Here's my entry! I hope you enjoy ♥
The Holly Wings
It was a harsh, winter night. The street lights flickered through the snow, the Christmas lights swayed in the wind, and a small puppy whined and barked against the harsh cold that lashed itself over her. Her ruby eyes squinted against the cruel winds, trying to keep focus on the lights around her. The darkness of the night was scary. And this box she had been sitting in, for who knows how long now, provided no warmth, no comfort, and no protection.
Her siblings had been taken away by greedy, furless hands. The small pup missed the constant movement around her, providing heat for her and the rest of the litter. She tried to remember what brought her here, this place of abandonment, in the first place. But no memory rung a bell. She had no mother. She had no more brothers, or sisters.
There was only the snow, as white as her pelt, that had any kind of relation with her. She howled helplessly into the night, crying for food as hunger clawed at her belly. Her chops felt dry, having no water in days. The snow was no help, merely freezing her jaws, and whatever hope she had left.
Now this pup starts wandering the streets, looking into the lights of each warm-looking building, and every twinkling star she could manage to glimpse at through the falling snow. Her paws were numbed by the cold, and her nose couldn't detect the presence of her own scent. She felt as though she was beginning to fade away into the wind that threatened to sweep her off her feet.
The pup continues along an invisible path, walking over a bridge where up ahead, she found flying lights. Some dashed left, others dashed right. She barked a greetings toward the playful lights, and noticed how each golden glow was chased by a red one. She wanted to join in the fun, and forced her small legs to move a little faster. As she grew closer, however, her small, folded ears perked up to the sound of rumbling. The lights were growling at her.
'Go away,' they snarled a warning, 'You are too weak to play. You do not belong here.'
Even still, the puppy padded on closer to the lights, zigzagging left and right and disappearing until another pair came to continue the game.
I want to play, The pup thought stubbornly. I have no more brothers. I have no more sisters. You will take pity of me, and allow me to have fun before this night ends. I have no where and no one to go to.
And the pup made a mistake. She got as close as possible, stepping off the curb and dashing into the center of the street. She glanced left and right, hearing the rumbling grow louder and louder. But she felt confidence. She felt ready. Her eyes, as red as the lights that chased, looked for a golden one to chase. But once she glanced right, she only found hostility in the headlights of a car that bore down on her. It screeched, terrifying her nearly to death.
With a deafening squeal, the white pup leapt forward, out of the way of the vehicle. She ran a few steps, and suddenly the ground gave way beneath her front paws. She came tumbling down a hill, rolling over and over and over until friction began to take effect. The weak pup slid on her side through the snow, her head bumping into the base of a tall tree. She pant heavily, jaws agape as she breathed, her sides moving up and down rapidly. Now that she lay here, just breathing, she noticed how hollow she felt on the inside. She had wasted all her energy for the sake of entertainment. And now what? Was this where everything would end?
Something poked her, right between her shoulder blades, and she barked softly in surprise.
Lifting her head, the pup found a strange object that landed at her back.
Three red berries, she recognized, lay on her left shoulder, and two dark green leaves lay in the snow just above them. Above the pup, a grey bird chirped, ruffling its feathers and singing to the small puppy. She watched in awe, her red eyes sparkling. A gift, for me? She thought.
Laying her head back down, she closed her eyes and continued to listen to the bird's joyous song. The pup may not speak bird, but she could sense the happiness and freedom in the tune. She imagined the bird singing of a land where there was always food for orphaned puppies, always a home to return to if she ever got lost. She imagined the bird sang of a place with warm snow, and the smell of gingerbread was always in the air. Now, the pup didn't have a clue what gingerbread may smell like, but she was creative enough to imagine something smelling so sweet you could almost taste it.
The bird chirps on, for hours, it seemed. The sky was no longer dark, and instead glowing a brilliant gold in the distance. The small puppy whimpered happily at the sight, wagging her small tail as her hope began to build up once more. I can see it, the puppy thinks, I can see that land. A home. I won't have to starve anymore.
The puppy gives one last howl, thankful for the brilliant song that was sung to her. She blinks at the beautiful sunrise, giving it a good look one last time, before closing her eyes.
That morning, a dog was born from the swirling blizzard of snow. She shook her white pelt, opened her brilliant ruby eyes, and pounced into the air to spread her large, Holly Wings. The brilliant leaves lift the canine gracefully into the air, leaving behind a small, smiling puppy, that lay in an eternal, peaceful, slumber.
zzz
I hope this wasn't too sad?? Uh? I just kind of wrote whatever came to mind! Thanks for reading, and this opportunity to win the Holly Dog!
