Thunder awoke Hunter and Howler in the early hours of the next morning, the sky was a dark grey nearly black and the sea was rough. The ship was swaying violently and they could hardly stand up, shouts and screams were coming from around the ship.

Then a sudden violent gust of wind overpowered them and they went flying onto the other deck. A women screamed as Howler and Hunter desperately scrambled onto their feet,

“Lion!” someone cried,

“Get them!” Howler became aware of a pair of hands trying to grab him. He dodged right, bumping into Hunter sending them rolling into the side of the boat. A man with a metal cage now came towards them, they ran to each side of him and about to jump onto the next deck when the wind blew them over the Ou’mans heads and right over the side of the boat. The water struck Howler so hard he almost thought it was all over. He swam up to the water’s surface where a man on the ship had a pistol aimed at his head. Howler turned hearing splashing behind him, the Ou’man who had been holding the metal cage was frantically splashing at the water. Howler whined as the salt water went into his eyes. More salt water came at him and the salt started to burn in his nose, he threw his paws out in-front of him and fell beneath the water’s edge just as the bullets came flying.

Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

Howler paddled desperately with his paws, he passed the thrashing man’s legs and swam on. He only came up for breaths when he needed them scared that the bullets would come back. After hours of swimming Howler reached the shore, he lay on his front in the sand and nussled his nose into it.

Then a thought came to him. He looked up and around in alarm.

Hunter was gone.