| |
Hope limped down the path. She wanted to check her snares and get home before dark. Lately, the rumbling in the mountains had been bothering her. Normally background noise, for some reason, she began to fear them. Something, someone was coming for her, something not quite human. She was nervous, waiting in anticipation for something or someone.
The distraction had made her careless. She had a run in with a wild dog pack earlier and had sacrificed one of her rabbits to get away. She had scrambled up into the nearest tree, but one of the leaner, hungrier dogs had gotten her leg. She had been unable to get off a shot at the dogs with her bow. The trees didn’t allow the room to make any shots count. She waited until they had given up, looking for easier prey.
When she had climbed down, her leg gave way. She lay trying to catch her breath. Hope was closer to her snares than home and she decided to continue. When she ran into her sister, Faith, she could help her home. Hope sat and tore part of her vest with her hunting knife. She wrapped the ripped material around her leg to stop the blood from flowing. It wasn’t smart to be in the wild with an open wound.
Hope wasn’t the only one distracted. Faith and some of the other others had a haunted look on their face. Hope shivered. Even the animals had been shying at shadows. The wild dogs had never been a problem before and look at what had happened to her this morning. There were changes coming in the wind.
There was no reason to be afraid. She was almost sure of that. She really wasn’t afraid when she thought about it. It was fear of the unknown. Hope somehow knew that she wouldn’t be harmed physically by what was coming.
Perhaps the volcano was getting ready to erupt. Her grandma had claimed that it had been making noise for years. That for all its noise, it had never followed up on the threat. The animals were sensitive to things like that so it could be the reason for their restlessness. Hope had always been sensitive to the animals.
Not paying attention to her surroundings, she tripped. She landed on the ground; jarring her leg. The pain made her gulp her breath. The bite was worse than she thought when she had climbed down. Besides puncturing her leg, the dog had managed to tear her skin. If she hadn’t been so pigheaded she would have gone home. Hope laid there, pain sending shivers through her body. She wouldn’t make it home before dark. She should’ve turned back. Her family did say she had a tendency to be stubborn. She guessed this proved them right.
Hope sprawled on the ground. Two shadows flew above the trees, large enough to darken the area around her. She had never seen anything that could cast a shadow like that. She rolled over; hiding against the trunk of the Saratoga next to her. She watched them circle back, only able to see the shadows, not knowing what they were, but instinctively knowing that she didn’t want to be seen.
Hope stayed, waiting and watching to make sure they were gone. The shadows flew away, heading north. When Hope was sure it was safe, she crept out. She adjusted the bandage on her leg and grabbed the tree trunk to stand up. Her leg trembled barely holding her weight. Cautiously looking around, she continued going from trunk to trunk and holding onto the branches to keep upright. Hope stayed on the lookout for a large branch she could use for a crutch. She wouldn’t make it across the meadow to the rest of her snares without one, let alone home. She couldn’t count on Faith; she had yet to catch sight of her.
Hope didn’t know what had flown over. Her snares and traps were in the direction the shadows had flown. She wondered if she should continue. They hadn’t made any noise, so she didn’t think it could be anything mechanical.
It could be that pedal plane that some of the men had been working on, though. They had found the plan in a book in the library. Hope wasn’t sure if they could get it to work and didn’t know why they would even want to. She shrugged, but they had been talking about a test flight.
Deciding that it had probably been the men, she limped toward her snares. She had caught a couple of rabbits and on occasion, a wild turkey. At home, her brother had built a hutch to keep the rabbits that she caught so they could breed. When they were ready to be eaten, they didn’t have to chase them down. Right now, they had lots of baby rabbits, it being spring, but not any to butcher.
The wild rabbits had more meat on them, so she would bring them in to keep the stock fresh. Her aunt had asked for a couple, too, and was working on some shoes for the family. Hope liked the rabbit lined footwear so had offered to get her some in trade for a new pair.
After the winter had passed, the thought of fresh meat and new, softer shoes had Hope out setting snares. They had eaten the last of the turkeys, too. Her sister was the one who fed them and monitored them. She hadn’t told anyone that Adam had killed the last one because she didn’t like feeding them. Adam was mad because he would not have butchered the last two if he had known. Turkeys were good trading, one turkey able to feed a family for a week. Dad was pissed when he found out, making Faith clean out the pen, rather than having the little ones do it, then he sent Faith out to catch more.
Hope had shown her how. Faith preferred to tend the stock and gardens while Hope hunted and brought in game for food and to replenish their breeding stock. Dad decided that since Faith had allowed the stock to die off and told no one, that she needed to start it back up. Hope and Faith had gone out a couple of days ago to set the snares. Hope usually checked them a couple of times a week.
Hope had seen Faith leave earlier. Time passed without her return. Hope had begun to worry so she headed out. They would have time to get home before dark, but just, or so she had thought. With her injury, there was no way she could make it now.
Hope kept an eye out at the sky, staying near trees so she wouldn’t be spotted from above. She had her snares set so the turkeys and rabbits would cross them. The rabbits tended to like the open spaces of the meadows. There was one closer to the foothills that the cattle didn’t run in that had an abundance of rabbits. This meadow had lots of white ones and Hope was partial to those for her footwear. She was almost to the meadow. She needed to find something to use for a crutch. Her bow was not sturdy enough and she could not cross the meadow without help.
Hope heard a cry and froze. It wasn’t human. It was the scream of a cougar. Hope looked around not knowing if it was coming after her. She pulled out her bow from the sling on her back, notching an arrow in it slowly. She stayed close to the tree she was under. The sound was coming from the meadow but if it smelled her blood, the cat would think she was easy prey.
Hope crouched down facing the meadow. She hoped Faith wasn’t the one the cat was after. She hadn’t come upon her sister yet and wondered where she was. She had thought she was going after the snares but lately Faith had been acting strange. Shaking thoughts of her sister away, Hope crept toward the meadow. She wasn’t to the end of the tree line so if the cat attacked her here, she wouldn’t have enough time to get off more than one arrow. She had to make sure it counted.
Through the trees, she saw not just the cat but a pride, a couple of adults and their kits. Hope really hoped they weren’t after her. With no gun and only her bow, she would have no chance. A cry sounded again. Hope looked up into the eyes of a cat, ready to spring at her.
Hope pulled back her arrow.
The cat sprung.
Hope let out a cry of her own and loosed her arrow, hoping it hit its mark. To her amazement, something huge came out of the sky and grabbed up the cat, scattering the pride. Her arrow hit it and bounced back.
It looked at her. A sound of surprise came out of the creature. Hope stared, stunned and was grabbed up in the claws of another, stealing her away.
Shocked and terrified, Hope tried to escape the claws of the creature. Her bow was dangling, caught between its digits. It was useless now. Hope had no way of getting it loose without cutting the line. She sat unharmed in its claws. She was unable to stand up; caged in by its talons. Her leg throbbed, a slow trickle of blood running down and soaking her pants.
Hope sat stunned letting time pass. The creature carried her away. She realized she was getting farther and farther from home. Hope calmed a little, knowing she hadn’t yet been harmed.
She remembered her knife. Hope took it out and jabbed it into the claw. A growl of pain emanated from above her. Hope screamed when the claw opened, dropping her.
Hope flailed, not having thought through the plan except to escape. She fell, screaming, the wind tearing at her face. She landed in a body of water. She sank down and down. Her screaming was cut off by the rush of water surrounding her.
Panicked, Hope thrashed. She swallowed water, gulping and choking. Suddenly she was hauled out by her collar, being pulled through the water until she was dragged onto dry land. Hope lay back, choking, rolling over, and then she vomited. Her head hung, throat raw. She heaved, vomiting again, ridding her body of the water she swallowed. Breathing deep, she rolled back and lay on the ground, careful not to lay in the mess her stomach had ejected.
“Yuck.”
A sniff and a chuckle had Hope looking up. Her eyes were blurry from the fall into the water after the rushing of the wind in her eyes.
Staring down at her were two men. Both dark haired and looking amused. One was wrapping a bandage around his hand and favoring it.
She turned her head. The dead cat lay further away. Hope couldn’t help thinking that would have been her if it wasn’t for the water. She blinked, trying to clear her eyes.
“What were they?” Hope’s voice was rough, her throat sore. The men looked at each other amused.
“What were what?” The one without the bandage spoke.
“Those things, the giant bird thing that dropped me, what were they?”
The one without the bandage laughed.
“Ari, what were those bird things?” The amusement in his voice had Hope glaring at him. She didn’t appreciate being mocked. “I didn’t see any bird things.”
The man called Ari smiled at the other. “Crag, you’re pissing her off.” He showed his injured hand to him. “Believe me, you don’t want her upset.”
Hope frowned in confusion. She was obviously missing something here. Her sight was still blurry and dusk kept her from getting a good look at them.
“You know our sire is going to be upset with us.” Crag grinned, obviously not too upset.
Ari shook his head. “I’m not going to worry about it.”
Crag laughed, shaking his head.
“But not as much as our dam when she finds out what you have done. You better be sure she’s your mate.” Crag growled.
Hope stared. Yes, that was a growl that came out of his mouth. Hope pushed herself up so she was sitting and groaned. Her leg was throbbing and the back of her head hurt from hitting the water.
“I need to get going home.” Hope tried to stand and fell back, the pain in her leg shooting through her. “Oh.”
Ari crouched down, running his hands over her leg, removing the bandage she had applied.
“Stop, it’s fine.” Hope tried to scoot back. Her eyes cleared more and she saw him close up. He was naked. She squeaked, trying to get away from him.
“Sit still. What is wrong with your leg?”
Hope shook her head.
Ari sighed and grabbed her pant leg and pulled, tearing it from her waist to her knee.
“Stop! What are you doing?” She tried to get away from him.
“Sit still. I need to see what’s wrong.” Ari held her down flat on her back while he examined her leg. “Crag, a little help, here. Hold her down so I can check this wound.” The other man came over and looked down.
“Where do you want me to hold her?”
“What?” Ari looked up distractedly. “Just hold her down.”
Hope was wiggling trying to get away, her face burning. Two unclothed men were dangerous, especially when they were tearing at her clothes.
“Oh for goodness sakes, Ari sit down, let me put her in your lap so she can’t get away. Then I can check her leg. Can’t you smell her, she’s in a panic.”
Ari looked at the woman in his arms. She was struggling and there was a scared expression on her face.
“What’s the matter?” Ari sat and pulled her into his arms. His body was hard beneath Hope, no softness whatsoever. She tried not to panic further. At least with him sitting with her in his lap she didn’t feel so vulnerable.
“Please let me go. I don’t want you two to hurt me.”
He looked down at her puzzled.
“Why would we hurt you? I just want to check your wound and see if I need to doctor it.”
Hope settled down, gazing up at him. She wanted to believe him, but she didn’t know either of the men. They didn’t look familiar and travelers could sometimes be trouble. Hope nodded and decided to wait and see. Hope no longer had her knife so she had no weapon to defend herself. She could only hope they were harmless to her.
“Good.” Ari settled her in his arms, her wounded side out toward the other man.
She turned her face into his chest, biting her lip.
“Crag, check out her wound. It is still bleeding; though not much I think.”
Crag gently pulled her leg out and lifted it up, turning his head sideways. “She was bit. There are bite marks and some flesh is ripped.” He laid her leg back down. “She’s going to need a poultice to make sure it doesn’t get infected and she probably needs stitches.” Hope peeked, looking up at the man who held her.
“Damn. Did you bring a first aid kit?”
“Didn’t you?”
“Um.”
Hope could practically see him think.
“I think I did. It should be with my clothes in the waterproof sack.”
She was glad to hear that he had clothes. She perked up upon hearing that.
“Good. I did, too. Let me get what we need.” Crag looked over at Ari and Hope saw a twinkle in his eyes. “I’ll put some pants on, too. I think our state of undress is scaring her.”
Hope colored. He must have seen her reaction.
Ari looked startled. “Is this true?”
Hope hesitantly nodded.
“Well why didn’t you say so?” Ari shook his head, mumbling under his breath. “Why do women make communicating so hard?”
Hope didn’t think she was supposed to hear that, but it raised her brows and had her rolling her eyes.
Crag laughed. He had evidently heard Ari’s grumbled comment and seen her reaction.
“Ari.” Crag spoke getting his attention. “If this is who you think, you might want to watch what you say.”
“What do you mean?” Hope looked at back and forth between the two. “Who do you think I am?” She struggled to get up again, but Ari tightened his arms. Hope settled down, shivering when his reaction to her movement brushed against her bottom. “Don’t hurt me.”
“What is up with that? I told you we weren’t planning on hurting you.” Ari looked at her with exasperation. “Crag, hurry up with the first aid supplies. Woman, quit moving on me.”
Hope realized she had been squirming. She had been trying to get comfortable but the more she moved, the worse it got. She froze, understanding dawning.
Crag laughed.
Hope sent him a dirty look. She didn’t think they were going to hurt her. So far they had saved her and were trying to treat her wound. Hopefully when she was treated they would let her go.
“My brother has that effect on people.” Hope looked up into Ari’s laughing eyes.
“You two are brothers?”
“Unfortunately.” Ari flashed a smile. “He is the trouble maker.”
Crag just laughed. “Right.” He kneeled down, “Ari hold her. This might sting.” He poured a liquid into the punctures.
Hope couldn’t help but cry out and grabbed tightly onto Ari.
Crag grabbed her leg and rolled her so she was lying with her back toward him and poured more into the wounds on the other side of her thigh.
She clutched Ari convulsively, the pain intense.
“It’s okay.” Ari spoke in a soothing tone to her. “It should start getting numb so the pain goes away.” Hope’s leg was turned again, pulling her away from Ari’s chest.
“How is it feeling? Is it numb yet? This stuff usually works pretty fast.” Crag asked. Hope looked at him. He was looking down and threading a needle.
“What are you doing?” Hope was staring at the needle in Crag’s hands. “You’re not planning on using that on me, are you?” She looked at both men. “What?”
“Who else do you think it’s for? Of course it’s for you.” Crag finally pulled the thread through. “Here, lay back so I can stitch you up.”
“You’re not using that on me.”
Ari’s arms came around her waist, holding her down. “Of course he is. We need to make sure you heal okay. When he’s done, he’ll add the poultice to help you heal.”
Hope started bucking, trying to get away.
Ari tightened his arms around her. Her wiggling had slid her lower so he was able to slide his legs over hers from behind. “I’ve got her. Sew her up before she gets away.”
Crag kneeled down, and holding her leg down, started sewing. “Do you feel that?” Crag pulled it through her skin and up.
Hope looked and saw the needle go into her leg. She shuddered. Her world went dark.