"I have a," for the umpteenth time, Shadow coughs, "question for us. How are we going to get out of here alive?" I burrow into my brain, trying to think of a possible explanation. An alpha-worthy response, after all, the Specimen pack is forever gone, I may as well now be an alpha. But I need some sort of plan that I can at least come up with, no matter how ridiculous, as long as it's believable enough—even if I have to lie! I can't tell him the truth. Hey, Shadow, bro, I'm sorry, but we aren't going to get out of here alive. Sorry, nope, we're all going to die. Enjoy your last day alive. Like that would go over well. Phoenix and I would have a passed out pup on our hands. I bend my head down to brush off the ash on Shadow's muzzle with my chin. He sneezes as the swirling ash infiltrates his nose, his legs wobbling as he sidesteps.
"I don't know, bud," I sigh, my voice raspy. I try to clear it, or get some saliva up so my voice will be softer and richer, but everything I try fails.
Phoenix heads the small pack of the three of us, clearing the way of ash. Shadow stays ahead of me, or beside me, depending on the depth of the ash, while I usually hang out near the back. Fear swirls around within me every time I see Phoenix shove his head forwards. He must be inhaling a good hunk of ash. However much fear clings to me, I've been pleasantly surprised to have not seen any grizzlies around. Or possibly even worse, Druids. I ponder whether a wolf would kill us if it's bigger and stronger. Not many animals could've even survived this long in the ash, especially nothing smaller than Shadow, which means that any carnivores are hungry. I hate to think of barbaric wolves, but the thought is lingering over me like the ravens and hawks above, who are trying desperately to flee the ash cloud, and get ahead of it. I avert my attention back to the trail that Phoenix has been plowing. But I don't see him. And that's when I realize I'm the one plowing.
"Phoenix? Phoenix!" I scream desperately. Where could he possibly have vanished to? I step closer to Shadow, protectively. I can hear him whining. "Did you see where Phoenix went?" I ask the little pup. He shakes his head vigorously. Damn it. Where did he go? I try to calm myself and act like Phoenix. I need to relax. I would've taken a deep breath in, but with the ash, I know that would be a very bad idea if I'd done so. I look around, but all I can see is ash and more ash. There isn't anything else in sight.
"When was the last time you saw him?" I ask my brother. He shrugs, his head dangling.
"I don't know. Twenty minutes ago, maybe?" Shadow gave me input. Twenty minutes ago…. That could've been a mile away! Fear ebbs at my body, and I unsuccessfully try to repel it. I begin to mutter to myself and talk gibberish. I need to find where Phoenix went to.
"Shadow, come on, we're going to head northward." I begin to trudge through the ash until I realize that Shadow hadn't replied. I grunt as I make a tight 360. "Shadow? God, no. Don't say I lost him, too!" I frantically search around, my head flailing in all directions. Ash falls off of my moving body and into a heap. Well now I at least know that that theory works. But I didn't find Shadow. I retrace my trail which is already becoming covered with more and more ash. "Shadow—" I cease my yell. I shut my eyes, praying that it's just a rabbit, or elk. I move my paw back from the squishy, furred substance below it. I open my eyes just a squint and look down. It is Shadow. I press my nose against his chest. He's cold, and still. The ash has already laid a fine blanket on him. I brush it aside with my fore paw as I grope around for ideas. But I don't have any. Cloud was the first to go, and now Shadow's gone to. Better yet, Phoenix is missing. Who knows, he may have taken the same twist of fate as Shadow did. Maybe he's lying back there to, covered in a whinx of murderous snow. I pace grihlly back and forth, my mouth frothing with anger. I lift my cleaned off paw and wipe the small tear away that had escaped its confinement.
I feel empty and lost again. For the third time in a week. I decide to keep heading northward.
My stomach growls. My throat is parched like a withered blade of grass. After about an hour of stumbling onwards, searching for Phoenix, I can feel a pain in my chest. My time is coming. I am the ash's next target, and I know that there is no escaping it. Phoenix's unspoken words echo back to me. "The end is unavoidable. Imminent. Impending. Inescapable. Unalterable." How right those inaudible words were. And to think that when this all started just what—a day ago? I can't keep track, the sun never shines—I thought that we could escape. I can't believe how stupid I am. I should've stopped thinking to myself, and I should've watched Phoenix. And then Shadow just dies right under my nose—almost literally!
I let out a puff of air as I walk sullenly onwards, my head low, tail even lower. If I don't find Phoenix, how will I go on? It's already hard enough. When mom died, I was only still going because of Phoenix and my brothers. Now I've lost them all. The only thing that I'm still living for is the slim chance of finding Phoenix, after all, it is possible. Nothing is impossible. I've got a chance to find my mate.
A/N: Sorry that this chapters really really short, I just feel bad because I haven't updated in 2 days. That just feels way to long! I'm not going to ask for a review, because I feel I've done it enough (However, any reviews are appreciated!) and I'm scared I'm going to let the story sit for a few days again because I might get a brain dump. But now 'all' of you who read this don't need to fear. I've got my plot rolling again, so next chapter should be up in 2 days at the latest!