By. CorvidQueen
Slightly overlarge eyes the color of black olive blinked open in the darkness, silence meeting expectant ears. A throbbing pain alerted the groggy girl to what had roused her in the first place, a muffled groan as she rolled quickly from her back to her stomach, cursing loudly into her pillow. Tears welled, pressing for release as the teen stretched, desperately trying to alleviate the pain that stung like white hot needles along her spine. She sighed, smiling slightly as small paws gently kneaded her tense and distressingly soar back, slim fingers loosening their grip on the bed sheets as the soothing massage continued. She lifted her head, shaking a mass of raven curls from her face. The sudden movement agitated her aching shoulders, pain like fire burning in warning. An annoyed yowl only added to the first incentive to remain still. So she lay in the dark, face resting on her pillow once more as her cat continued to walk the tightrope along her spine, gentle pressure relaxing.
"What would I do without you Isring?" she sighed, dark eyes drooping, exhausted mind sinking into a peaceful torpor.
She hadn't gotten a good nights sleep for the past few days and it was taking its toll. The pain had begun after her sixteenth birthday, not one week ago, and it had only gotten steadily worse since then. Soon, her breathing steadied and movements ceased, tabby carefully navigating her dark curls, purring as it pressed its face affectionately to the temple of his now sleeping owner before slinking away, as silently as he had arrived.
Gray-blue light slowly filtered out the black as dawn approached on swift wings. Golden rays gently pushed aside the curtains of her single window, tenderly stroking her cheek. The door to her small bedroom was slowly nudged open, creaking with a hesitant whine like any good door does when its opened did not want to be detected. The square shaped head of a monstrous Great Dane slowly poked in, hazel eyes peering at the prone form of his sleeping charge. His dusty seeming gray coat darkened to black on his large muzzle, ears, tail, and legs, muscle rippling slightly under his smooth pelt. With careful, and deliberate strides, he navigated the mess of clothes and other junk that cluttered her otherwise spotless wood floor, moving to the girl's bedside. Her eyelids fluttered at the tapping of his nails, stirring when he breathed on her face, but not awakening. She was reluctant to leave the darkness that had become so fleeting in the past few days. The dog whimpered slightly, imploring her to wake as he pressed closer to the bed, wet nose brushing hers. Her breathing broke, a smile slow to spread on her face, but her eyes remained shut....until a gentle warmth stoked her closed eyelids and washed over her face, a smooth wetness that wouldn't be denied. Purple hued eyes opened as she giggled, sitting up and looking down at the gargantuan dog that stood at her bed side.
"Good morning to you too Endymion." she smiled, yawning as she gently tugged his large black ears.
He placed his massive head in her lap, dark tipped tail wagging gently. She cupped her palms on his cheeks, lifting his head slightly as she slowly bent, lips brushing the bridge of his nose. Satisfied, the large dog turned, yawning loudly before sedately striding towards her dresser. She dangled flannel clad legs over the edge of her bed, bare-feet dangerously close to the more than likely chilled wood floor. Dark eyes scanned the clothes that lay scattered, no rhyme or reason to the pattern. He dad would have been on her case to clean up if it hadn't been for her continuing back troubles. She blinked, looking slowly to Endymion, making sure he wasn't raiding her draws again. He was, but something else had caught her attention, a picture that rested on top of her dresser. It was a picture of her mother who had died a few years ago. Blond hair hung in perfect curls, hazel eyes the brightest brown you could ever hope to see.
"Morning mom." she said softly, a single ray of light finding its way through the blinds to illuminate it.
Endymion suddenly looked to her, hackles raised and ears alert, sensing something was a bit off.
"Nana, you awake?"
The pair both turned sharply as her father looked in. While she took after her mother in height and curls, she had received her dark looks from her father. His eyes where the color of eggplant, black hair pin straight compared to her endless curls.
"Yea, I'm up." she answered, grimacing as her feet met the un-carpeted floor, shivering slightly.
"You have an appointment to see Dr.Sefani in an hour." he said, stepping fully into the room now, dark eyed concerned. "How are you feeling this morning Anona?"
"Tired." she answered truthfully, absentmindedly reaching for Endymion who slid quietly to her side, pressing his head into her awaiting hand.
A soft smile found its way to her father's face as he held out his arms, hugging his daughter lovingly.
"We'll beat this thing, whatever it is. You're all I've got." he whispered, kissing the top of her head.
She buried his face in his stomach, tears welling as she hugged him tightly. At only five feet, Anona was a munchkin compared to his towering six feet. Endymion pushed passed the pair, heading downstairs, his dark ears trained to the sound of stealthy paws up to no good. A sudden crash and disturbing screech followed immediately by voluminous barking and thundering paws made the pair groan. They smiled to one another for a moment before parting, one going to calm the ensuing chaos and the other to prepare for a long day.
hr
"Hang in there Nana, he's almost done."
Anona shook her head, biting her lip as tears of pain burst from her tightly shut eyes. The taste of blood filled her mouth as she resisted the scream that rose every time the doctor poked or prodded, the pain only getting worse with ever passing moment. A sudden pop made them all jump. The squeeze toy she had been given had popped.
"Ok, I think that's enough." Dr.Sefani said slowly, eyeing the toy once he got it back from the white knuckled clutches of Anona, her nails having left clear imprints.
Relief showed clear in her father's eyes as he helped a soar, irritated, tired, and crying Anona back into a sitting position on the examination table, glad that it was over. It had taken all his will not to make Dr. Sefani stop, the extreme pain that had been in his daughter's eyes almost unbearable.
"I don't know what to tell you Mr.Andrews, I don't feel or see anything out of the ordinary. We'll have to rely on the X-rays. They should be in sometime tonight or early tomorrow morning. Until then, I can give her some painkillers and maybe a sedative to help her sleep, but otherwise.." the doctors voice drifted off as he shook his head, holding out his hands.
Anona's father nodded, running a hand through his dark hair. She wiped her face as she put her shirt back on, every movement agony now that her back had been so aggravated. While her father received the sedative and instructions, she got first a shot in the back and then some other painkillers. By the time she was in the car, she didn't feel anything in her back.
"I'll go in right after I drop you off for school tomorrow, ok?" he said as he pulled into the driveway, looking to his daughter. "Everything'll be all right."
Anona could see the worry in his eyes. There was a good chance everything wasn't going to be all right. She managed a brave smile, nodding.
"It's probably just growing pains." she said as the headed into the house where they would be greeted by a mess only Isring and Endymion could concoct.
"Yea, it's about time you grew some shorty." her father grinned teasingly, placing is arm over her shoulder as they entered their house with the semblance of normalcy.
They had no idea what was coming next.