Finding Honour: Day 16

Word Count: 97,335

Summary of Events:
Chapter 31:
Borden, Honour, and Eira journeyed along Williston Lake looking forward to arriving in Mackenzie. The boss of their pursuers got radios to some of his men still hunting and got excited that they seemed to be narrowing things down.
Chapter 32:
Eira wondered about how her and Honour's friendship was going to continue once they arrived in Mackenzie. The dog led Borden to a cougar — nearly drowning Borden in the process — and they safely averted the danger they wouldn't otherwise have known about.

Excerpt of the Day:
"Borden stumbled, but kept upright thanks to his shoulder jamming against a nearby tree. The dog had stopped. Borden straightened, switching hands with the leash so he could rub his shoulder and brush the bark off of it.
The dog was rigid, ears upward, head forward. Borden went still and looked. He couldn't see anything. Borden glanced down at the dog. If someone would've had some bronze they could've poured it over the dog and made a bronze statue.
Suddenly the dog leapt forward, the leash jerking hard on Borden's wrist, which didn't help his shoulder any. Borden staggered forward, fighting to keep his balance as they stumbled down the slope. When they reached the waterway Borden tripped on a rock and landed face-first in the water.
Gasping and flailing, Borden fought to get on top of the rush of water. After a few moments he felt an arm tug at him and suddenly he was out, trying to cough and gasp for breath at the same time.
In the end he finally got the water out — along with a bit of the prior night's supper — and got the air in. He sat in the water, catching his breath, he could feet Eira's hand resting on his shoulder and could feel the fear and nervousness coming through her fingertips.
The dog was straining at the leash. Borden gave a hard jerk and the dog stopped straining and gave some slack. Borden got to his feet and looked at Eira.
"Are you alright?" Eira asked.
Borden nodded. "I'd like to see what he's after, stay here," he said.
Eira nodded and headed back to the shore where Honour was standing sentry by Eira's boots, looking rather relieved. Borden turned to the dog.
"Show me," Borden said.
The dog went forward at a brisk pace — but not half the mad-charging gallop that he'd stated out going — and led Borden to a tree. He climbed up the tree with his forepaws and looked up, but without a sound.
Borden looked up the tree with a sigh, expecting to see a squirrel gnawing on a pinecone or something and chattering. Instead Borden's eyes went wide. Resting on the branches of a nearby rarity — a poplar — was a cat. A large, tawny, lion-looking cat that went by three names — depending on what term a person had grown up with — cougar, mountain lion, and puma."