Beauty and the Fool Chapter 9
The small fire I built hissed and popped in front of me, like a glowing beacon. It may attract any living being or thing that might be lurking nearby in the dark trees. I felt exposed with the bright flames illuminating me, filling the air with light and smoke. But it would have been even worse to huddle in the damp, dark night without it.
My stomach ached with hunger and fear. There was still no sign of Jaune. I'd hope he notice my fire and find me. My body battled between the adrenaline of fear and the exhaustion. I needed sleep. My limbs felt heavy and my eyelids slowly opened after each blink.
Until I heard a snap in the bushes behind me.
Instantly awake, I held my breath, my fingers inching toward the sword that lay across my lap. I don't think an animal would make a noise like that, not if it were stalking me. Could it be Jaune?
I turned and glanced behind me, and just as I did, I saw a blur of motion out of the corner of my eye. I swung back outward to see a massive black body lunging out of the bushes towards me. I only had time to open my mouth to yell as I swung my sword outward to block my neck before the Beowolf was on me, claws and teeth flashing in the firelight, diving for my throat. I threw my weight backward and tried to lift the sword up into the creature's throat, as its claws tore the right side of my ribs, pressing me into the ground. I felt fire on my ribs and arm, and distantly realized it was pain. But still there was no time to asset any damage, not while the beast was still trying to get past the blade. The edge of my sword cut into my jaw, but I didn't care. It was only thing keeping the abomination from tearing my throat.
It tried again, biting down hard, and got a mouthful of blade. It growled in pain and swiped the side of my head with one massive paw. My ears were throbbing in pain. More fire exploded across my skull and stars popped in front of my eyes. The grip on my sword weakened.
Suddenly, the Beowolf let out a howl of such pain and fury that it almost deafened me. A familiar sword protruded from its chest. The monster's eyes rolled into its head and collapsed on top of me, pushing all the air from my lungs. It didn't take long before the Beowolf dissolved into the air. And then, just when my vision began to go dark from lack of oxygen, it was gone and Jaune stood over me, his chest heaving, holding Crocea Mors.
"Blake! Are you okay?" He dropped to his knees beside me. The fire was gone now and in its place was a pain so intense, so excruciating, I didn't dare move, afraid I'd make it worse.
I was soaked in my own blood. My ribs, my arms, and my ears are throbbed with pain. I was afraid to look down and see how bad it really was.
"Jaune, how did you—"
"We'll worry about that later," he cut me off abruptly. "Right now, you need to stay with me." He pulled his hooded jacket over his head and began to tear his white t-shirt into strips.
"I can't," I finally said. My voice barely above a whisper.
"Yes you can. I know you're stronger than this." Jaune bent over me and tugged on my vest. I realized what he was trying to do all at once and I reached up with my right hand and grabbed his wrist.
"Stop." It was hard to speak past the pain, the breathlessness that still plagued me. I wondered if the Beowolf had punctured my lung. "Don't. Don't tear it."
"Blake, if I don't treat this now, then you'll—"
"No," I tightened my grip on his wrist, trying to pull his hand away from my vest. "Please, just go."
He stared down at me, his face shadowed in the firelight. The light undulated in the breeze, and I realized his eyes were full of remorse. My insides clenched.
With a deep sigh, he covered my right hand with his left. "I'm not going to leave you."
"Why can't you just—" I cut myself off with a horrified gasp as I realized what he'd said. I shook my head, my filling with tears. My mouth opened, but nothing came out.
His grip tightened on my hand as my whole body began to tremble. From pain, from blood loss, from shock.
Finally, I managed to whisper, "Why?"
"Because I'm tired of watching people die." He stared at my mouth, at my chin, anywhere but my eyes.
The pain that encompassed my body was eclipsed by the shock pulsing through me with each beat of my heart.
"I can't let that happen again." His grip tightened. The tears that had gathered in my eyes leaked out, slipping down both of my temples as I lay there on the ground, broken inside and out. "Jaune."
Jaune shook, reaching with one hand to brush the tears from my face. "Everything is going to be okay." His fingers lingered on my temple.
"If you're done being melodramatic, you'll need my help. Otherwise, neither of you will survive the night."
The voice came from just outside the light of my fire. I forced myself to lift my head, but when I did, the pain became unbearable. Strange, bright lights popped in front of my eyes, and then everything began to tunnel into darkness. I saw a woman with a hood step into the circle of the firelight.
And then I was gone.