" Margurite!" He gasped in shock, unable to move for a moment, his eyes growing wide with fear. Finally coming to his senses Lord Roxton rushed over to his beloved, dropping to his knees and cradling her head in his lap, willing her eyes to open. " Marguerite!" Her cream colored skin was even paler than usual and her lush red lips were tinged with a frightening shade of blue. On further inspection, the wound on her chest was obviously caused by a bullet, by Roxton's own bullet that was meant for the raptor he had never actually seen lurking in the bushes, making the hunter go numb as he unwillingly flashed back to his brother's similar death. " No." He whispered almost inaudibly. " No! MALOOONE!" He shouted, gripping Marguerite tighter in his arms, cradling her limp form as if she were a sleeping child.
" Marguerite, open your eyes love. Please wake up." He pleaded, tears rushing to his eyes.
The flutter of her long, dark lashes sent a ray of hope surging through him.
" J- John?" She said softly
" I'm here, Marguerite. You're going to be fine now."
" Wha-what happened?"
" It was an accident Marguerite. I didn't mean- You're going to be fine. We're going to get you patched up and home where Challenger can help you."
At that moment Ned came running into the clearing, out of breath, coming to a quick halt as he took in the scene before him.
" My god." He gasped
" Go to the tent and get something we can use as a bandage!" Roxton commanded with a urgent glare at Ned. " Hurry!"
" I'm cold." Margurite murmured.
" Malone's getting some supplies now, it won't be much longer. Just hold on."
" So tired." She whispered, her voice fading as her eyes drifted closed.
" No! Marguerite, open your eyes!"
" John-" she gasped before she stilled completely.
" MARGUERITE! Wake up! Damn you! Open your eyes!" Roxton shouted hysterically, shaking her prone form.
" Roxton!" Ned shouted at him, throwing down the supplies and prying him away from Marguerite's stationary body. As the blonde man reached down to her neck to take her pulse, Roxton stood and turned away violently, staring at the red blood staining his hands. Eyes glazing over he fell once again to his knees, the underbrush crackling under his weight.
A chill settled over the hunter's body as shock and grief consumed him. She was dead. The woman he loved was dead. With that final thought he passed out, welcoming the forgiving darkness.
" Marguerite, open your eyes love. Please wake up." He pleaded, tears rushing to his eyes.
The flutter of her long, dark lashes sent a ray of hope surging through him.
" J- John?" She said softly
" I'm here, Marguerite. You're going to be fine now."
" Wha-what happened?"
" It was an accident Marguerite. I didn't mean- You're going to be fine. We're going to get you patched up and home where Challenger can help you."
At that moment Ned came running into the clearing, out of breath, coming to a quick halt as he took in the scene before him.
" My god." He gasped
" Go to the tent and get something we can use as a bandage!" Roxton commanded with a urgent glare at Ned. " Hurry!"
" I'm cold." Margurite murmured.
" Malone's getting some supplies now, it won't be much longer. Just hold on."
" So tired." She whispered, her voice fading as her eyes drifted closed.
" No! Marguerite, open your eyes!"
" John-" she gasped before she stilled completely.
" MARGUERITE! Wake up! Damn you! Open your eyes!" Roxton shouted hysterically, shaking her prone form.
" Roxton!" Ned shouted at him, throwing down the supplies and prying him away from Marguerite's stationary body. As the blonde man reached down to her neck to take her pulse, Roxton stood and turned away violently, staring at the red blood staining his hands. Eyes glazing over he fell once again to his knees, the underbrush crackling under his weight.
A chill settled over the hunter's body as shock and grief consumed him. She was dead. The woman he loved was dead. With that final thought he passed out, welcoming the forgiving darkness.