Between Love And Blood Chapter 11

Dragon pounces out of the long grass and landed exactly on the spot where the two of us were standing only seconds before. Snarling the Cat began to give chase not at all willing to give up the chance of a potential delicious meal. Now I knew why Justin had been so anxious. He had sensed Dragon was stalking us.

Our legs are pumping like crazy are we're moving as fast as our legs can carry us across the rest of the open space. We were no longer paying attention to whether we were seen or not. All we care about was reaching the rosebush before Dragon got to us first. We had a bit of a head start, but the lead wasn't much. We were barely making it at this rate.

Justin is far more fit than I was so he is well used to running at such a fast pace whether it was a long or short period of time. But I'm not nearly at that level. I'm already losing my breath and slowing down fast although I absolutely refuse to give u now even though my body is saying, no screaming, something completely different. Suddenly as we were so close to safety the unthinkable happened.

There is a sharp tug to the skirt of my dress causing me to trip and fall. Immediately Justin skidded to a stop trying to tug me back onto my feet, but to no avail.

"My dress! My dress is stuck," I shrieked, frantic.

Park of the hem had gotten snagged on a twig lodged in the earth. I pulled and pulled, but it didn't budge. It's caught pretty good.

"It won't come off," I screamed, beyond panicked at this point. The worst part is unlike in the tall grass where Dragon couldn't see us at all now there was a clear view of him as he was racing towards licking his chops in anticipation. "He's coming!"

Justin wasn't about to leave me behind even to save his own skin. Grabbing onto the section of the skirt caught, in one sharp pull, the fabric ripped loose setting me free. The moment I was free we began running again not a second too soon for Dragon destroyed the stick that had trapped me.

Everything is going so fast I'm barely going to be able to remember half of this if I was lucky from the whole trauma. All I'm able to recall from the rest was screaming and then upon arriving at the Rosebush jumping directly into the thorns. Our minds were so focused on getting away from Dragon we didn't care if we were scratched by any of them. This drastic act is what saved our lives.

Spotting where we had escaped to Dragon didn't stop until he slammed into the outside of the Rosebush. He was too persistent and didn't manage to get there in time. A loud caterwaul came from Dragon as the sharp piercing thorns dug into his skin. Flailing and writhing in pain Dragon bolts straight for the house, wanting the farmer's wife to come out and fix him.

At hearing the retreat of the vicious feline our breathing and heart rates begin to slowly return back to normal. I nearly thought mine was about to stop altogether and would've if this had gone on any longer. Although my breathing was under control I remained frozen unsure the danger has truly passed us by with wide and terrified eyes.

Justin recovers his composure far quicker than I can imagine to.

Cautiously peeking out of the thorns Justin checked how things are outside.

"I-Is Dragon g-gone," I stammered, hands shaking beyond any control.

Nodding, Justin said "Yeah, he's one running back to the farmer's house to lick his wounds. We're safe from him here." He then turned towards me only to notice how shaken I was. "Joanna, are you all right?! You're shaking!"

As Justin's comment registers I saw what was going on. Not only are my hands trembling, but so is the rest of my body as well. The horror is still only fully sinking in while the adrenaline is wearing off.

"I didn't realize…," I said, trailing off.

Justin took my hand in his, gently rubbing them as he felt them cold, staring at me in pity.

"Your hands are cold," he said. "You've never been out through such a fright before now since we got here."

Sucking in a breath, smiling, I said "I'll get over it. Besides what's really important is neither of us are hurt. Things could've been a whole lot worst for us."

"Yeah," chuckled Justin. "Yeah it definitely could've been."

Laughing uneasily with him I looked down seeing the spot where my dress has torn leaving a large rip within the fabric creating a hole.

I said "Great, just great, my dress is ripped."

"Kind of a necessity for us to get away," said Justin, bending on his knees to examine the torn part in the hem. "It's an easy enough fix with your skill as a seamstress. With your needle and thread you'll be more than able to make quick work of this."

"I know," I said, indignant, "but…"

"But what," asked Justin, patient.

Shaking my head, I sighed "I understand, but I don't like wasting the materials I only use them when the situation warrants it. Our supplies are so few here. The materials aren't easy to obtain for us as it is for humans."

Justin wrapped a gentle arm around my shoulder giving them a comforting squeeze.

He said "That may be the truth now, but once we get to Thorn Valley all of our troubles will transform into a thing of the past once and for all. None of us will want for anything there."

"Yeah, I guess so," I said, smiling, although it didn't exactly reach my eyes.

Justin seems so confident in the plan, but if Jenner has anything more to say about it we wouldn't even set foot off of this land.

Sensing my unease yet misunderstanding the whole meaning, Justin said "Don't worry, Joanna. We'll get there soon."

"But the map is ruined. It'll take forever to make another one," I said, rubbing the hand he put on my shoulder.

"As I told Ages before we left the time doesn't matter as long as the deed is done," said Justin. "Don't fret over it too much or you'll just worry yourself sick. We don't need you worst than you already are."

Eyes narrowed, smacking his chest in a playful manner, I said "Oh you…"

Justin dodged out of range before I'm able to touch him again grinning in amusement.

"Come on. Take a joke, Joanna," he said.

Cheeks puffed, arms crossed, I said "I do have a sense of humor. I…I just don't show it as often as I'd like to…sometimes."

I was beginning to revert back into my shy self.

"You should loosen you ore often," said Justin, nudging me a little. "When you smile…it makes you look quite lovely."

That particular comment came out of nowhere, seriously catching her off guard. I knew my own visage is pretty, but no one had actually spoken about it so casually like that previously. A massive blush rose on my cheeks, no words making their way past my lips.

Joana is clueless as to what to say.

Seeing how flustered I was Justin's grin broadened.

Gesturing towards the hidden entrance, Justin said "We'd better be going inside now. I'm sure you have other things to tend to as do I."

"Right," I agreed, nodding.

Taking my hand in his not noticing the blush deepen on my cheeks he carefully maneuvered us to the door. Fortunately there aren't any more rips in the dress I'd be required to mend later on. I am calmer now, but the stress combined with further work to do today might definitely be pushing it too far.

Authors Note:

Hope you guys all like this one! ;D