Free Snowfall by Lainey Reese

snarl. Ashley knew that he was dead.
     
     
    Jake kept his eye on the cougar. She watched him while she kept her those teeth like a vise on Poncho’s back. He didn’t know if Poncho was moving, he couldn’t take his eyes off the cat to check. He pulled the shotgun from the holster and slowly slid his backpack off his shoulders. In a voice as loud of a shout as he could make because he knew cougars hated loud noises, he told Ashley, “Run. Get to the dogs and let ’em loose.” When she hesitated, he gave her a push. “Go! They may be the only ones who can save him. Run!” Ashley made a wide berth around Poncho and the cougar and raced down the trail. It was a good half-mile to where they’d tied off the dogs and she didn’t waste any time getting to them.
    Jake opened his arms wide, making himself as big as possible and continued to shout. The cat seemed unimpressed and started to tug backward, intending to drag Poncho away to eat in private.
    “Oh, hell no!” Jake lifted the shotgun and shot in the air. She flinched, stilled, but didn’t let go. He shot again. When that still didn’t get her to release, Jake took aim just to the left of her and blew a foot of snow over them. That got her to jump back. She jumped forward again, in a crouch over Poncho with her ears pinned and a lip-curled snarl that warned him not to come closer. It was a warning he didn’t heed.
    He lifted the shotgun again, aimed to her right and BANG! another foot of snow blew over them again. She snarled even more and took a swipe at the hole he’d blown in the ground next to her. But she still didn’t give up her position over Poncho. “Don’t make me do this, you stupid,” with anger and regret he brought the gun to his shoulder one last time, “stubborn,” he took aim, this time right between her eyes, “bitch.” His finger tensed to squeeze. Just then she leapt in the air and raced through the trees, Grover, Bernie and the girls hot on her tail.
    With a vicious curse, Jake dropped the gun and raced to Poncho’s side. He was alive, because while Jake had watched the dogs chase off the cougar, Poncho had managed to turn over. Poncho’s shoulders were bleeding. Tufts of down were crimson with blood on both sides. One of the arms was lying at an odd angle that told Jake she’d wrenched it from its socket when she’d taken him down. His swarthy skin was pale and gray from pain, blood loss or both. Jake tore off one glove and felt for a pulse, dreading the worst. Poncho grabbed his hand with the arm he could move and limply shook his head. “It’s no use,” he coughed, weakly. “Don’t kill her. Prom—” another cough, “promise me.” He met Jake’s eyes, his fierce in passion. “Promise. Relocate. Not her fault.” A wave of pain hit him and he arched with a moan and went limp.
    “Oh God! No!” Ashley collapsed next to them, tears streaming and breath coming in gasps. “Please, Poncho. No!”
    He managed a small smile and said, “Shhh. Don’t cry. Shhh, no. S’okay. S’okay.”
    Ashley shook her head, “No. It’s not. It’s not okay.”
    Ashley looked at Jake. “I’ll get take the boys and get the mobile. The girls will stay with you.” She sniffled and tried to stop the quivering of her chin.
    “I’ll run, and we’ll be ba-back.” She looked at Poncho, fire in her eyes, “You are going to be fine, and you be here when I get back. Do you hear me? You be here.”
    “Wait, Ash,” Jake said softly. He hadn‘t taken his eyes off of his friend. “Ponch, let me see what she did. I’m going to roll you just a little. Let me take a look.”
     
    “S’no use, amigo.” Poncho tried to fight it but tears of regret filled his eyes. “I felt the pop. When she bit. I felt the pop of my spine.” Even now he felt the heat of the flood that had poured from the wound going cold underneath him. He was soaked with it. It was worrisome that he was cold so soon. He knew that was the first of the last things