Lost

Your ears perk up at the snap of a nearby twig. Something fast and grey rushes between the bushes, leaping in the opposite direction of the sound. 

Your little black nose twitches, the sweet scent flooding your senses. You pounce, the fuzzy orange tennis ball long forgotten. 

The little creature is fast, but you know it’ll be within your grasp in seconds. Bouncing over large roots and wild flowers, you follow it, an invisible path leading you right to it’s hiding spot. 

Another scent wafts before you. Something hot, meaty, and close. 

Abandoning the small long-eared animal, you turn in another direction and rush away, zooming in and out of tall trees to find your target. 

“MAX!” A voice calls from afar. You recognise it. You want to be near it. 

Turning again, you slow down, tail wagging softly against the crunchy, fallen leaves that cover the ground. You feel them crack and break apart with each gentle step you take. 

This ground is hard, much drier than earlier. You still feel the drying mud caking the length of your legs, the fur matted down in places. 

That puddle was so much fun. You want to find it again. 

The voice appears again, though further away now. “... Where are you?” 

Adrenaline courses through your bloodstream as you turn swiftly in a circle, trying to locate your best friend. 

The new harness rubs uncomfortably across your shoulders, pulled too tightly when you tried to rush off. Where did the lead go? It was there a moment ago. 

Birdsong flies overhead. A swarm of shapes dive from out of nowhere, and you flinch back. They get closer and closer, and a low whine looses from your throat. An abandoned log rests ahead, and you rush for it, paws sliding on a patch of damp moss. 

You hear the echo of your feet against the hollow wood. Kneeling in the shade, your body ceases it’s trembling. Funny, you didn’t notice that a moment ago, either. 

Eyelids suddenly heavy, blinking becomes much harder. You close your eyes, not for long, but suddenly the world has shifted. 

Darkness floods the forest. The birdsong has quietened. 

No voices carry on the wind. 

You are alone.