The Unseen, Pt. 3

Chapter Seven

"I'm sorry," he said, "I don't mean to laugh. I'm not laughing at you. It's just that you are a real girl." And with that he began laughing again, but was suddenly stopped short as his friend moaned. "Marcus," he said as he tried to move to him. "Ooh," he said as he slumped back down, pain tearing through his leg. It was then that he noticed the splint on his leg. "Ahh, damn, it's broken?" he said looking to the girl. Yes she nodded still unsure of the companion and his motives.

But her attention returned to Marcus. Ahh so his name is Marcus. Well Marcus, your fever is starting to break so that is good, she thought. Lifting his bandage, she looked at the wound. It was still red though and ragged, perhaps I am going to have to seal it up. So she moved to the fire stoked it up to bring back the flames. Placing the dagger back into the fire, she waited for it to heat up. "What are you doing?" asked the companion as he looked from the dagger to his friend. "Is that necessary? Is it really that bad?" Yes she nodded and looked gravely from Marcus to the companion.

And as she began to clean the wound out once more and prepare it for the dagger. After rinsing it with hot water she looked to the dagger and saw that it was a glowing red. Reaching over she picked it up and looked sadly at Marcus. Then with determination and steadiness she brought the glowing blade down on the wound. "AAAHHH," came the scream from Marcus. But that was all, he dropped back into unconsciousness with that last sound. Placing the blade in the water bucket she placed a new poultice on the wound and redressed it.

Retching sounds drew her attention back to the companion. Seeing that Marcus was all right for the moment, she stepped back over to his friend and handed him a cool cup of water. Tenderly smiling she helped him to move away from the spot and resettle again, this time next to his friend. Moving and straightening the bedding she now set up the bundle next to Marcus and helped the friend settle back in.

"You look exhausted why don't you rest and I'll look after Mark?" said the friend. Shaking her head no but smiling the girl finished straightening and cleaning the area. Then she placed more sticks onto the fire and began to brew something else up, but always with an eye on Marcus.

Chapter Eight

As they slept, she stepped out onto the ledge of the cave and looked around. Soon she would need to go out and find more food and water. But she was worried, to leave them alone could be dangerous in many respects. What if one of the other shades found them, or what if an animal happened upon them, or worst yet what if the strangers some how found them. But we will need food soon and I need to replenish the water and herb supplies as well. It's a risk I will have to take, we are almost out of water and I need more for Marcus.

Ooh Marcus, I worry about him, not that the fever has broken and that danger is over, how do I deal with the other problems. I did not think this through very well. I should never have brought them here, I should have taken them to another spot, but not here. Well that was already settled and there's no use brooding on it. But now what do I do about returning them and when Marcus finally has the strength back to leave how will I let him go? His spirit almost seems broken, I only know how to mend his wounds, but what about is soul? Looking back into the cave she checked to see that they were still sleeping, good at least they are at peace for a while. Covering the entrance with the vine netting she picked up her pack and moved into the dark shadows of the evening forest.

The soft breeze of the evening carried the scents of the forest to her. The gentle smells of pine and fur filled her lungs as she took a deep cleansing breath. A.h evening in the forest, it was so beautiful so peaceful. She could hear the forest coming to live around her as the night creatures rose from their slumber to feed. As she made her way down the familiar path a sense that she was not alone crawled up her spine. Then came the realization that it was following her.

Pretending not to notice she continued on and then with a swift fluid move she grabbed her knife from her boot and spun around, swinging the knife to prick the followers' neck and knocked his feet out from under him. As she stood above the victim with the knife pointed at their heart now, a soft plea was emitted but the defeated follower.

"Wait, it's me," came the soft cry.

"Robbie? Is that you?" she said as she peered closer at her victim. "It is you. Oh Robbie don't do that. You know I hate it when you sneak up on me."

"Well you've never tried to kill me before, though from now on I swear I'll never do it again. Sheez, Jezzy what the hell's gotten into you." Said the youth as he scrambled to stand up and look at his young friend. "Oh Robbie, so much that I don't even know where to begin. And perhaps it would just be better if I didn't tell you. I don't want to get you into any trouble too." Smiling she held out her hand in an apology, "I'm sorry Robbie. You just scared the hell out of me and I well . . . I didn't think I just reacted." Shaking her head sadly she looked up at her friend, "can you forgive me?" she asked pleadingly.

"Of cause I can, you know I can forgive you anything." He laughed shaking his head. "So what brings you out here? Did you let your reserves get too low again? Jezzy, Jezzy how many times have I warned you not to let you reserves get so low? Let me help you gather them and then you need to get home. I've heard things lately and well lets just say it's not safe for any of us to be out here these days."

"What have you heard? What's going on? It's not the end of the cycle, the others shouldn't be feeding yet. Come on Robbie tell me what you've heard."

"Well I'll tell you but on the way we need to get moving now." And so the two moved on and began gathering supplies. "Well I suppose you've been off daydreaming over your 'little people' again so I'm not surprised that you haven't heard things lately," said the tall young man as he bent down to pick some herbs for the girl. "There have been raids into the forest lately by strangers, sun dwellers. They been burning and scourging a path into the forest lately. And they've come across the old ones resting places. Many have been killed on both sides, its been horrible, Jezzy just horrible."

"Why? Why are they coming here? Does anyone know?" Asked the shocked girl.

"Only rumors, is what I've hard. It would seem that there is a battle among the sun dwellers as well and one of the mighty rulers lost his brother in a skirmish by that clearing you always go to. Well the ruler thinks that the killer maybe hiding here in the forest and so he has ordered that it be cleared and burned until the killer is found." "Jezzy, what's wrong? Are you all right? Here sit down." As Robbie looked at the pale girl he helped her to the log and then kneeled in front of her. "Jezzy you have to tell me what's going on and you have to tell me now. What's happened? You know something, don't lie to me you know its no use."

Then as the tears broke from her he reached out and pulled her into his arms. "Shh, there there its all right. It's going to be all right. Just tell me and I'll help you I promise. You know that you can count on me."

"Oh Robbie," she cried into his shoulder, "I don't know what to do. This is all my fault. I'm so sorry, all I wanted to do was help and now I'm going to destroy us all." And with that she broke down again. All the exhaustion, tension and confusion that she had buried for days now came out in a flood of tears. Holding her gently in his arms he rocked her and comforted her. Remembering the first time that they met, he knew that she was the special one and that he knew the minute that he saw her that he would love her and stand by her through anything. And now was the moment that he knew would always come, the moment when he would finally be able to show her that she had someone in her life who cared and that she could count on.

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