This is NOT a Mary-Sue, I swear. I own nothing. Please R & R!

Lady Hawk

Chapter 3

By LadyHawk25

Rowen groaned at the bright light penetrating his dreams. He welcomed the light—it chased away the dark nightmares of his sleep, bringing him stumbling into the dawn. Turning his head slightly, he grimaced at the dull throb that accompanied the movement. His blind eyes fluttered at the light, unable to see—the light invading his darkness confused him.

Without his eyes, his other senses were much more acute. He didn't know how long he had been asleep, but he felt as if he were floating. Dull, throbbing pain radiated throughout his body, and he instinctively avoided moving any more, wary of his injuries. Sighing deeply, he listened to the sound of birds chirping and rushing water. He could smell the fresh water nearby, mingling with soft moss and damp tree bark. Curiously, he picked up the scent of sandalwood, basil, sage, thyme, onions, and hundreds of other herbs and spices. He smiled slightly. It smelled peaceful.

A noise to his far left caused him to jump. He gasped, but caught himself before he moved instinctively to get away from the pain. He knew he was horribly injured, and any movement whatsoever would bring fiery pain into his body. Breathing deeply, as Sage had taught him to do in battle, he was able to will the pain from his mind and relax. Listening intently, he heard the noise again—a clicking sound accompanied by a soft rustling.

"I see you've met Seragil."

Rowen gasped in surprise, but halted his instinct to jump.

"Very good. You've learned to control your instincts somewhat." A soft, melodious voice said gently.

Rowen could tell it was definitely a woman's voice. He could hear her movement around the bed, towards the corner where the sound came from. She returned a moment later, sitting gently on the edge of the bed. Rowen crinkled his forehead in confusion as he felt something soft on his left hand. He curled his fingers around it gently, enjoying the feel.

"A feather?" He croaked, his voice raw and sore.

"Yes. That's Seragil, my companion and friend. He's a red-tailed hawk…they're indigenous to North America." She said, rising from the bed and moving away again.

Rowen caressed the feather between his fingers gently, reveling in the softness. He gulped, preparing to ask her what a red-tailed hawk was doing in Japan, but his breath caught in his throat. He coughed violently and gasped, pain-radiating outwards from his chest to every part of his body. She was there immediately, hold his shoulders steady.

"Try not to move! You'll open your stitches!" She said, holding a cup of water to his lips. Rowen drank readily, only to choke on the water and gasp wildly. He coughed and gasped, unable to stop coughing, unable to stop the pain. She held his shoulders firmly, rubbing his back gently in an effort to sooth him. She offered him another drink, and this time he was able to take it, drinking it greedily. He sighed as his coughing fit left him, enjoying the cool feel of the water in his raw throat.

"Thank you." He whispered as she pulled the cup away. He heard her place it on something nearby and then gently caressed his face, wiping away the last traces of water that had dribbled down his chin during his coughing. He sighed at the feel of her gentle hands and the pain slowly ebbing away into that familiar dull throb.

"You're welcome. Now, stay sitting up so I can dress your wounds."

Rowen nodded slightly as he felt her get up, listening to the sounds of her moving around the room. He heard the clinking of jars and bowls, water running and the crushing of leaves and twigs. He sat very still, afraid to move and unable to see.

She returned quickly, and he heard her pull up a chair of some sort by the bed. He sat very still as she pulled the blankets from his shoulders, exposing his chest, back and stomach to chill morning air. He shivered involuntarily and immediately wished he hadn't.

"Rowen?" She asked softly.

"Yes?" He replied as he felt her gentle hands working the bandages off his chest and shoulders.

"Why did you jump?"

Rowen was startled. He hadn't expected her to know about his attempt at suicide. He wanted to buy some time, so he asked her a question instead.

"How did you know I jumped?"

"I watched you."

Rowen almost gasped in surprise. She had been watching him?

"Then…why didn't you try to stop me?"

She sighed, moving her hands to his arms and removing the bandages there.

"Don't move your arms as I do this. I had to set your broken bones while you slept, and if you move them while the bandages are off, they could break again." She said quietly.

"You didn't answer my question."

"And you didn't answer mine."

Rowen was quiet. He stayed silent as she removed the bandages from his body, twitching slightly as she moved to his hips and legs. He was embarrassed, but stayed silent, unwilling to shy away from her gentle care.

"I suppose…" She began, removing the last of the bandages. "That I let you jump because everyone deserves the right to jump."

Rowen nodded slightly, wincing at the pain in his head.

"Sometimes, we can't figure things out unless we jump…and no one should be denied that."

He hissed as she applied a cold cream to his legs. It seeped into his open wounds and burned like fire. He grit his teeth in pain as she took his legs in her hands with a firm but gentle touch, testing for breaks and sprains.

"Hmm… sprained ankle, knee…I think you cracked your femur. Bruises…" She mumbled to herself as she worked her hands over his legs and up his thighs. He blushed brightly as he felt her hands on his hips, but he said nothing.

She sighed and went back to the cream, smearing the stinging stuff all over the cuts and bruises adorning his legs, thighs and chest.

"You broke some stitches here…" She mumbled. He could almost hear her frowning.

He whimpered as he felt the needle pierce his flesh, gasping as it entered the deep wound on his back.

"Shhhh…it'll be over soon." She soothed.

He nodded slowly and grit his teeth. She finished quickly and he sighed with relief. She smiled and stroked his hair back from his forehead gently.

He relaxed as she continued applying the creamy substance to his wounds, realizing that the wounds previously saturated with the stinging solution were already numb and cool. Finished with the cream, she moved his arms as she gently re-wrapped his broken arm and shoulder. Rowen held very still as she wrapped her arms around him to wrap the soft, fresh cloth around his torso and abdomen. He could feel her soft hair on his shoulders and firm breasts through soft material against his chest as she reached around him. He blushed slightly at this reminder of her womanhood, and his near-nakedness.

Rowen relaxed as she finished wrapping his legs. His whole body felt numb and cool. He was sleepy and didn't resist as she laid him down on soft pillows and pulled the blankets up around him. He sighed deeply as she finished with the bandage on his head wound, her gentle hands lulling him towards sleep.

"Thank you," He mumbled, slowly drifting off to sleep.

"Sleep well, friend." She replied, standing from her chair as he fell asleep peacefully.

She stretched her arms above her head and yawned softly. Gathering the bloodied bandages and the remains of her healing salve, she walked to the hearth where hot coals still burned brightly from the night before. She had stayed up most of the last two days and nights watching over him, refusing to allow death to claim him. Throwing the bloody bandages into the hearth, she watched as they caught fire quickly. Rubbing her eyes she glanced back at her bed where the young man lay.

Why did you jump?

The question still haunted her mind. Someone so youthful and free shouldn't have cause for such a leap. So why did he?

Oh, well. She thought, moving to the corner where Seragil sat perched, pruning his feathers quietly. He cocked his head to the side as she approached and crooned softly. She smiled, stroking the feathers beneath his sharp beak softly.

"You're right, of course. I can't make him talk. He'll tell me when he can."

She sighed as she turned and walked to the hammock she had constructed in the corner. Settling herself in it gently, she prepared for another day of watching him sleep.

"He's getting a fever. I must watch him closely, or he'll die." She whispered.

"I don't want him to die…"