‘dead’ part.”

“No kidding...but I don’t know how much longer we’ll be able to hold out in here.”

Haywire suddenly realized he was hungry, but he somehow found the strength to hold his tongue. He and Blitz lay down on the ground, and did just exactly as they had planned -- absolutely nothing.

How much time passed? An hour? Half an hour? Ten minutes? Thirty seconds? Neither dogs could remember as soon as they heard the crunching of boots over the leaf-covered ground. It was getting closer, and louder.

“Haywire, stay very still,” Blitz whispered.

“No, I just though he came here to play,” Haywire jeered at him.

The boots stepped in front of Blitz’s bush and stopped. Blitz’s heartbeat pulsed so quickly, it was a wonder the hunter didn’t hear it. He held his breath and waited. The boots walked over a couple of steps and then halted in front of Haywire’s bush.

Haywire also held his breath. His eyes then focused on the branches right in front of his muzzle. Why is that stick crawling? And why is it walking on my muzzle? Haywire focused his sights more, until he became cross-eyed at the creature on his nose.

A large, hairy spider was looking directly at him. Its eight beady, little eyes cast an apathetic gaze that sent shivers down Haywire’s spine. The spider then veeeeery slowly began to crawl up his nose. With each step it took, it became even more grotesque and disgusting. Haywire felt ready to die. He wanted so bad to whack that spider away, but the boots were still in front of his bush. All he could do was stare right back. Haywire almost came close to tears as the spider now came eye-to-eye with him. If I make it out of here alive, I swear this will be the last nature hike of my life!!

Haywire’s insides bubbled and boiled. His eyes watered, and his nose suddenly became clogged up. He couldn’t breath – all because of that silly spider. It was too much. Too much. Haywire yelped and jumped out of the bush, throwing the spider ten feet in the air. He scratched at his muzzle until all the icky spider feelings were gone – but in its place rose a new horror. Haywire looked up to see the hunter pointing his gun right at him. His fingers were ready on the trigger, and were about to pull back at any second. Haywire whined and closed his eyes, waiting for the sound.

It’s AAAAALLWAYS HAYWIRE!! Blitz thought. WHY CAN’T IT BE AMBYR WHO MAKES THE DUMB MISTAKE EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE?!”

...Because Ambyr’s the smart one, Blitz thought back in reply.

Without thinking, Blitz sprang out from his bush, snarling at the hunter. Shocked, the hunter quickly turned around, and tried to aim his gun at Blitz. He fired once, and the bullet singed the top of his ear, but Blitz didn’t care. He landed on top of the hunter, and held the gun firmly in his mouth, trying to wrestle it away.

Haywire opened one eye, and gaped at what he saw. Blitz snarled and growled as he tried desperately to wrench the gun away from the hunter; but Blitz’s size suddenly became his disadvantage. The hunter heaved and grunted as he threw Blitz off of him. Blitz landed hard on the ground next to Haywire and whimpered.

The hunter got a hold of his gun, and aimed it furiously at the two dogs.

Blitz lowered his ears and whined. “Haywire...if this is the end...I just wanted you to know...”

Haywire whimpered back. “...Yeah?”

“...I hate you. With a passion.”

Haywire sniffed. “Thanks. That...really means a lot to me.”

Both dogs cowered in fear and closed their eyes. This was it. They’re gone. Dead.

Suddenly, a sharp screech flew through the sky. The hunter, momentarily distracted, looked up just in time to see an angry hawk skyrocket out of nowhere and dive on top of his head. The hunter didn’t have enough time to react. He tried to cover his face with his gun, and try to swat the angry bird with his other hand.

“Hark!!” said Haywire, equally shocked.

Hark didn’t back down. Who knew such a small bird could pack such a fight? He hovered above the hunter, raking him with his sharp talons and pecking at him. The hunter dropped his gun, and shielded himself from Hark’s fury with both arms. Hark continued to angrily screech and attack repeatedly. Finally, the hunter turned around and took off, running through the brush, and almost bumping into a tree in the process.

Hark didn’t follow, but instead glared at him as he clumsily ran off. Hark screeched another warning for him not to return...or else.

Blitz and Haywire stood and stared. Hark fluttered to a nearby branch and ruffled his feathers. He had a slight pant in his voice. “...What?”

Blitz and Haywire both closed each other’s mouths. “But...I thought...how did you know?” asked Blitz.

Hark pecked at his talons. “I heard a shot. It wasn’t far from the open field, so I figured you had to be close by.”

“But...why?”

Hark spread his wings. “I told you, I never forget a favor, remember?”

Haywire growled. “No, I meant why did you lead us to this death trap?”

Hark suddenly looked down. He swooped from his perch and landed on the ground in front of the dogs. “I’d say I truly didn’t know...but I don’t expect you guys to believe me. You have no reason to trust me, and if you think so too, then you should just take it out on me now.” Hark closed his eyes and spread his wings openly in front of them, welcoming any attack that might come.

Blitz thought for a moment. “You want to be true to your word for once, Hark?”

Hark opened his eyes and folded his wings again. “What?”

“You want to prove to us and Ambyr you’re not just a collection of lies?”

Hark flapped his wings excitedly. “Yes, yes I do!!”

Blitz lowered his head to Hark’s level. “Alright, I’ll strike you a deal. You lead us out of here, and we promise not to tell Ambyr what happened.”

Hark was about to shout in agreement, but he was also forced to think. “Hey – wouldn’t THAT be considered lying?”

Blitz shrugged. “Not if she asks.”

Hark flew up to a tree branch and called out in the air. “Okay, you have my word!!” he lifted up a talon and crossed it over his chest.

“Great,” Blitz said. “So we have a deal.” He nudged Haywire. “...Don’t we?”

Haywire looked at him. “Huh? Oh, yeah, right. I can keep a secret!!” He grinned. “I have tons of them!!”

Blitz narrowed his eyes at him, but then turned to Hark. “Alright then – lead the way!”

Hark shuffled his feathers. “Right! ...But I should warn you – there’s a shortcut across Caribou Territory, and I think –“

“NO!!!” shouted Blitz and Haywire in unison. They both looked at each other, then started laughing. Hark shrugged at them, then lifted off his branch to begin the journey back home.

“Hey, Haywire,” Blitz said. “When we get home, remind me to tell Ambyr we’re complete morons.”

“You got it!” Haywire smiled. And they walked off together.

The hunter came back to the attack site after stopping to nurse his scratch marks. Those wolves were long gone, but that hawk intrigued him the most. He spotted his gun laying on the ground. He picked it up and examined it; the shells he reloaded inside were all missing. The hunter scratched his head. “The spirits must be trying to trick me...again.” And with that, he, too, turned around and left.