End Frí | Chapter 1

Fog overshadows a barren landscape, painting everything in a dull hue. Trees stand crooked and sparse from one another. Their cambium gashed to the elements, tearing from bole to naked branches which stab the air. The bark lay crumbled near roots surfacing from cracks in the earth. A slight breeze carries only one way.

A lone figure trudges in the mist. Dirt crunches underneath his shoes with every step. Dust coats his long attire and shaggy aegean blue hair. Pale skin reveals dark circles under a pair of silver eyes. He stares forwards with a resting expression as his slender body sways in a slouched posture.

He reaches a halt and shakes his head, throwing particles of dust which flutter around him. Arms extend upwards as he arches his back. A series of cracks and pops sound in his contoured stretch. He returns to a slouch, as air audibly pushes out from his nose. His eyes twitch.

A canid silhouette trots in the distance. Pointed ears stand firm, and a fluffy tail wags behind with each step. The creature hops onto a fallen tree and looks outwards. Their tail ceases in motion, and both ears fold back as their snout points upwards. Eyebrows raise as the man watches the animal. The canine’s attention snaps in his direction. Glowing eyes stare back.

The quadruped leaps off the trunk and darts towards him. His eyes widen. He strafes into a sprint, catching his footing as his shoes displace the loose dirt. He looks back to see the dark figure veer to chase behind him. His head turns, directing forward, to see a nearby tree with a wide sever down the fork.

He approaches where a short bough juts out with the end splintered into a jagged point. Both arms reach out. The tips of his fingers scrape the coarse wood. His body slams onto the ground as his foot catches and shatters an exposed root. He lets out a groan as he rolls himself over. The creature barrels closer and lunges at him. His eyes wince shut, and his arms fold over his head.

His ears perk up as pants of breath sound over him. He separates his forearms and peeks an eye through. A dog looms over him with sparkling amber eyes meeting his, and a black nose almost touching his sleeve.

“Hi there,” she huffs.

Her crimson red fur split into a cornsilk color under the jaw, leading down a scruffy neck, and covering her stomach. Three patches of fur on each cheek annex the color. The sides of her mouth curl up a bit, giving a gentle smile as her tongue hangs out.

“I’m glad… I caught up with you… You’re the only one I’ve seen… around here,” her sentences broke in-between gasps of air. She backs away, giving him room to sit up. Her chest puffs out as she inhales, then deflates in an exhale through pursed lips. “My name is Penelope.”

His perplexed expression drops into a sullen look. He rises to his feet in a fluid motion and swipes his hands along his body, patting away dirt from his clothes.

Penelope walks in a circle around him. “I’ve been wandering around here for-absolutely ever trying to reach the end of this fog, but it just seems to go on and on and… on…” She stops in front of him. “Anyways, I’m here because I’ve been trying to find someone. Frí. Maybe you’ve heard of them?”

His eyes fix her with a glare.

“No?” Penelope lets out a sigh and sits down in a slouch. “It’s just… I’ve heard this person could fix something of mine that is… broken.” She straightens up. “Anywho, enough about me. What’s your story?” Her snout pushes a smile.

The man averts his eyes and walks away.

Penelope’s expression drops. “Oh… okay… I understand.” She hunches over and lets out a drawn whimper.

His eyes roll into the back of his head. He stops and looks back. Penelope meets his gaze. Her muzzle turns around into an open-mouthed smile. She jumps up and scampers towards him, meeting him by his side. He continues on.

Penelope matches his pace. “Oh, I forgot to ask. What’s your name?”

He glances down at Penelope and reverts his sight forward.

“You don’t have a name, huh? Hmm… what about Ossifer?” She anticipates with gleeful eyes.

A slight smirk appears from him.

Penelope holds her head up high with a grin. “Penelope and Ossifer. Travel pals… fidus Achates.”

Penelope and Ossifer disappear into the fog.

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