Animal Instinct

I ceased my running once I was safely hidden in the depths of the fall trees passed the field. My nose was tingling with so many strong, damp scents that, in the end, made me sneeze up a hurricane. It had rained earlier this morning.

            The forest was cold and the air made my panting lungs burn, because of the frosty chill, tending to cause the clouds of heat to be seen escaping my mouth.

            I thought about him. How I felt no love, no want or need to be his friend. From the first day I met him in fact, I could feel his cruelty and his selfishness.

            I believe, it started with the way he had treated me. How he had always teased me, pulled harshly at my limbs or held the things I desired just passed my reach. He was in control and I couldn’t escape.

            Weeks passed slowly, but no one noticed what he did to me, and I knew no one who could help.

            One day though, we were walking and that was when I realized he not only hurt me, but others as well.

            It started with the bullying of the kids at the park and the crude, loud whispers about the old-folk standing nearby. I was speechless with a mix of both shock and pity, but there was nothing I could do. Not a thing! All I was, was a ‘tag-a-long’ who didn’t want to ‘tag,’ though had no choice, or I was the lost puppy who was being led into an even more complicated maze with a leash and choking collar bound around my neck.

            The misdemeanors didn’t end. One after another, a baby’s candy was stolen, rude graffiti appeared on the playground’s slide, the tires of police cars ran flat, and I was there to witness it all. This never mattered, because he was the one in control.

            But the dogs… that was the worst. He tortured them and laughed at their suffering and their suffering and I could see, deep within their eyes, a hopeful pleading for help. I felt horrid at only being able to ‘sit at my ‘master’s’ feet and watch the pain continue.

            Help!

            Hurt him!

            Run! Run far away!

            I had seen the words through their expressions and, once again, their eyes. Hopeless it was, to ignore, and so, I listened.

            Help!

            Hurt him!

            Run! Run far away!

            Run. So simple it sounded and so… pleasant? I could do it! I could run! And I could help! And hurt! For freedom, all I would have to do was run… run far away.

            This, I did, and that, is what led me here, to the forest.

            Ha.

            Ha.

            Ha.

            All I had to do was run to escape. I never even had to disobey and simply, he was gone.

            I can imagine what will happen. He will call for help, but none will come. He will be pained from my absence; the absence of his only ‘friend,’ and will have nothing to soothe him. Almost like I took candy from a baby. How easy… I wonder what mom will say? Or my sisters? Dad would be proud. How could he not, when his very own son stomped the criminal out of the town bully with the use of emotional pain? And just to help everyone!

            Oh yes.  I can imagine ‘him,’ my ‘used to be ‘master,’ right now. He'd even be the type of posting ‘missing pictures’ of me everywhere in his depression. Mentioning my age, size and color. He’d say that he has a ‘collar without a dog;’ without a ‘tag-a-long.’

            I’m just thinking how ironic it all is, as I begin heading towards the nearby neighborhood my dad lives in, wagging my tail in my own merry way.

OK! Done … Please tell me you got the ending, because one girl asked me if it was a human or a dog and I just shook my head with pity and asked her if she had a tail. Poor girl still didn’t get it.

ANYWAYS!!! Review ok? Thanks for reading!

~Luna~