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Finbar watched the snowy pine trees pass by as he stood in the backseat of his owner’s truck, head out the window and tongue lolling in the cold wind. He wagged his fluffy tail, happy as a lark in spring. He didn’t know where he was being taken, but he was with his human and that was all he cared about.
The white dog loved his owner so much, and was always eager to go out on fun rides with him. Leaving the window, Finbar chose to snuggle his white furred face against his owner’s shoulder, but… to his shock, he was swatted away.
Finbar tilted his head in confusion and worry. Was his friend okay?
He did what any good dog would have done, and began to cover the man’s neck and ears in comforting licks, ears down in submission. This was met with an even stronger reaction, ending in Finbar being shoved away with force. His human grumbled something sharp, and would not look at him.
Deciding it was best to leave him be, Finbar sat down and continued staring out the window, frost and snowflakes lightly brushing past his face. Whatever was going on it was likely something more serious than he was used to, and if so then he needed to be there for his owner if anything was awry.
The white dog had been excited to see the new items loaded into the back—a big heavy silver block, and a lot of rope. He thought maybe it was for some kind of adventure in the woods, but the longer he sat still in the back of the truck, the more he felt progressively uncomfortable.
The tension in the air could soon almost be cut with his dark gray claws. Something didn’t feel right in Finbar’s stomach, and he closed his mouth. Outside, the forest became denser and denser, and the road bumpier. The road became more like a vague path covered in snow, and rocks dotted the landscape all around.
The truck slowed down considerably, traversing uphill and downhill. It shook Finbar all around, so he laid down to keep himself from getting hurt.
As day became sunset, Finbar had no interest in hanging his head out the window anymore, for anxiety slowly gripped his being like a thorn bush.
It felt like this slow journey went on forever, but eventually the truck came to a complete stop. Finbar perked his head up, ears pointed and aware. He watched his owner pause for a moment, as if thinking deeply, then open the door and get out. Finbar began to pant again, getting up excitedly and rushing out too.
The fresh snow was like dust under his paws, and was kicked up with each step. Finbar felt better being outside, and though the tension still remained it was as if it had lessened exponentially.
His owner, dressed warmly in plaid, grabbed the cinder-block and rope, and hiked carefully into the woods. Finbar followed loyally when he heard the usual whistling sound that beckoned his attention.
For a good while, the two trekked through the snowy woods. While this was highly unusual behavior for the man he’d sworn loyalty to as his pack alpha, the white dog also had to admit that frolicking in the wintry blanket was like heaven for him.
Finbar’s golden eyes scanned the sparkling landscape, now darkening by the arrival of dusk. A wind that chilled him to the bone began to roll through the area, sending wisps of fresh snow powder barreling into their bodies.
Soon they came upon a cliff-side, and Finbar trotted around exploring. Down below was a rushing river, and before him a vast wilderness and mountain range. As the sky darkened, the woods and sky around him became overcast by gray. This was great!
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His leaf green nylon collar was grabbed and pulled roughly, snapping him out of his admiration for the surrounding nature. It was his owner, and… his demeanor had changed drastically. He no longer seemed down or sad, but now he was imposing. Finbar flattened his ears and grumbled in concern, while his owner knelt down and tied the rope tightly through the collar’s metal ring.
A pang of fear hit the white dog, but he remained still for he trusted this man, his friend. A good few loops of rope were fastened around his neck, then finally tied off in a double-knot; it was actually rather uncomfortable, too tight and hurt, but Finbar tried to bear it like a good dog.
Still, his worry turned to fear, and he couldn’t pinpoint exactly why. Things just felt very wrong. This was worsened when his owner tied the other end of the rope in and around the cinder-block.
Why? What was this about? Still he sat obediently, awaiting his master’s commands.
When he was picked up and faced toward the cliff, his heart sank; he knew what this was. In a single moment, in a flash, in a black wave of dread, he knew what his owner was doing and what was about to happen to him, but it was far too late for him.
The white dog fought with all his might and screamed through his frosted maw, but his struggle was proven in vain as he was tossed over the side of the cliff, only to plunge down to the cold depths of the roaring river below. With him the cinder-block followed, the force of dragging it with him putting a terrible pain on his nape.
Time seemed to stop in the moments before he hit the water. He saw nothing but the expressionless face of the human that had stabbed him in the back, and betrayed his love. Fear, heartache, pain, and soon a cold, that nearly shocked the soul out of his body, enveloped his world.
The roaring of the bitterly freezing ice river assaulted his ear drums like the cracking of thunder. With him came a heavy weight which dragged him down further, choking him out by the throat. He felt lightheaded, and so desperately needed air!
The world went black around him as he struggled, and he couldn’t tell if it was him dying or if it was the lack of lighting where he was. In a hazy, half-conscious state, Finbar felt something huge slam into his body, as a release from around his neck followed. It happened so quickly that he didn’t have time to comprehend exactly what it was that hit him, but he knew it felt something like a log or branch.
The white dog fought for his life, as much as he could, and tried to make his way to the surface. The river carried him along without mercy. His lungs burned and yearned for sweet air, but found none for he was hit by a sheet of ice—it prevented him from surfacing.
As if a second wave of strength came over him, Finbar used his hind legs to find his footing on the now shallow, stony bed, and propelled himself upward. The brave dog found himself shattering the ice and fiercely climbing out, sprawling his body over it once it was solid and safe. He breathed, and it felt so wonderful. He did not whine or bark, but stayed where he was in silence for a few moments… or maybe it was a few hours, Finbar could not tell.
Blackness and ice enveloped his body once more.
Finbar awoke with a start, instinctively screaming and drawing in a lot of water through his mouth and nose. It burned like nothing ever had before, and he twisted and turned in the deathly cold current.
‘No… please…’ he begged. ‘Save me, God.’
Snap!
Finbar’s arm made the most disgusting noise as it caught in the branches of a fallen tree under the water. The battered, barely conscious canine writhed in agony, but thought it wise to try his luck in using this find to his advantage. Using the tree arm as a final grasp at escape from the river, Finbar managed to release his arm and slowly crawl up the log until he breached the surface.
With jerky, unrefined movements, the downed dog struggled to shore. Once he was on the rocks, he left the wood and half-way collapsed into the snow, everything around him spinning. Sopping wet with rivulets of water streaming off his body, he coughed and threw up some copious amounts of liquid from his lungs.
With that, he drew in breath rapidly, letting his body recover. He was safe now, at least from drowning.
The night sky loomed overhead, the darkness akin to the one in his mind and heart that broke him in that moment. The white dog let himself crumble to the ground entirely, savoring the still ground but knowing full well what being wet and cold could do to someone.
Actually, he didn’t, but his instincts told him; any animal could know when something dreadful was happening, and by nature they knew the outcome. It was something that one just knew deep down, in the moment.
Finbar wondered if he’d join his ancestors soon.
His eyes closed, and a blanket of warmth covered him as he let himself drift away into a peaceful sleep.