I wake up when I feel Ellie skid to a stop. The bumpy stop jars my legs. I let out a moan when I feel more of the pain spreading through my legs.
Ellie looks over her shoulder at me. "I'm sorry, Buck," she apologizes.
"It's fine, Ellie. My legs just 'urt is all. I'll be fine," I mumble.
Ellie gently picks me up and places me on the ground. I look around. I notice that we're in a cave farther from our old one. This cave is smaller than the other. The herd are there already, as well as my siblings. I also see that Shale, Raven, Splash, my foster father, and Amy are there. They must've escaped the fire, too. They're lucky, despite the fact that they are all covered in ash.
Mom and dad come over to me. "'ow are ya feelin', Buck?" Mom asks.
I look up at my parents. "I'll be fine. At least, I will be once my legs are taken care of," I answer with a slight groan.
"We'll wrap yer legs up. Just stay still," Dad orders.
I nod my head. I lay my head down on the cave floor. I watch my dad grab some leaves, sticks, and vines and bring them over. He places the sticks on either side of both of my legs. Dad puts the leaves on top of my legs. He uses the vines to tie the sticks and leaves to my legs. When I feel the vines being tied, pain shoots up my legs. I yowl from the pain.
Mom strokes the fur of my forehead. "I know 't 'urts. Don't worry, Buck. It'll be alright," she smiles.
"Mom, dad, I love ya," I give off a small smile despite my pain.
"We love ya, too, Buck," dad replies.
Just then, my four kits bound towards me. "Daddy, are ya 'kay?" Talo asks.
"Yeah, I'll be fine. Don't worry. Now, why don't ya go play. Don't leave th' cave," I tell my kits. They giggle and run towards the other side of the cave. I smile at my little kits.
My smile fades as I start coughing. My throat is burning. I squirm a little. I keep coughing. The fact is, I can't stop coughing. My throat really hurts. I take a deep, raspy breath. "My throat 'urts…I…I can't breathe very well…" I groan. I can feel my breath being trapped in my chest. My lungs hurt from trying to breathe. I whimper and give off a raspy cry.
Dad places his head on my chest. He listens to my breathing. "Ya breathed in too much smoke. You'll be alright. I'll give ya somethin' ta clean yer lungs out," dad says. He leaves the cave.
Mom stays right here with me. She tries to help me as I keep coughing. I look up into mom's face. My throat is screaming for some form of moisture. "Mom, can I 'ave some water?" I ask.
Mom smiles at me. She grabs a nut bowl and fills it with water. She brings it to me. I drink the water greedily, my throat parched. "Slow down, Buck. You'll make yerself sick," mom warns me.
I try to slow down, at least a little. I just have a hard time with it. I finish up the water much too quickly for my liking. My throat is killing me. I need more water. The amount that mom gave me doesn't seem to be nearly enough. I cough some more, clutching my throat with both paws. "'t…'t 'urts…" I moan. I can feel the burning of my throat.
"I know 't does. I wish I could take th' pain away from ya. I would if I could. Don't worry, though. Yer fathah will be back wi' th' herbs in no time at all. Ya just 'ave ta be patient fer a li'l while longer," mom tries to comfort me. I nod my head and look towards the cave entrance, waiting for dad to return.
Dad returns with some strange herbs in his paws. I look at the herbs suspiciously. "Dad, wot will they do? 'ow will they 'elp?" I rasp the question.
"Well, th' only way ta clean yer lungs out is ta make ya vomit. These herbs will do th' job," dad explains.
My eye widens slightly. I close my eye tightly. "Do ya 'ave ta? I almost prefer havin' trouble breathing ta th' idea of vomiting," I whine.
"'m afraid so, Buck. Don't worry. We just want ta 'elp ya," dad tries to soothe me. He holds the herbs out to me.
I eat the herbs reluctantly. I feel my insides begin to clench, starting in my chest. I know what is about to happen. I look at my parents pleadingly. I can feel my lungs begin to release all of the damage that I sustained during the fire. I gag and begin to vomit up nasty black stuff. I heave and retch, my gag reflex causing my stomach to release its contents as well. My parents stroke my back, trying to soothe me as I continue to vomit.
After a few minutes, I stop vomiting. I have tears rolling down my left cheek. I sniffle and bury my face in my dad's fur. They both embrace me tighter. "Son, you'll be alright. 'm sorry I 'ad ta make ya vomit. 't was th' only way," dad strokes my head fur.
"It's no' yer fault, dad. At least it's over now," I stop crying and begin to smile.
"Yeah. It's over. Buck, please, get some rest. Ya need ta sleep off th' effects of th' smoke," dad suggests. I nod my head. I close my eye and fall asleep.
The next time I wake up, I'm feeling much better. The effects of the smoke are almost completely gone. My throat is a little sore, but I am confident that it will be alright.
I sit up and look around the cave. I see the herd, my family, and all the others sitting nearby. I speak up from my position on the floor. "Wot are we gonna do now?" I ask them.
"We're not really sure. Our home is completely destroyed. Most, if not all of the other herds are leaving. We should probably do the same," Manny says.
"Where will we go?" I ask.
"Well, I heard of a place down south. It was said to be a paradise. However, the journey there is dangerous. Not many have survived the journey. We can still try to risk it. We don't have anything to lose," Diego says.
"Well, 'm fer 't, on one condition," I begin.
"Condition?" The herd asks altogether.
"I want all of ya ta 'elp us protect th' kits. On a journey like this, I don't want anythin' ta 'appen ta 'em," I explain.
"Don't worry. We won't let them get hurt," Ellie promises.
I nod my head in acceptance, smiling. "Alright. Then, let's go," I speak.
"It's decided, then. Tomorrow morning, we will leave for the new paradise. Now, get some sleep everybody. We all need more rest," Ellie suggests.
Everyone starts to settle down. I curl back up on the ground. Taisley and my kits curl up beside me. I watch them fall asleep first. Then, I close my single eye. I join my family in sleep.