Rook woke Don up. Don groaned but managed to get up. The sun was just starting to rise. 
             "Are you ok?" asked Rook. "Are you sure you can walk?"
             "Of course!" exclaimed Don indignantly. He strode out of the bush and down the garden to prove it. "Right, are you coming? Let's go. The forest awaits you." Rook nodded.
             "Wait. I sort of..., well, Horizon is joining us," Rook said. Don made a face. 
             "Are you serious?" he demanded. 
             "Yeah. Look, he'll just stay with us until we reach the forest, ok? And you're not even coming into the forest. So you won't need to see him for long," Rook said. 
               "Hpmh," huffed Don. He walked down the street. "Right then. You guys catch up with me." Rook nodded, wondering when Horizon was going to come. Just then, Horizon peered out of the cat flap and grinned. 
              "I was wondering if you guys were awake yet. Where's Don? Are you hungry?" asked Horizon, joining Rook's side. Rook shook his head.  
              "Don took a head start. Let's go," Rook said, motioning across the street. Together, they rejoined Don who was ambling forward very slowly. 
               "You don't look very good," Rook said, noting the nasty gash from the fox had not gotten better. In fact, it seemed to have gotten worst. 
                 "I'm fine," shrugged Don. "Stop pestering me." They walked in silence until they finally reached the edge of the forest. Rook was filled with a huge buzzing feeling. He was there. He had reached it. He had found it. The trees were big, towering even. Inside, it seemed to be dark, shadows flickering everywhere, ready to pounce. But they were there. That's all that mattered. As Rook was about to say something, Don yelled. 
               "Run!" Rook spun around, to see a large slim dog bursting out from the grasses. Horizon and Rook took off, fleeing swiftly through the grass. The dog was at their heels. The dog was a majestic, dangerous spotted german short haired pointer, with floppy ears, a strong nose and sharp teeth. It was right at Rook's heels, snapping at him. Rook could hear its heavy breathing. There was a shout in the distance. 
             "Get'em Gunner!" a man cheered from far away. Rook's mind went blind with anger and fear. He followed Horizon, who was streaking towards a tree. Horizon was surprisingly quick. They reached the foot of the tree and Horizon shot up, climbing safely into the high branches of the tree, chest heaving. Rook leapt up, unsheathing his claws. He dug them into the bark and as he struggled to get out, a branch broke underneath him. He felt the world spinning and suddenly, the breath was ripped away from him. His whole body hit the ground and he groaned. His mind was whirling, his vision blurry. He felt the sharp teeth of the dog on his neck. He was going to die. He knew the hard, death delivering bite was coming. At least he had gotten to see the forest. Although he had never been able to say goodbye to his family. He ached to say goodbye to them one last time. And to Domino and Don. There was a screech and the sharp teeth were gone. Rook, trembling, rolled to his feet. To his horror, he saw the large dog, with Don clinging on to it. 
               "Get to safety!" ordered Don loudly. The dog growl and threw Don to the ground then angrily, leapt at him. Rook watched in total horror as the dog seemed to ravage Don in a fit of hissing, snarling and growling. Rook couldn't bring himself to move or climb the tree. 
             "R-rook. Come up here," Horizon's unsteady voice came. Rook was frozen. 
             "Gunner. Aus! Aus!" the man appeared from nowhere, his voice booming. The dog barked at Don who was limp on the ground and reluctantly trotted to his master's side. The man wore hunting gear, a gun slung over his shoulder. He had a cap and a ragged beard. Rook set his eyes on the man with loathing. 
              "Can't kill the cat here. Those people are watching," the man almost laughed. "Let's go." Gunner glanced at Rook once but trotted after his master. Rook's limbs unfroze and he rushed to Don. Don's fur was matted and coated in blood. His foot was tangled in a dirty mess and blood seeped onto the ground, creating a huge puddle of red. Don's ear was clipped and his sides were badly scratched. His eyes though, were focused on Rook. 
                "No. No..., no. Don...," mumbled Rook, looking frantically around. Horizon crept towards them, his eyes filled with fear. 
                "He's going to die. He's going to die," Horizon kept murmuring to himself in horror. 
                 "No. No, you're not going to die," panic flared inside of Rook. He couldn't let Don die. Not like this. "I'm going to find help."
                "There's no helping me kid," Don said in his gruff voice. "I'm dead. 
               "No Don. No please. Don't say that," begged Rook, his voice almost a whisper. 
               "It's the truth. I've been telling you from the start. I didn't have long to live. It's my time to go," Don said, his eyes flickering. 
               "No. No. no," repeated Rook, over and over again. 
                "I hope you find your family, kid. Stay safe, ok? Don't do anything st-stupid," Don whispered hoarsely. He heaved and took a loud painful breath. Rook gulped and crouched beside Don, a wave of cold despair and sadness mixed with mingled anger at the man and the dog. Don was still.