Flawed Design / OPEN, Death! (WARNING: Gore)

[ghostpact]

★ — A THOUSAND LIGHT YEARS AWAY

keeshond. snowbound. gatherer. tags.

It was just before the sun rose when the small dog first stepped out of the cavern she'd began to call home. An owl hoot made her jump, nearly sending her back into the safety of the place behind her. It was only an owl, she had to tell herself. She was small, but too big to be a meal to one still. Her eyes scanned the darkness before her, the bright snow being the only reason she could really see. It wouldn't last long, though, as the sun just peaked the horizon and brought a low light to the forest. Taking another moment, she puffed up her chest and continued on with her journey, away from the cavern. That's where their scents took her and now even it weren't to comfort her, she wanted to find out where they'd gone anyway. Why hadn't the two been there when she woke? Moving into the snow now, she glanced from left to right, really trying to pinpoint which direction they ran off into. A rustle in the bush caused her to jump and she almost darted back, leaving it to later when they would surely return to her. But the keeshond stayed put, determined to track down the two members of her very small family. It was not like she hadn't braved the dark before, especially before they'd even joined Snowbound. There were plenty of times she walked through a dark forest. This was nothing when the sun was slowly making its way up and her family was out there, probably waiting for her! It would be a fun game, she thought, and a small smile found its way onto her face. That's all this was. A game. No one got hurt during a game and she would be okay venturing away from the cavern so early.

With a definite nod to only herself, she forged ahead in the direction their scents had been strongest. Even when everyone else's seemed to be there just to confuse her. Like a dutiful canine, she trotted through the snow, excitement now replacing her small fear she first felt upon leaving the warmth and safety of the cavern. As she loosened from the jumpy reactions to rustling bushes or an owl hooting, she bounded from one little landmark to the next, jumping and tumbling from rocks and tree roots. It wasn't until a gust of wind pulled the tainted scent of blood right to her nose that she realized; something was not right. She'd stopped dead, falling over herself in her haste to cease her expedition. The canine wanted to write it off as just some prey animal. Maybe that's what they were out for and she was interrupting! The mingling scent of her mother dashed that hope quickly. There was no taste of prey on the wind. Dread filled her and she took a careful step forward. The atmosphere felt significantly colder as one conclusion after another leapt through her thoughts. Her fur was thick, but it could not stop the cold spreading through her chest. She'd become tense again, small paws shaking with each step in the same direction of the awful scene. The mournful howl filling the air fed her fears and she whimpered quietly in return.

The scene before her was blurred as soon as it came into view, tears welling in her dark eyes at the confirmation of her assumption. The only mother she knew was lying there, bloody and ripped open by... whatever horrible creature it was. She never remembered or even knew her biological parents, she'd been so young she didn't even know why she was separated from them. Raine took her and cared for her, and Ecto couldn't imagine her life without the blue lynx. Now she would have to. Every ounce of her usual happy demeanor was drained, tears leaving dark tracks down her cheeks. She felt sick, but she was planted to her spot and she couldn't move for several minutes. Only quiet whimpers could be heard from her, trying to settle the sickness and the absolute devastating emptiness in her chest. Finally, as if she had not seen him before, her gaze darted to Kayn’s form and there was a quiet gasp from her. She'd known he was there and only seemingly forgot she'd also been looking for him when her emotions struck her frozen. With a shaky, careful step, she stepped forward and nearly fell. Barely catching herself, she was at his side in only a couple bounds. She ran into him, pressing her face in his fur so she could block out the blood and gore from her vision. Now she needed the comfort far more than she had when she first left. She trembled against him as a sob wracked her body. The young girl couldn't speak, but she didn't even want to ask what happened because it didn't matter. Mom was dead.

#psychosocial.