Under the Alpha Moon

The Cold

“Isa,” the one in the front said, purring my name in a low tenor, “what is this?” He says tipping his head towards my leg.

“One of the cattle seem to have shot the Shepard, Anthony. What a dumb animal it is.” The man on his left said c*****g his head in shock.

“It was bound to happen I suppose, saving those too dumb to come out of hiding, not smart enough to save their own lives, too stupid to follow the leader.” Anthony said.

“I suppose,” another starts but I cut him off.

“What the hell is with the commentary, didn’t you come here to kill me? Get on with it already, I only had one of these,” I say raising my cigarette, “for the occasion, don’t harsh my death vibe.” I yell.

They all c**k their heads, the one in the middle speaks, “Kill you? Why in hell’s fire would I want to do something like that?”

I looked at them dumbly, “It’s what you do?” I questioned.

Anthony shook his head, “They know nothing of what is really going on.” He mumbled. He signaled the man on his right who moved faster than I have ever seen before, in a blink he was behind me a needle stuck in my neck. “Sorry darlin,” he said with a little twang, “there’s a lot to discuss, and this is not the place to explain how wrong you really are.”

I struggled, fighting against whatever toxins he put in my body, my mind was a little hazy but I pushed through it kicking and stomping on his feet.

“Um boss,” the man holding me said questioningly.

“Dose her again, make it double, seems our little Isa isn’t entirely cattle after all.” Anthony said intrigue in his eyes.

“Get off me!” I yelled, feeling another prick in my neck, this one seems to be doing the trick, my brain bogs down, my movements sheepish as I try to remain conscience. This is not what I had in mind when I woke up this morning, and sure s**t not what I thought was going to happen when left for beast chow by Gerald.

“f*****g Gerald.” I slur out as I fall into an endless abyss of darkness.

“Mommy!” A little girl exclaims, “I can’t find my mommy!”

The sky darkens, the sun changing from bright to a dim winters gloom. As the girl wanders around searching for her mommy she shivers, her Summer clothes doing nothing to stop the bitter cold that suddenly surrounds her. Tripping over the curb, her flip flops losing the battle of the sudden snow, an hour has passed and there is already inches on the ground. She pushes through the pain, her feet bleeding from the bite of the cold, she refuses to stop, she must find her mommy! There is nobody around, strange for a warm summer day at the beach.

What is happening? Why is she so lost? Several times her mommy has brought her to the beach, several times they have played in the sun and she has never ever lost her mom, but then it has never ever snowed in July! She is so confused, the wind whipping her hair into her face, striking hard, like small twigs catching against flesh.

“Little one,” a voice called from behind her, “where did you come from sweets?”

She spun around startled, “Wh-Who are y-you mister?”

The man smiled, not entirely friendly, “Me, I am Alpha, what is a small pup like you doing out here all alone?”

She took a small step back stumbling, “I lost my mommy, this weather is weird. We were at the beach swimming and then it got cold.”

He c****d his head to the side, “The beach? Little one, the closest beach is several hundred miles away.”

She was too young to truly understand the gravity of the distance he described, she had been walking for over an hour, to her that was a long way, “I have been walking for a long-time mister, my shoes fell off and my feet hurt so bad. I want my mommy.” She whined.

“Who is your mommy dear?” He asked cautiously.

“Amelia Rose.” She said wobbly.

“Where do you live?” He fired off quickly.

“215 Wood Haven Street.”

“What town sweet one?” he asked persistently.

“Cayucos”

“California?” He asked astonished, I nodded, “Little one you are a very long way from home. How on earth did you get this far north?”

“I walked, mommy always said if we get separated to walk in only one direction, that way it was easier to find each other.” She said quietly.

“I suppose,” he was cut off by a loud echoing bang.

“Isa,” my moms scared voice rang out in the distance.

“mommy?”

Warm hands grabbed her by the shoulders pulling her back, and like that, the cold was gone, the beach was back in view and she was enveloped in the sounds of kids playing and parents laughing.