he collapsed to the ground. His limit was reached; he had not been eating or sleeping well for days while searching for his family. Lying defenseless on the ground, he could only watch as he was being prepared for dinner. A gush of anguish evoked and tears started tumbling down his fatigued face. Never had he felt so alone before as he was reminded of his family’s death.

“…. and this is my deathbed, lie here alone. When I close my eyes tonight, I know I’ll be home…” Lil pup hummed the wistful tune to himself while awaiting his impending doom. Solitude filled the room thereafter as memories of his loved ones flashed past his budding mind.

“Pssst.. boy over there, don’t give up yet, you’re not the only one here.” a faint whisper clocked in from nowhere. The startled Lil pup peeked around the room to locate the hazy voice and above him hung a dainty black kitten, cinched by a lanyard.

“Hi, I’m Kiki. Don’t worry man; the fox won’t eat us yet until the rest from her pack returns at night. Your parents are probably still alive too, this pack doesn’t eat adults.” Assured the black kitten. “Notice the ground below you? It’s soft, try burrowing through; it’s the only way out. I did that this morning, but I was too slow which landed me up here.“ she added in a truehearted tone.

“Thank you! My name is Lil pup, I’ll get us out of here no matter what it takes!” Lil pup was beaming with vigor once again upon hearing the good news. He stealthily sunk his paws into the fragile earth and started digging as the evil red fox was diligently preparing the ingredients for the feast. As he excavated deeper beneath the ground, the soil became even softer as though it was aiding with the escape. Before long, he was only an inch away from the outside of his cage.

Just then, the vixen realized she was lack of fuel and decided to head out to get some. As she turned to survey her prey, the empty cage Lil pup was imprisoned in struck her canny eyes.

“WHERE IS HE?” she shrieked in acrimony. Kiki feigned ignorance while she tried to annoy the huffy vixen even more by shrilling deafeningly.

The irked red fox enveloped her ear in agitation, making her vulnerable for a split-second. Without warning, Lil pup sprung up from behind and thrust her forcefully to the ground. The two creatures put up a ferocious fight as they exchanged blows and laceration. Lil pup tried to apply the hunting skills his father had taught him, he coveted at the vixen’s neck and launched a tenacious chaw at the most assailable spot, which caused her to howl in agony.

The belligerent vixen did not concede. She retaliated by sinking her barbed claws across Lil pup’s chest, compelling blood to spurt out in a stream. It was an intense skirmish for survival that left both parties marred and enervated.

“Miss vixen, look here!” Kiki exclaimed as the vixen imprudently turned to look at her. “Take that!” She spat straight into her face, diminishing her vision.

“Here is your chance, pup!” asserted Kiki. Grasping the opportunity, Lil pup rained his final jab onto the vixen with his acuminous vigorous fangs. She finally passed out. Lil pup heaved a sigh of relief. Upon freeing Kiki, the couple scurried out of the deep woods towards safe grounds.

“I really don’t know how to thank you enough, if not for you, I would have been dead.” Lil pup said to Kiki in gratitude.

“I should be the one thanking you, you put up a courageous fight which saved our lives! Come on, I’ll help you find your family!” Kiki grabbed Lil pup’s hands as the newfound friends continued with their journey.

At least for now, the quest is no longer as lonely. Lil pup thought as a smile finally blossomed from his face.

 

 

To be continued?