Chapter 37: Weary Walk

(Jessie's P.O.V.)

Slowly pushing the door open, I stepped inside without as much as raising my head, but I still felt the immense pain in my heart grow. I walked in, and as I closed the door, I felt a cold air take hold of my spine. Hugging my arms closer to me, I felt the emptiness of when Sam used to do that to me, and I forced my feet to carry me forward. After I reached the table, I stood still for a second, not moving or bothering to look up. Without any warning however, I felt someone grab me, and my head shot up, only for my attacker to press their lips against my own. When I noticed who it was, I would've screamed, had my mouth not been occupied, but the moment our lips separated, I was pinning the antagonist down. My tail was moving side to side frantically while I looked every inch that I could of the person who had surprised me in the most unpleasant, yet still pleasurable way. "SAM! H-How are you alive!?" He smiled as he looked up at me, and he opened his mouth, but I quickly interrupted as my patience all but disappeared, "Never mind, I don't care! I'm just happy you're back!"

I let go of his wrists and wrapped my arms around him and squeezed him against me with all my strength, not once willing to let go of him as I heard his strong heartbeat. His breath tickled the tops of my ears, and I buried my face into his chest as tears streamed down my cheeks, and I did my best to make sure he couldn't and wouldn't ever go anywhere ever again. It wasn't supposed to come out, but a loud sob did escape my lips, and I heard him say, "J-Jessie… are you alright?"

Looking up at his concerned gaze, I smiled as I pulled myself up to meet his lips with my own, and I wrapped my arms around his neck the best I could, savoring every second I had with him. I pulled away as another sob escaped my muzzle, and I buried my face beside his head, and I fought a losing battle to not start crying again. I shook my head as I began to sob, and I felt Sam wrap his arms around my back and gently rub up and down through my fur. My emotions were going crazy, and I couldn't tell one from the other, but I felt happy, timid, fearful, but one that stood out among all the others and had a need of its own; lust. A family was the one thing I wanted most with Sam instead of somewhere safe to live, but I didn't even know if it was physically possible… a keidran and human. Pushing that thought, and emotion, to the side with a great difficulty, I took in a deep breath to try and calm and end the sobs.

After I succeeded, I brought my head up and placed my muzzle against his neck and inhaled a scent that I loved above all others. I closed my eyes as I gently kissed the side of his neck, and the rubbing had almost instantly stopped as soon as my lips made contact with his skin. I pulled away and smiled, and I heard him ask once again, "A-Are y-you ok…?"

"I am n-now that you a-are awake… you had b-been asleep f-for three days…"

Sam whistled quietly, and I felt his grip tighten slightly, but he asked, "Can you help me up…?"

(Sam's P.O.V.)

Jessie nodded as she soon got up and off of me, and I looked up and into her sparkling purple eyes as she gazed down at me. I can't believe I was in a coma for three days… I wonder why it was so long. What I just hope, is that is the only reason why my energy seems to all be gone. Jessie stood up the rest of the way, and as she helped me up, I couldn't help but notice how course her fur felt; where else it was almost always as smooth and soft as silk. When I was up, I nearly fell over until Jessie stepped forward and wrapped her arms under my own and around my back. She looked into my eyes and asked, "What is w-wrong…?"

"I feel… weak." I said as I struggled to get my breath back, and I locked my legs as I moved the best I could towards the wall. Placing one hand on the wall, I carefully leaned against it, and I began to carefully make my way towards the door. Before I could reach it however, Jessie appeared in front of me as she placed her hands on my chest and said, "P-Please stay in here… I want to spend as much time with you before you do something dangerous again…"

Sighing, I decided I could just relax while I got some energy back, and I wrapped my arms around Jessie before sliding down the wall. She yelped in surprise, but I only smiled as I pulled her onto my lap and closer to me as I leaned my head forward. With our current position, I could only gaze down into her eyes, and I smiled as I pulled her closer to me. She smiled as she curled up on my lap the best she could, and her tail even wrapped around her legs as well. A yawn made its way onto my lips, and I turned my head slightly to let it out. It was nly as I turned back forward that someone else opened up the huts door, and I felt Jessie stiffen before a lady stepped into the room. Who is that? If she is Templar, then I need to get into a defensive stance before-

"Y-You're awake!" The lady seemed genuinely surprised, but then her eyes shifted downwards, and I noticed a faint blush on her cheeks, "O-Oh… a-am I disrupting something?"

Shaking my head, I asked, "Who are you, if I may ask…?"

The lady shifted around uncomfortably, so I had Jessie get up so that I could, which would be very difficult with my current condition. As soon as she was up, she turned around and helped me up as the lady said, "I am Sarah, the master healer of Oasis… I'm honestly surprised that you are even awake after going into a coma, almost nobody that enters it ever awakens."

By now I was leaned up against the wall, and I could only chuckle as I said, "Yeah, well, where I come from, people usually stay in coma's longer." I looked away from the Oasis healer and towards Jessie and said, "Remember how where I come from weapons are so much more dangerous, well our medicines are also stronger as well."

Sarah cleared her throat, and as I turned and looked towards her, she asked, "I kept hearing from the others how you weren't from around here… where exactly are you from?"

I smiled, and I began to feel cocky as I pushed away from the wall and stood straight and tall, but I knew it was only a matter of time before I had to return to the wall, or Jessie, "I'm from a place that is stronger than anything this world has to offer. I'm from the good ole U.S.A. back in my world, I'm pure American." I began to teeter ever so slightly, and I returned to leaning against the wall as Jessie moved closer to my side, "Unfortunately, I had lost the last piece of weaponry I had brought with me… that gun served me well though."

"Hmm… interesting…" Sarah muttered to herself, but the way she said it was like she was hiding a secret, though I didn't know what it was. I looked over to see Jessie staring at me with those large purple eyes of hers, and he tail was swishing back and forth while I looked back at her. I could only smile as I noticed a pink glow emanating from under her shirt, and I already knew it was that soul stone emitting its emotion sensing light. I reached over and wrapped my arms around her shoulders, and I heard Sarah ask, "Are you well enough for travel?"

Looking away from Jessie's gaze and towards Sarah was a small struggle, but one I knew would be rude to not acknowledge the master healer of the place we were currently aiming to reach. When I was looking at her brown eyes, I nodded my head as I said, "I can travel no matter what, but I will need a staff or something for me to support my weight… and maybe a quick meal."

"We will need to eat as we travel… the Tigers of this tribe might be tolerant with those wanting to go to Oasis, but they won't permit us to stay here for another night."

Well… it is better than the situations of the others that Wolf writes fates about. I guess I can power through, but it will be harder. "Alright… but first I need my sword and backpack." I rolled my shoulders as I stood up once more, but I instantly felt Jessie place her hands on my chest and back and press her body against my own for support. I kept an arm around her shoulders, just so I could feel her familiar presence, and I added, "And when the time permits… I need somewhere to bathe…"

We were walking through the woods at night, and it wasn't something I was too fond about since I couldn't exactly move all that quick. My sword was strapped diagonally across my back while Spirit carried my backpack. Mike and Spirit, and even Jessie, who hadn't eaten or drank since I had entered my coma, had all insisted I carry nothing but my own body. Sarah, the human master healer, and Rebecca, the dog keidran, had both offered to carry my things as well, but I had denied them all to carry my things. It was only when Spirit forced the backpack from my grip that she started to carry it for me.

Forcing my attention back to the present and at the ground, I place my staff in front of me as I continued forward. Mike was walking beside me to my left, while Jessie was walking to my right. Spirit was walking in the rear of the group with Rebecca while Sarah led the group at the lead position. Letting my mind wonder again, I couldn't help but look over at Mike, and I said, "It may have been brief, but the time I had been allowed to use magic was amazing… thanks for teaching me while I still could use it."

The surprise in Mike's voice was evident, but he also sounded grateful, "Wow… t-thanks. I never thought I would have been a human's teacher."

"Yeah, well, I never thought I would meet a talking fox or wolf. Goes to show things aren't always as they appear." I said with a small chuckle, and I let my gaze return to the ground as I stumbled slightly. With my walking staff, I was quickly back on track, and I sighed as I looked back up. It really is a dark night, without the moon or even stars to help see, it is almost like our journey to Oasis is supposed to be difficult no matter what we do.

Sarah stopped after we all made it past a thicket, and she said, "Alright, we will camp here, and we will reach Oasis tomorrow… rest well… Sam, come with me."

Sighing, I walked past everyone while Sarah created a floating ball of light, and I saw her walking towards the edge of the area and closer to the tree line. While I made my way over, I turned and saw Jessie coming towards me, but Rebecca said, "Jessie, they need to talk alone. Help me start a fire while they chat." She looked towards me uncertainly, and I nodded my head and watched as she smiled lightly before turning around and walking towards where Rebecca was kneeling.

When I reached Sarah, she leaned closer to me and said, "What is your relationship with your group members?"

"Huh?" I pulled away slightly, and I asked, "What do you mean?"

"What is your relationship status with all the others of your group?"

Setting my staff at an angle and leaning into it, I said, "I met Mike by almost shooting him with my weapon… but Jessie convinced me to help him out instead. I met Spirit after Jessie and I washed up on the Basitin islands; some Templar had destroyed the ship we were on." I leaned further onto my staff, and I let out a yawn before I said, "Now, Jessie is the most important out of all of them to me…"

"Why is she the most important? Is she your slave?"

After she asked that, I felt myself stiffen as the hair on the back of my neck bristled, and I said a little hotly, "I would prefer you not to mention her as a slave, or even the thought of one ever, especially around me." The expression she wore next reminded me of how a teacher would look at a student who had just talked back, so I added, "Slavery is a disgusting trade that the humans here use way too much. I bought her, but only so I could free her. Ever since that time, she just chose to stay with me ever since, and I have protected her with my life when the time was required that it was needed. I don't know why it is so wrong here, but I do love her, and I won't let anyone or anything get in between that love, and that is something I can guarantee with my own life."

She crossed her arms, and she nodded her head as she said, "Alright, well that is all I needed to discuss with you for now…"

"What else do you need to discuss with me?" I asked as I stood up straight.

"When we reach Oasis, you will need to talk to someone else… for now… go sleep well…"

A.N.: Hello Everyone, I give you another chapter, and I hope it is up to par. So… Sam is up and kicking… I'm sure many of you now hate me, don't you? Lol…