And here's chapter four.

Healing Begins

She opened her eyes, the thudding behind them painful. She couldn't move. Everything hurt. She could feel Winter Moon licking the inside of her palm. She couldn't speak. It hurt to breathe. She could feel something liquid and warm on different parts of her. Why wasn't her healing factor working? Why wasn't it kicking in yet? Her vision was blurred, but something hazy appeared out of the right side. "What are you?" she managed.

The being flew, more like glided, over to her. "I am Ireth Mithrandir. I've been watching over you."

"What are you?" she asked, not scared. "Where's Moon?"

The wolf is fine. He's laying beside you." She'd forgotten about feeling his tongue on her hand, "As for me, child, I am a spirit of the woods. You wear the leaf, and I watch over the leaf and its bearer."

"Alex gave it to me long before we ever met."

"Your first meeting as adults."

"Yes. He couldn't have known we would become close. Could he?"

"You should ask him, little one."

"I can't. I can't find him. I can't even feel my legs. My healing factor isn't working."

"You don't need it now. It must be saved for more importance."

"But...if I can't..."

"Hush, child." Ireth said placing her hand on Morgana's forehead and abdomen, a wave of heat passing from her into Morgana. "Rise up my child." Morgana stood, all of the pain gone. Moon ran to her side, excited to see her up.

"Thank you. Can you help me find Alex?" she asked hopefully, then disappointed at the answer.

"No, but an old friend, older than the wolf, older than the Pack, can." The spirit was gone.

"Older than the Pack," she thought back to before leaving San Francisco. It hit her. "Wingguard." So she put all of her might into summoning the great hawk. "We can use his eyes, Moon. With no tracks and darkness setting in my eyes and your nose wouldn't work anymore." Slowly, the two climbed out of the small ravine. They sat atop, her arms buried in the white fur, and waited. A few minutes later, after the sky had gotten darker, she heard a rustle on the wind. The great wings of the red tail beat against the night air, coming to rest on her wrist.

"Hello, old friend. It's been too long." She stroked the great chest. "Wingguard, this is Winter Moon. He's a friend. I've missed you." The hawk preened. "We need your help."

When they had stopped, he had wished he were either dead or had a different mutant power. At least six ribs were broken, three more possibly bruised. He could no longer feel his arms except the pain in his shoulders. One ankle was smashed thanks to a sledge they had used on him. He wouldn't be able to move if he wanted to. The door opened, Flemming stepped through.

"Well, you're still kicking," he laughed. "Guess being a mutie has it's advantages."

"Yeah. Too bad that's not mine," he barked back. "Wouldn't work with this inhibitor collar on anyway. Where did you get it, by the way?"

"Mutant thieves haters stores. But don't worry. I'm here to finish you off. And after you've been out in the wilderness a few days, I'll turn your body in and received the reward for your head," Flemming pulled a large steel knife, its blade shining.

With the help of Wingguard, Morgana and Moon came upon the shack that appeared to be abandoned except for the one small light in the window. She prayed to the spirits he was there. A scream. Blood curdling. Several men came out, two carrying something between them, something long. A hand dropped. She gasped. Moon, using his animal senses, informed her of the truth she already knew. It was him. She watched as they loaded the limp body onto the bed of the truck. They were saying something, but she couldn't hear and it was too dark to read lips. So she watched. Three walked away and climbed into another truck and drove off. The one with Alex started and headed in a different direction. The small band of human, wolf, and hawk followed.

After following for several minutes, the truck stopped away out in the middle of nowhere. She didn't think she'd be able to find her way back until day light. The two men got out, and walked to the bed of the truck. There they grabbed the ends of a blanket, the one containing Alex, and pulled it from the truck. Without moving any where, they dumped Quinn's body and left, driving back towards the shack. When the tail lights had disappeared she rushed to his side, fearing the worse, and finding it.

"Alex! Alex, can you hear me? I'm right here," she looked over his body, feeling for injuries. There were more broken bones than could be good, and she was sure that at least one had punctured his lungs. "Oh, God." She could tell by feeling that both legs were broken, possibly crushed. "Alex, why did they do this to you?" She held his head in her lap, the wolf and hawk close by. He coughed, blood running from the corner of his mouth. "Easy. Just rest. You're going to be okay." His hands had been cuffed.

"Morgana," he said in disbelief.

"Yes," she found her lock picks he had given her, and began.

"Is that you?" Another cough.

"Yes, I'm right beside you. I'm not leaving." Finally, she got the cuffs off. His wrists were bloody and raw.

"Mor...I'm...not...going," he coughed again, more blood, "going to make it."

"Hush. Of course you are," she encouraged. He grabbed her hand using the little strength he head left.

"My...body's too...weak. I...can't..."

"Yes, you can. I won't let you die. You're not getting off that easy." 'This didn't work with Ravenhold, but I've grown a lot stronger since then. It will work. It has to. I can't loose him.' So she did the only thing she could. Holding her hands inches above his body, she used the healing factor she had used from birth to heal animals, and called upon everything in her to heal the man she loved. She could feel pain, hers from the fall and his. Slowly the knife stab on his stomach began to heal itself, the bones started mending themselves, but because her eyes were closed she could not see. Her body and soul drained to the breaking point, she collapsed over, her head landing on his chest. She was asleep before she could hear the tiny beat of a heart.

End chapter four. Five will be coming.