It has been years - years - since I've felt compelled to write a new fanfic. Hope my faithful few are still out there - enjoy!
NOTE: I do not own The Sound of Music or any characters or story lines affiliated with the classic film.
He was conscious - definitely conscious - but in a semi-alert state. Yes, he was trying to become more aware of his surroundings in the mountains, but the details were starting to grow hazy. He remembered the moments leading up to when he fell back to the ground with such velocity; they were crystal clear to him. However, trying to regain full consciousness now and responding back to his mother was getting harder. He could see the panic in her eyes and saw her mouthing words at him in a hurried manner and as he looked to the side of his mother he saw the worried expressions on his sisters' faces. All five were frozen beneath one of the trees with horrified looks on their faces. His left shoulder was throbbing from where the bullets had hit him - there had been two of them. He remembered each one hitting him with such impact that the wind was knocked out of him. The first one almost completely knocked him to his feet, but he had been determined to stay standing, stay in his protective stance. The second shot did him in, however. As soon as the second bullet hit him he immediately fell to the ground. Yes, Kurt Von Trapp was lying at his mother's feet bleeding, and he couldn't even gather the strength to cry out in pain.
Moments earlier...
The Von Trapp family had been hiking through the Alps for just about two weeks or so, seeking refuge under the stars at night when the weather was good, finding shelter in a few abandoned barns and farm houses along the way. On this particular afternoon Captain Georg Von Trapp signaled to his family that since the weather was clear and warm enough they'd be camping out again. Although, with each night spent outdoors, the colder the nights were becoming, and Georg knew that the family would have to make it to Switzerland within the next few days or they wouldn't be able to make it through the nights anymore.
The girls immediately dropped to the comfort of the shade beneath a tall tree and rested once their father gave them the go ahead to stop. Maria took the respite to stretch her back and arms - having carried Gretl the better part of the morning. Georg didn't know where he'd be without his wife - his angel and saving grace. Marie merely smiled at her five daughters huddled at her feet and went to help Kurt gather some sticks and medium sized branches so they could start a fire for later on for warmth. Friedrich went to uncurl everyone's sleeping packs and blankets, while Georg took a short walk around the perimeter of the area they had found, trying to make sure they were all truly alone. He did this to ensure his family's safety, knowing very well that bounty hunters and those searching for deserters lurked in the trees and shadows searching for anyone trying to escape certain parts of Europe as he and his family were currently doing. This was a ritual the family did every time they made a stop for a night or two.
The girls would eventually start to gather some berries and help their brother set up makeshift beds. The nine of them truly had begun to understand what it meant to work together as a single unit in order for them all to stay safe and healthy through the entire ordeal. Afterwards, Friedrich and Georg would gather all the canteens together and set off for water for the entire family. The two had grown fond of this time together and it was especially enjoyable for Friedrich who swelled with pride at the one-on-one time with his father. Georg always joked that Kurt was in charge of Maria and the girls during these short outings since he was the last "Von Trapp man" left with the group, but everyone knew very well that Maria was in charge during his absence. Still, Kurt made sure to scan the perimeter while his father and brother were gone, he took his temporary leadership role quite seriously. He always made sure he stood in his father and brother's absence in the event he could spring to his mother and sisters' safety. Maria always chuckled at this gesture and it warmed her heart at how quickly Kurt was maturing and wanting to be like Georg and Friedrich.
This is how the family found themselves on this particular afternoon - that terrible day when their lives were almost ruined for good. Almost ruined...