FSE

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I was still pretty young when it all happened. Sitting in my room playing with my toy robots, minding my own business and oblivious to the T.V downstairs. I had my own things to worry about, in my own little world where everything was fine.

Tyler Olson, a regular run of the mill white tailed deer fit to become a buck. But I still had my white spots and my antler bumps were still just coming in. Mom said I was just a late grower, and that I'd have a good rack before highschool.

So much for that happening...

Mom came running into my room, digging through my closet for clothes that she threw on the bed. Shaking everything out of my backpack to the floor before cramming the few clothes in. "Tyler get up, we have to go!"

"Why? Where are we going," I questioned, confused and suddenly scared as I noticed her tears.

"Just hurry up Tyler, we have to leave," she commanded. "Find your jacket!"

It was fall, the trees were vibrant in color and the air chilly. That much made sense and I wasn't one to question her so I obeyed. Digging through my tossed closet to pull on my bright red coat and zipped it up. I wanted to cry too, but only because I was so confused.

Why were we leaving? Why was she crying?

I hurried out of my room after her, stumbling over my own hooves as I did. I could hear my dad in their bedroom, and I stood in the doorway, watching him cram clothes into his own bag.

He wasn't an impressive buck, my uncles always picked on him for his small rack and more gangly stature. He was an accountant and was good at his job, so we were well off. A real family man, but now I could tell his hands shook and his ears were back.

Hands gripped me, spinning me around to slide my school bag over my shoulders, "Mom, wh-"

"Not now Tyler, go downstairs and wait for us in the living room. Don't you dare go outside," she sobbed.

"O...Okay mom..." I started down the steps to the simple hallway with happy pictures and memories. Even a trophy of me during a spelling bee. Then there were baby pictures of my sister, more of her than of me which always irritated me a little.

All my life at that point I had been the one loved and adored. Center of my parents world, but one day they announced I was going to have a little sister. I wanted a brother...

I could hear my sister crying upstairs, nothing unusual for her being only a couple months old. Everything upset her, a noise, a dirty diaper, when she farted, and other times she just screamed. After a couple sleepless nights I even told my parents to take her back, that I didn't want her anymore. That a brother was at least worth putting up with.

When my parents came downstairs my mom had my sister all bundled up in her pink coat. Handing her to my dad long enough to pull on her own jacket and take her back.

"Dad where are we going," I asked, still trying to understand why my bag had clothes in it. Why everyone was crying.

He slid on his hiking bag over his jacket and got to a knee, beady brown eyes down on mine as he gripped my shoulders. "We have to go. The military is evacuating us, we have to make it to the extraction point... What ever happens don't talk to anyone. Don't stop moving. Alright?"

I stammered, trying to understand but he just grabbed my hand and we ran out of the house. Didn't even shut the door behind us as we made our way into the streets. There were others running, suitcases and kids in arms. Crying and screaming as we all ran.

My little legs had trouble keeping up, hooves clacking the pavement in the near thunderous footfalls. Hooves, shoes and paws alike, scared.

"Dad I don't understand," I managed between painful burning gulps of air, hand clutching my jacket over my chest.

"Just keep running," he shouted, "Margie!"

"I'm here," mom replied, just behind us with my sister clung to her chest. She still had tears falling down her face, streaks in her soft brown fur. Golden brown eyes tinted red.

There was a loud bang, and though I'd only ever heard it on the T.V before I knew what it was. My pain becoming numb as I looked ahead at the tall fence with a big olive green jeep. I could see their digital camouflage and the rifles in their hands. Even over the panicked screams I could hear their voices, bellowing down below.

"Women and children only! Theres not enough room! Another truck will be here in ten minutes!"

As we got closer I saw a billow of black smoke from its top and it pulled away. Screaming in my head that it was just my imagination. The warm tears felt cold on my skin, body hot with fear as the truck disappeared over the crowd of people.

There was a lot of pushing and shoving, people trying to get further ahead of the rest. I clung to my dads leg, reaching back and grasping my mother who squished me between them. Looking up as dad held an arm around her, whispering to her as he held my head and the little tuft of blonde hair.

"It'll be okay... We're gonna be okay. We'll get there..."

I gasped as two steel grey jets flew overhead, screaming through the air. Face buried into his hip as I trembled. Hot and cold waves flooding through my body in a constant too and fro. "D-Dad whats going on?"

He just held my head closer, kissing my moms short brown hair, "They should be here soon... We'll get out of here..."

There were rapid pops from ahead, and suddenly the crowd before us that had been dragging them forward halted and like a wave slammed back.

"They're here!" Someone screamed, but it became quickly drowned in the panic screaming as people scattered.

Dad turned, dragging me along so fast I tripped and fell, hand slipping from his.

I remember crying, chin having hit the ground hard and scuffing it. The feet around me treated me as nothing but pavement. Stepping and tripping on me in their panic, but I reached ahead, seeing my parents and sister being swept away by the ocean of bodies. I screamed for them, and dad was trying to fight back to reach me.

Someone grabbed my jacket and hefted me up, barely setting me on my feet as they shoved me, "Move it kid!" Followed by ear piercing gunfire. "Fall back behind the perimeter!"

I stumbled but ran, arms flailing before slamming into my dads legs. Feeling his bony fingers around my arm as he dragged me along. I was relieved and equally more terrified as we continued running.

Glancing over my shoulder I saw them, the military men, anthros and humans alike, it didn't matter. They stood their ground, firing at the shifting mangled people that made a stumbly run toward them. Clothes tattered, pieces missing, maws gaping with guttural howls.

I understood the concept of the undead, but I wasn't old enough to see movies with it. It made my skin crawl and the pain in my limbs and chest numb. Sucking in wet breaths as I sobbed and ran. I didn't know where we were going, but it was away from those things so I didn't care.

Running along the sidewalk as cars drove past, slamming into people, living and dead alike. Crashing up into yards. People fighting others for vehicles, tossing away luggage in desperation.

I even saw a man rip a woman from a van, a screaming toddler in her arms that fell out into the grass. I could only cry as we ran past, ducking down between houses and alleys to avoid cars and people. Then across a lawn into the colorful woods that surrounded our home town.

Tripping and stumbling over tree roots and tall weeds until mom slowed and gasped, falling to her knees to sit, "Anthony we have to stop."

Dad turned, fur dripping with sweat even in the cool air, "Marge we can't stop, we have to keep moving."

"We don't know where we're going," she snapped between pants. "Where's the next evac point? Where should we go instead of running blind?"

He breathed and let go of my arm, hands on his hips as he tried to catch his breath. "I don't know..."

I crumbled to the ground, back to a tree as I cried, "Mom, what's going on?"

She crawled over to me, sister still crying against her chest, "I don't know honey but we're going to make it through this okay?"

"Are they gonna eat our brains," I whimpered, hands on my bloodied knees and scuffed jeans. "That's what z-zombies do don't they? They eat brains?"

She pet my head softly, bouncing my sister against her as she hushed us, "I think they're worse than that... But it'll be okay we'll get out of here..."

Dad patted his pockets, pulling out his cell phone, "Holy shit..."

She looked up at him, "What is it? Is it your mom?"

His hand ran over his ears and neck, "There's a helicopter evac in Charlston. They're only evacuating until sundown..."

"What," she gasped, "Why sundown?"

"I-I dunno, maybe they're worried about infected people slipping through," he said. "Charlston isn't that far, we drive there all the time."

She scoffed, "Not that far?! Driving probably, we're out here on foot!"

"It's our best chance," he snapped, "If we keep moving we'll be there before it gets too late!" He tapped his thumb on the phone and turned a bit to his left, pointing ahead, "It's directly that way. We just have to get there."

Mom got up, offering her hand, "Come on Tyler honey, lets go."

I took her hand, weakly getting up to follow. Every part of me hurt and ached, the running, the fall, being trampled, tense from fear. Between sniffles I rubbed my eyes, "M-mom I'm scared..."

"I know hun, but it'll be okay," she laid her hand over my shoulder and kept me close to her side, "Dads gonna lead the way..." She then turned her attention to my sister, hushing her softly to quiet her cries.

We stumbled through the woods, even had to half swim through the slow river. Cold and now wet I shivered. Dad had been taller, so he carried my sister across to keep her out of the cold water, but I just grit my teeth. Even after all this she was still getting special care.

Mom fought constantly to keep her quiet, her occasional cries made dad nervous. That the undead might hear her and come looking for us. So we moved quickly, and every time mom muffled a cry I couldn't help but hate my sister even more. She was going to get us killed!

When we made it to Charlston the sky was orange, the sun glowing reddish pink. We could hear gunfire, and the rushing wind of helicopters. Screaming from the rooftops as they bobbed and weaved.

Dad looked back at mom who kept close, his hand holding mine as he marched us quickly down the open street against the building fronts. Peeking around alley corners before passing them. We stopped by a storefront to breathe, dad tucking my head under his arm to shield me as some people fought and a gun was fired.

I remember my fur prickling, standing on end as a strong sense of fear washed over me. Every fiber told me to run, but as I turned to get comfort from mom, a foul smell crossed my nose.

The bloodied body tackled her to the glass on the sidewalk, what remained of a human jaw slapping and clacking together. Watching in horror as it bit into my moms tear streaked cheeks and tore. Blood starting to pool under her as she used one arm to try and hold back the crazed human. "Take her!"

Dad lunged, shoving the zombie off to defend her.

Her words slurred, gurgling as blood filled her mouth, "Take her..."

He watched the zombie scramble to its feet, but he turned and scooped up my sister, "Tyler run!"

I couldn't, I just watched as the zombie ran over my mother, tripping as she grabbed its leg. Returning its attention to her. I just sat there, watching it tear into her. Smelling blood, ears ringing with pained screams.

"Run Tyler," she croaked.

Dad grabbed my arm, dragging me around the alleyway and stopped as a ladder slammed down before us.

"Quick! Climb up," a lithe cat said.

Dad grabbed me, directing me up the ladder and quickly following. He held my sister tight as he panted, "Thanks... Whens the next evac?"

"They're loading one now, you better get your kids up the steps," he said, pointing upward.

Dragged once more I stumbled and tripped up the steps, bruising my knees the whole way but I didn't stop. The image of mom, bloodied and screaming still in my vision as I was led across the rooftop to the small crowd that was screaming.

"You can't leave us here!"

"Bastards!"

The chopper was hovering, "There's no more room!"

"Wait," dad screamed, lifting my sister, "I have kids!"

"Pilot hang on," the rottweiler barked. They were hovering just off the rooftop, he made a hand motion and dad drug us forward. "We'll take the kids, but there's not enough room for anymore adults!"

A large bear roared, "When's the next chopper!? You can't leave us here!"

"You want the kids come get them," another screamed.

I don't know what went through my dads head, I was still lost, crying and shaking with weak and injured legs. But he turned me and I felt him press a warm, squirming form to my chest. Meeting his gaze I almost couldn't hear him over the whipping chopper blades.

"Hold on tight to her," he said, then gripped my head. Feeling his wet lips on my brow.

My arms gripped tight, feeling his hands grasp my jacket. The floor left from under my hooves, rolling in mid air to see my dads arms lifting, mouth wide. I didn't realize at first what was happening, until I slammed into a chest and strong camo clothed arms wrapped around me.

I clung to the squirming form, a hand reaching out over the open air as the building and angry crowd started to fall away, "DAD!"

The arms wouldn't let go, holding me and my sister tight, he didn't speak, just held us as I writhed. Another slamming the door closed to block the view.

I could only cry, my world shattered as the pain in my chest swelled. Sobbing I screamed, holding my sister tight. I struggled to breathe while I remembered all the happy times in the pictures on the wall of our house.

My spelling bee trophy mom helped me practice for. My seventh birthday when dad baked me the ugliest looking cake because mom was sick. Mom and I in the pool when she was teaching me how to swim. Dad and I when we fell asleep on the couch after christmas dinner. Their smiling faces in their wedding photo.

The rottweiler held us, petting over my head. Then used an arm to try to take my sister from me.

My arms clung tighter, lifting her up closer to tuck her head into my neck, "No! No she's mine! I won't lose her too!"

"Easy kid," he said.

But I didn't care, I held her to me and cried into her pink coat. Sobbing into her chest, feeling her hands grasp my face. I pulled away, looking into her teary blue eyes, realizing she was scared too. It was at that point I felt guilty, for hating her. So I pulled her close, laying our heads together as I rocked her, trying to do it just how mom did.

She was all I had left, and even if I didn't know it at the time, she became my reason to live. To serve and protect others if it meant protecting her. She would become my biggest fan, my sole purpose was to come home to see her golden brown eyes and beaming smile.

She was more than just my sister, she was my Hope.