How long has it been?
Two minutes? Two days? Two weeks? No, it couldn't have been that long, Ty thought, racking his mind for ways to tell how much time had passed. He doesn't remember the plane crashing, one minute he was talking about starting vet school with Scott and the next he woke up to his head aching and his body injured. Has night passed since then? How long had he been unconscious?
He put two fingers to Scott's neck, feeling his reassuring pulse press against his icy fingers. His mentor was still alive, but Ty wasn't sure how much longer.
"Ty…" Scott struggled to get just two letters through his mouth.
"Scott!" Ty exclaimed "Scott, stay with me".
Anxiety ran through Ty's veins like poison.
"Scott, say something, buddy."
"Look" Scott said, looking straight ahead in a dazed state.
A wolf.
Ty froze with fear, his poisoned blood now ice in his body, forcing him to freeze.
"Holy shit", Ty muttered with the only part of his body he could manage to move.
"Trust him", Scott said as his head fell limp. Ty's eyes darted back to the wolf. He was beautiful, but he was terrifying. The wolf's gaze met Ty's, unwavering and tense. After what felt like forever, the wolf blinked, turned his gaze down, and ran into the woods. Ty finally exhaled, gently moving his fingers to ensure he wasn't actually paralyzed. Scott was draped over the steering wheel, his breath creating a small circle of condensation against the broken windshield of the plane. He noticed Scott's leg, it was full of dried blood. Knowing all too well the risk of infection, he went to get his tack box of veterinary supplies. If it works for a horse, it must work for a man, right?
Ty opened the latch to the small storage area of the plane. As he reached his hands in, the first thing he felt was canvas. He pulled out the painting he'd gotten for Amy.
Amy.
How long had it been since he'd held the girl he loves in his arms?
(new scene)
"We need to do something NOW."
Amy's head was racing, her thoughts were submerged in fear. 'I can't lose him too' was the string of words dominating her thoughts, repeating over and over and ove-
"I'm gonna need you to calm down, Amy" Jack said. His tone was forceful, but not angry. He knew his granddaughter couldn't take this loss too, and honestly he wasn't sure he could take it either.
"I have to go look for them, we have to go find Ty" she said as she left the house, heading for the barn.
"And just how do you think you're going to do that?" Jack yelled after her. He wasn't sure if he could take Ty being gone, but he knew he couldn't lose Amy.
"What in…" Jack mumbled under his breath, then yelled "Amy, look out!"
Amy stopped dead in her tracks as she saw what caused her grandpa to yell. It was a wolf. He was beautiful, but he was terrifying. Their eyes locked.
"Easy" Amy whispered, and immediately mentally ridiculed herself for talking to this wild animal as if he was a horse. The wolf took two steps toward her, then looked down, and ran away from the ranch. Amy collapsed on her knees, sobbing into her hands as Jack walked over to her.
"Ty's gone and now we have wolves?" she sobbed as her world started slipping through her fingers just like her tears were.
"I'll get Spartan and the others into the barn." Jack reassured her as he headed toward the pen.
(new scene)
The sun was slipping away and nightfall was upon Ty as he gave up looking for a way out of the woods and headed back to the demolished plane. He checked on Scott, laying two fingers delicately on his scratchy, yet supple, neck. A soft smile overtook his face as that familiar beat pulsed against his hand. Like magic, Scott's eyes fluttered open to meet Ty's gaze.
"Hey, buddy, how're you feeling?" Ty asked softly.
"Not…so great." Scott's eyes usually had a certain glimmer, like he was about to tell a funny joke, but now they looked as if he already told that joke, and no one laughed. "Ty we need to get out of here, my leg…" he winced in pain as he struggled to look down, his stubble brushing against Ty's youthful fingers, reminding him he'd never taken them from his mentor's neck.
"Don't worry, I put some horse Neosporin on it." Ty said reassuringly. Scott used what little energy he had to let out a sigh.
"Ty, for the last time, Neosporin and horse Neosporin are the same product."
"Yeah, but it came from my horse aid kid so it's horse Neosporin." Ty said as he smiled cheekily. Scott softly smiled, the sparkle returning to his eye as he looked at Ty.
"Ty," Scott said seriously, "If we can't make it out of here, will you-", his words trailed off as his eyes fixated on a dark shadow.
"He's back", Scott whispered. Ty's body froze up, just like it had before. His body could feel it before his eyes could see it; the wolf was back.
"Never mind, we will make it out." Scott said with relief.
"How do you know that?" Ty asked, thinking Scott must have been hallucinating.
"It's the eye of the wolf." He said as if he was a kid seeing superman, "And you're gonna ride him to safety".
"I'm going to WHAT?" Ty exclaimed.
"You've never heard of the eye of the wolf?"
"I mean I've heard of a wolf's eye but I-"
"No, the *eye* of the *wolf*. He's the spirt of someone who loves you, and you can ride him back to safety."
Ty looked at the wolf. He did look friendly, like the dog he had growing up before his mom married a man who would abuse them all for years before the dog ran away and Ty had to protect his mom all on his own. But if that wouldn't have happened, he wouldn't have had to defend his mom, he wouldn't have gotten a job at Heartland, he wouldn't have met the love of his life, and he wouldn't be here with Scott.
"Bobby." He whispered softly, thinking of his beloved dog. Ty swore he saw the wolf's ears perk up the slightest bit.
"Go to him." Scott encouraged, "He's our only shot at getting out alive."
Ty looked at Scott and he nodded gently "My fate is with you, Ty."
"Okay, I trust you, I need to get you out of here. By the way, what were you going to ask?"
"I was going to ask if you'd suck my dick but now the wolf is here so we're good."
Ty blushed "Ha, yeah. Well, if he doesn't take me to safety, I'll be back for you." Ty said with a wink.
But playful times were over, it was time to look death in the face and ride it to safety.
Ty gently and slowly approached the wolf. To Ty's surprise the wolf bowed to him.
"Ride him to safety, Ty." Scott called weakly from the plane. Ty took a deep breath as he sat on the wolf's back.
(beat)
The wolf stayed bowing at Ty's feet until his legs around his fuzzy body. Ty's weight was unfamiliar and heavy, but his scent wasn't.
"Ty" Bobbie thought. "Ty Ty Ty Ty"
Bobby's spirit wanted so badly to turn around and lick him and run around in circles, but this furry body wasn't his, it was the wolfs, and he was only here momentarily, because Ty was in trouble and he was here to let Ty ride him to safety. He was just thankful for this moment to see his human again, and to carry him. To safety.
(beat)
Ty winced, in pain and hesitation, as he wrapped his arms around the wolf's neck. "If I make it out of this alive, I'll be so happy to hold on to reins again".
Reins. Horses. Amy.
As if the wolf knew, he took off as soon as Ty felt steady on his back. The wolf rushed past the side of the crashed aircraft. "The painting, Amy…" thought Ty, as he reached out from the wolf to grab the painting as they passed it. Ty wrapped his arms around the wolf's fluffy neck as he grinned, flying through the forest by the moonlight and kind of wishing his arms were around a pricklier, rougher neck? Ty shook his head. No, he was happy to be here because this was his chance to be with Amy again. "Go, eye of the wolf!" Ty exclaimed, laughing like a child as Wolf (Bobbi) darted through the trees as effortlessly as wind. Soon Ty recognized his surroundings. The highway, the 50 mile long driveway into Heartland Ranch! He was riding to safety!
(new scene)
Amy was lying across her bed. She couldn't sleep, not without knowing where Ty was. Was he even alive? The thought was too heavy to linger on.
I can't lose him too.
Her thoughts moved to that beautiful, yet terrifying wolf. Then to Spartan.
Spartan.
How could she sleep in the house when there was a wolf around? One that could kill her very best friend in the world? Even though it wasn't likely that he'd go into town and kill Soraya, he could kill her second best friend, Spartan. Not on her watch.
She tip-toed across the house to the door, careful not to wake Jack. Each step of her toes caused the floorboards to creak. She'd pause, listening for Jack's signature snore, then proceed another step.
She hadn't thought about how chilly it was outside. She'd come outside in her nightgown that the wind was now penetrating, and fluffy slippers, not nearly enough warmth. And she knew she couldn't use the heater in the barn to heat it to human-appropriate temperatures, not after that barn fire. Even if Malory didn't do it, Amy still resented her for it.
Amy turned the corner, relief washed over her and she saw Spartan.
"Heeey boy", she said as she stroked his face.
"Horse snuffles", Spartan replied.
"Oh, Spartan." Amy choked out as she started crying. As the cold from her evaporating tears stung her face, she kissed Spartan on the nose and went to Ty's loft.
Ty's loft. She hadn't been up here since Ty left her before. That night where he kissed her, right where she'd just been standing with Spartan, and left the next day. She put her fingers to her lips, remembering what his felt like, remembering that she really should pick up some chapstick for him next time she went into town. Another tear effortlessly fell from her eye, would she have the chance to kiss him again? Even if she did, even if she did gift him chapstick, would he use it? Would he be offended? Would she ever kiss anyone with moist lips aside from that one sleepover at Soraya's where the bottle landed on Ashley? And that other time at Ashley's party where the bottle also landed on Ashley during 7 Minutes in Heaven where they spent way too many minutes arguing over which ranch was better and not nearly enough time kissing?
She picked up her phone, opened her contacts, and hovered over Ashley's name.
Amy bit her bottom lip, tapping "select" on her phone, when she heard a distressed whinny.
"Spartan, also other horses", Amy thought, tossing her phone on Ty's bed.
She ran down to the barn, gasping when she'd seen the barn door had been blown open. She gasped louder when she saw him.
The wolf.
There he was, illuminated in the moonlight. He was beautiful, yet terrifying.
Wait, she gasped.
That terrifying, beautiful creature was too familiar.
The creature took a step toward the barn, the light from inside revealing that it was…
"TY?!" Amy squeeled, running toward her boyfriend.
"Amy!" Ty called back, pulling her into an embrace.
"I'm so happy you're safe!" she whispered, closing her eyes and enjoying this moment. She opened her eyes and backed away.
"Ty…there's a…"
"A wolf? Don't worry about him, how did you think I got here?"
Amy looked at Ty in dismay.
"I rode him to safety!" Ty exclaimed, turning back to the wolf, leading him to some water to drink.
"Thanks for letting me ride you to safety, buddy." Ty said as the wolf lapped up water. "Thanks, Bobby" he whispered. The wolf looked at Ty, the light of the moon reflected in his dog-like eyes, sparkling as if he told a joke and the whole room laughed, and ran back toward the woods.
"What is this?" Amy exclaimed, seeing the somehow pristine painting Ty brought back for her.
"Oh! That's a painting I got for you, somehow it's pristine despite me taking it on a wolf that I rode to safety."
"That's so sweet! Amy said, taking Ty's hand in hers, and led them up to his loft.
"You must be exhausted" Amy said as she sat with Ty on his bed.
"Not exhausted enough for this" Ty said, as he wove his dirt-covered fingers through her hair and pressed his lips to hers. Amy's heartbeat got faster as her body softened against him. She'd been so worried that she would never kiss him again, but he was here, he was safe. As they pulled away she softly smiled as a new worry dominated her thoughts, 'do they sell masculine branded capstick in town?'
"Hey Amy, Ashley's calling?" Ty said confused, holding up Amy's vibrating phone.
(they forgot about scott :c)
"Hello? Anyone?" Scott called out. He looked toward the moon and let out a small "Awooo".
He was the eye of the wolf all along.