dying in L.A.

Exhaustion had long ago formed dark spots at the edges of his vision, and clouded his mind. Regardless, the young man pushed forward. They would catch up to him if he ever slowed down. Not that he moved quickly to begin with. His lame hind leg was in agony, each nerve alight with pain. The knee that had never been able to bend properly screamed with each step. Were it not for fear of a slow and painful demise, the boy would have crumpled to the ground miles ago. By now, he trudged blindly forth without a clue where he was going. His head hung between trembling shoulders, eyes long since shut against the light that made his head pound.

It had been quite some time since he'd lost the tracks that had led out of the slaver encampment, desperate to follow an invisible guide who had made it out long ago. Breath shuddered through his lungs, searing through his battered throat mercilessly. The young male hadn't been especially healthy to begin with, and it was a miracle he'd made it to this point. One paw in front of the other. Then another. It was all he could bring himself to do. If he let himself rest, he would never get up again. The ebony wisp knew that without a doubt.

Scent markers. Pungent and overwhelming to his brain, which had been numbed by the journey days ago. He stumbled to a halt before he could get much closer. Had he gone in a big circle? Returned to the clan that was likely to slaughter him on sight? Laboriously, he turned his head, cracked one eye open. This place was wholly unfamiliar to him. It was a blessing in disguise, promising that he had made it away from the slavers. For now. A mouse skittered oh so close to his toes, blind to the threat he might have posed. He didn't have the energy to swat at it in hopes of some kind of meal.

Toxic green eyes, softened by pale cerulean, tracked the brown form as it continued along foraging. What else was there to do? He couldn't raise his voice beyond a whisper, his tongue had turned to lead in his jaws. Perhaps he would die here- just waste away to nothing in a peaceful thicket. That didn't sound so bad.