Prologue

Lightning flared across the sky, painting the mountains a vivid white and illuminating the shards of water that pelted all who dared to walk the lands below. A crack of thunder was quick to follow, but, somehow, it managed to roll on for twice as long as should have been possible, and sent tremors through the earth itself. Eventually its low roll faded from the laden air, bringing with it a sudden silence that was broken only by the faint hiss of angry rain upon sodden rock.

A further brilliant flash lit the scene bellow, revealing the chunks of rock that had fallen as a result of a winters-worth of severe storms. They filled a space about as wide as a small mountain village, and were so closely packed that there could no hope for whatever creatures might be trapped beneath. Or so it seemed...

An area of 'ground' shifted, dislodging the smaller pieces of stone that were seated atop the rockslide, and two bloodied paws scrabbled at the earth beyond. They found a foothold, then the space heaved again, and a shattered body hauled itself free from the space between two boulders, and flopped down upon the soaked stones. For a moment there were no further signs of movement, but then the dog hauled its forequarters from the ground, and dragged itself up the steep slope that separated it from the relative safety that was offered by higher spaces.

He was almost at the top when a flicker of movement drew his eye from his labours, and guided it up to meet with the gaze of a familiar figure. He sagged with relief, letting his forelegs bow beneath the weight of his half-crippled body, and his guard drop. "-Shi...thank God..." With a final mighty effort, the dog hauled himself to his saviour's paws, and raised his head to reach for the help that was finally within his grasp.

A scream split the night.