Into the Wild

by Anh Do

  It had been so long since I’d spoken my own name.

  ‘My name is Gwen.’

  ‘Okay, Gwen. You need to come with us.’

  ‘Will you . . . help me . . . find my mum? My family?’

  Moustache Man smiled. ‘Yes, of course,’ he said, then gestured for me to jump inside the truck.

  These men were going to help me find my family!

  Even the chill at the tip of my right ear wasn’t enough to stop me from reuniting with my family. So, I climbed into the side of the truck.

  ‘My dogs?’ I said.

  ‘We can’t take the dogs.’

  ‘No! I need my dogs!’

  I tried to climb back out, but, without warning, the man pushed me back in roughly and closed the door.

  My dogs went wild and leapt at the strange man, but it was too late. He swung into the passenger seat and the driver stepped on the accelerator. The truck took off with me inside it and my pack was helpless to do anything.

  As I looked out the bars at the back of the cabin I saw my dogs running frantically after us.

  ‘Let me out!’ I shouted.

  It was no use. The men ignored me and the truck accelerated. My dogs weren’t fast enough to keep up, and as I watched through the rear window, my pack started to get smaller and smaller.

  What have I done?!

  These were bad people. How were my dogs going to find me?

  Suddenly I heard a loud—

  I looked up to see Eagle soaring high above us. She was keeping up with the truck easily.

  I closed my eyes and prayed to my animal family.

  Eagle, Tiny, Brutus, Nosey, Zip . . . Sunrise. Please find me.