Amanda sat comfortably on Thicket's back. Her hands rested upon his long thick neck while her fingers intertwined with his grass-like mane. She could feel each bump in the path as they went over them. Her butt grew numb the longer she straddled the beast. Ashur sat numb to the world, his mind wandered as they pushed through the surrounding forest. The cracks in the leaves above sent shallow beams of light across his face as a slight breeze rippled through his hair.
He wondered if he was dreaming or if he was dead and this was his afterlife. He thought about his mother's face in the shelter. Her mouth hung open and her eyes wide. Ooze leaked from her face leaving a small accumulation of sludge at the bottom of her feet. Tears filled his blue eyes and streamed down his red face.
Boulder sat with his hand gently placed on Thicket's side. The bucks long fur would catch the wind as they moved and would brush against his hand gently. He liked the feeling, it tickled and reminded him of his family dog. A large otterhound named Gunter, with shaggy fur, hung down past his knees. He remembered when his dad brought Gunter home. His mom was less than happy about it. She wasn't a dog person or a cat person. She didn't care for animals much, or people.
It took a while for her to warm up to Gunter but once she did they were inseparable. She would sit on the comfy yellow chair in the study and use Gunter as a footstool while she read the morning paper and drank her coffee; he was none the wiser. Tears swelled into his eyes as he combed through Thicket's luscious fur. He raised his sleeve to his face and swiftly cleared it of the tears. Thicket breathed deeply, his nostrils pulsated as his eyes wandered. His hooves crunched the branches beneath them with ease as his vine-covered antlers wisped through the low-hanging branches above.
Suddenly he came to a stop. His hooves planted in the moist soil below leaving deep imprints and he trotted in place for a moment.
"Everything okay Thicket?" Amanda asked, scanning the area. He huffed deeply and stamped his front hooves once more.
"Whoah boy, it's okay," Boulder said, patting his side gently. In front of them, a large bush began to rustle. The sound of twigs snapping and leaves shaking startled Thicket. He hopped onto his hind legs and dumped the three of them off before slamming back into the ground. The kids fell from his tall back and slammed into the course dirt below. They took a moment to steady themselves before jumping to their feet and rushing to calm their majestic friend.
As they began their soothing tactics the bushes rustled more as a thick pair of antlers sprouted above them. Following the antlers came a large rounded brown head with beady black eyes. Amanda and Boulder stumbled backward toward Ashur. Thicket bawled loudly before grunting. The creature behind the bush grunted back before rising onto its feet. The bottom half of the creature's face was missing its skin and fur all that remained was the lower jaw bone complete with all of its teeth.
Once the beast stood at full height it was clear that it was once a moose. Now it was something far from that. It was missing chunks of skin and muscle all around its mangled body. It had nothing but anger and death in its eyes, and its tattered body was wrapped by a glowing blue streak. The three of them couldn't believe what they were looking at. They stumbled backward more as Thicket began to paw at the dirt.
Then without warning the moose charged. Thicket rushed in meeting the beast in the middle. They locked antlers and swung each other around. Thicket slammed the moose's head against a thick tree splintering the bark right off and snapping it like a small stick. The moose in return slammed its head into the top of Thicket's and stamped him into the dirt. The two beasts fought aggressively and with no mercy. Amanda, Boulder, and Ashur took cover behind a large stump and watched from a distance. Thicket slammed his head against the moose's face shattering his jaw and scattering the pieces all over. The moose headbutted him before charging and pinning him against a tree, digging his antler into Thicket's chest.
The fight seemed decided, Thicket put up a fight and held his own but the beast was too strong. The three kids watched from behind a stump in shock and disbelief hoping they weren't about to lose their new friend, then the fight shifted. Thicket lowered his head and wedged his antlers between the beasts. He pried and pushed his way out from being pinned and slid the sharp bone from his chest. Then with all of his force, he began slamming his head against the beasts. Then in one fell swoop, he slammed the top of his head into what remained of the moose's chin and jammed his antlers into the chest of the creature.
The beast roared in agony as Thicket plunged deeper. He then ripped his antlers out and the beast tumbled to the ground. As it lay there dying Thicket stamped in place. Breathing heavily and whining slightly. Then he stood on his hind legs as tall as he could and slammed his hooves into the moose's skull. Blood, bone, and bits of brain scattered across the ground painting the area red and bellowing loudly. Amanda froze in place, Boulder began to tremble slightly, and Ashur hunched over and vomited on the ground.
Thicket approached them slowly. He limped as he moved barely pressing his right leg to the ground. Blood pooled from his chest and down his left leg while his hooves were covered with the moose's blood. Amanda took a deep breath and slowly walked toward him, she places her hand on his wound, and he whimpered softly as his blood quickly trickled down her arm.
"You were protecting us weren't you?" She asked, staring at her blood-soaked hand. Thicket sighed and nuzzled his snout to her chest. She combed through his fur gently while he snuggled up to her. Then he turned away and began moving forward. Curious, Amanda followed close behind beckoning the others to follow. Ashur felt queasy and Boulder had an uneasy feeling but they both decided to follow anyway.
Boulder scooted past the brain-mashed corpse on the ground and did his best to ignore it before catching up with Amanda and Thicket. Ashur attempted to avoid it but his eyes had other plans. Once he was next to it he couldn't help but look down at it. Once again his mouth and throat filled with the burning sensation that was his stomach acid regurgitating and expelling itself from his body. He hurled until nothing else would come up. His face was a pale shade of green and his body was a pale white color.
He slowly moved forward to catch up with Amanda and Boulder. The two of them stood still on top of the hill. Confused Ashur picked up the pace and reached the hilltop beside them. In front of them was a large clearing filled from edge to edge with the most vibrant purple lavender plants they had ever seen. In the middle of all the lavender, Thicket began eating the plants. He ate slowly, before dropping to his back and rolling around playfully.
As they watched curiously, they noticed the wounds that were once gushing blood were now scabbing over. The hole in his chest was now recovered by his fur and his limp turned back to a steady stride.
Amanda bent over and plucked a small bundle.
"Amazing," She said, holding the plant up to her eye.
"The world is nothing like before, is it?" Ashur asked, staring over the beautiful purple field.
"Not in the slightest," Boulder replied, placing his hand on his shoulder.
"Look!" Amanda shouted, pointing beyond the field.
"Holy shit," Boulder said, in disbelief. In the distance rose the white smoke from the newly destroyed bridge. One of the pillars could be seen cresting over the hilltop, and the waterfall could be heard in the distance.
"Let's go home," Ashur said, before whistling loudly. Thicket's ears perked up as his neck snapped upright. He trotted over and nuzzled Ashur softly. Ashur jumped back still nervous around the large creature but still began to climb onto his back. Amanda and Boulder followed suit this time letting Ashur take the reins. His sweaty hands quivered slightly as he gripped Thicket's blood-stained fur firmly. The lavender waved along the gentle breeze as he stared out into the distance.
As Amanda and Boulder climbed up they could see further and more clearly, now they could see the tops of the tall buildings from downtown. They could also see the full bridge and the rubble tumbling off into the river below and they felt a rushing sense of relief knowing they were almost home and that they'd soon have the answers they so desperately needed.
"Hiyah!" Ahsur shouted, digging his heels into Thicket's side.