Username: werepickle
Name: Orion
Name Meaning: (optional)
Gender: Male
Prompt: A warm summer night, the wind cool yet warm was blowing through Orion's fur as his head hung out the window of the car. Soon the wind was slowing down as the car pulled over onto a lone gravel road surrounded by tall, thick pine trees. Orion soon heard the familiar click as the was pulled open. His tail wagging, he started off nose to the ground, enjoying the new smells that he was picking up. A whistle echoed through the night, one Orion was familiar with. Trotting over towards his human, tongue hanging out he soon felt a rough hand stroke through his fur. Suddenly the smell of salt pricked Orion's nose, and he peered up at his human and realised they were crying. Giving small licks of reassurance, a gravelly but saddened voice whispered "I'm so sorry boy". As his human walked away the sound of crunching gravel grew fainter with each step. Soon the sound of the car growled to life before it slowly disappeared. Orion confused to where his own went, he gazed upon the stars 'Is this my fate', he pondered. He soon set of in search for shelter following the north star which was bright against the night sky. Through thick shrub and leafy debris it was no easier task to navigate the thick pine forests. On a few occasions Orion lost sight of the North Star and panic flowed through his veins fearing he would be lost forever. Feeling weak, he stopped by a river in his path and taking a well needed drink. He gazed at the night sky and soon a sorrow filled howl stretched throughout the forest. He stretched his muscle feeling a renewed energy course through his veins he set off in hopes of a warm place for the night. Stopping by a fence line he peered up at the skies hoping for a flicker of hope and upon noticing was about to give up. As he lowered his gaze, he noticed that across the horizon and beyond the fence line was a small light flicker through the night. His tailed swished through the grass, causing dust to fly up. Squeezing through the sharp wired fence he started to run the cool breeze whipping through his fur. Grass and dust was kicked up as he sprinted towards the light hoping his eyes weren't playing any tricks. Soon the solitary light became many and the silhouette of a house rose from the ground. Slowing down he glanced at the sky as the stars danced in the shadowless sky, as he whispered a heartfelt "Thank you". Cautiously he ambled towards the house to see a lone person sitting on the grass. Orion wandered over to the lone person, and the two sat together staring at the night sky. As Orion glanced up at the stars as they seemed to stretch for Infinity, he felt a wave of happiness embrace him. The stars led him to his new forever home. (498 words)