Makita

Coming March 1 to wings-press.com:
Excerpt

Quivering with fear, the cat and dog pressed against each other in the backseat of the car, as far away from the human sitting next to them as they could get. The dog whined uneasily. The driver was their owner and though he was neglectful and seemingly unaware of the animals’ existence, the dog had given him loyalty and love.

The cat, more discriminating, had given her loyalty to the dog.

The driver looked around. "This is as good a spot as any."

He slowed the car.The man in the back seat leaned across the nervous animals and flung the door open.

The cat screamed at the whoosh of air that rushed at her and tried to dig her claws in the upholstery. But the man gave both animals a hard shove. Even though they stiffened their legs and fought for purchase on the old car seat, they went flying through the air, crying out in fear.

The dog landed with a whimper and a thud on the hard ground.

The cat’s head struck a telephone pole. She slid to the ground and lay still.

The dog picked himself up, shook himself off and limped over to the cat. He nuzzled her but she didn’t move. He barked at the disappearing car, then lay down next to the motionless body of the cat and waited for his master to return.