Chapter Three: The Big Black Bird
As the fairy flew away Cait heard the sound of heavy footsteps running through the woods. The words of the fairy flashed through her mind. "You must leave, you're in danger." Cait ran as fast as she could until she came to a clearing. It was a large grassy field. If it weren't for the fact that someone named Bogan was after her she would have found this a very pleasant place to lay down and take a nap. But sleep would have to wait. She needed to keep running.
"There she is" A voice broke the silence. She looked around and saw several men surrounding her. They were dressed in green and if she didn't know any better would have thought they were very large Leprechauns. But that couldn't be. There are no such thing as Lepercauhns or fairies for that matter. She looked for a way out and when she found none decided she needed to fight.
Cait braced herself as two of the men approached her. She brought her hand up effectively landing a strick to one man's neck. He staggered back trying to get a breath. The others hesitated but pounced on her a moment later.
"You shouldn't have done that little lass. The sheriff wants you gone but that doesn't mean we can't have a little fun with you first."
Cait fought the leprechauns hard but there were too many of them and she was so weak. "Hold her down." The leader shouted."
Just when Cait thought all was lost she heard a loud shriek. The moon was bright in the night sky and when she looked up to see where the sound came from she saw a great black bird swooping down toward them. They all stopped to see if the bird was a threat. When it did nothing more then hover above they turned their attention back to her.
"Let her go" A voice thundered out.
They looked to the great bird as did Cait. Riding the bird was a man. Cait could not see his features. The leprechauns let her go to retrieve their bow and arrows. Each taking aim they fired on the bird. The man riding her pulled up on its reins and the bird responded with ease moving out of harms way. As they reloaded their bows again the man called out to them.
" This is the last time I am going to ask you to let her go."
The leprechauns ignored his warning and prepared to shoot. The master of the bird turned her so she was facing the leprechauns. He gave a command and the bird breathed out fire almost consuming them. They began to run back to the protection of the forest. Cait couldn't take her eyes off the great black bird but she knew she needed to run away.
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Cait had been in surgery for an hour and a half. Dom was able to reach her parents who were trying to get a flight out. The surgeon had already spoken with them. She had a ruptured spleen that was the cause of the internal bleeding. They were concerned about her head injury but thought she would make a full recovery. Because she had no family there the nurse let Dom and String stay with her.
String stood over her bed holding her hand. Dom pushed a chair up to him.
"You might as well sit kid. It's going to be a long night. Her folks won't be here until tomorrow night."
String sat in the chair but still held her hand. "I wish I would have told her how I felt."
Dom looked up. He wasn't sure if String realized he said that out loud. "How do you feel about her?" Dom suspected he knew but wanted to hear it from him.
"I've had feelings for her since that day in the Pope county jail. Over the past few months it's turned to love."
Dom smiled. Cait and String belonged together, that much he knew. "Well when she wakes up you can tell her then."
String had a panicked look on his face. "Easier said then done Dom."
"Your problem String is you complicate things when you don't have to. Life is simple, it's the people that make it hard." Dom got up to stretch. "I'm going for coffee you want one?"
"Yeah, I could use a cup. And Dom... thanks for the advise. I'll think about it."
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Cait woke up to the sun shinning in her eyes. She was still sore all over but had a deep and peaceful rest. She had a dream about the big black bird and it's rider. He had saved her and she wasn't even able to thank him. She sat up and was startled by the little pixie face that was staring at her. It was the fairy from last night.
" You must go to the Kingdom of Pope. There is much trouble there."
Cait was confussed. Last night the fairy told her to run away from sheirrff Bogan. Now she wanted her to go. "What kind of trouble ?"
The fairy started to fly away but turned back. "Follow me. You must help defeat the evil sheirrff."
Cait looked to the direction she was heading in to return home then back to where the fairy was trying to lead her. She didn't know where she was or how she got here. All she knew was she wanted to go home. The choice was not an easy one but the only one she could make. She had to go back.