Death

"There was an accident. Your parents....they're gone."

Dove's young mind reeled. What kind of sick joke was this? Bile rose in his throat and he turned on his heels and ran back into the halls of his home, desperate to find a vessel to vomit into. It absolutely couldn't possibly be true. They had just said goodbye to him only a few hours ago. This person was trying to hurt him, play a cruel prank on him. But the officer followed him into his home. His heavy hoofbeats echoed through Dove's home as he searched for the young boy. Eventually he was able to find him, hunched over a toilet.

"I'm so sorry, son" he said in an awkward attempt at fatherly solidarity. "They're really gone. I came to take you somewhere where people will take care of you." He stepped forward, using his much larger body to try and corral the young Dove. Dove's mind flashed in panic, and before the officer was able to block his way he squeezed out of the mouth of the door. Adrenaline coursed through him, and Dove bolted, as fast as he could. He had nowhere to go, but he didn't stop to consider that while he ran. He just needed to escape, to get away. He could run from this.

As he ran he passed the familiar streets, where familiar people looked at him curiously, then alarmed as they saw the look on his face. It was a look of fear and desperation. Tears streamed down his face, though he tried to will them to stop. There was nothing to cry about, he thought. His parents were certainly still alive. Eventually, he had run long enough that the faces and streets were no longer familiar. The officer hadn't chased him, assuming there'd be no need. After his attempt to run away, he figured Dove would come back. But he didn't. 

When Dove couldn't run anymore, he collapsed by the side of the street he was on. The sun was beginning to set now. He found himself on a dirt road, where there hadn't been houses lining it for some time. He was well and truly alone. His body heaved with effort and with sobs, and he curled his legs under him for some form of comfort. He wrapped his tail tightly around him. He couldn't run away anymore. His parents were really gone. 

He stayed there for several hours, just letting himself cry, before he became so exhausted that he couldn't stay awake. He dragged himself a bit further from the road, finding some vegetation to hide under just in case the officer came for him. It would help keep him warm through the night, as a bonus. Nonetheless, he shivered violently through the night and wasn't sure if he'd make it to morning. Miraculously though, he did. He found himself awake with the sunrise, and tried to blink the salt out of his eyes. The weight of the previous day threatened to crush him completely. He wearily rose to his feet, and wobblily tried to walk. Every bit of his body was sore, both from the running and from the crying. 

He was on his own now.