Chapter Seven: Sunny's Sacrifice and Jess's New Power
Will gave them a questioning look and Jess told her she would tell her where they had been later. Will pulled the heart of Candracar out of her shirt and cried, "Guardians unite," transforming the girls into magical fairies. Hay Lin giggled as she examined herself all over.
"This is so cool! I don't think I'll ever get used to this." Jess giggled at her. Irma was already hovering.
"Can we go?" Alex asked and Caleb nodded. Vathek entered the Infinite City and his eyes fell to Jess.
"Did you loose something?" he asked with a chuckle, pulling a wriggling golden pup out of his pocket.
"Sunny!" The girls all cried at once, as Jess took the little animal from Vathek's arms.
"How did she get here?"
"She must have gotten so used to going through the portal with us, that she just followed our scent right through without a second thought," Will said as Jess kissed her puppy's nose and the other guardians scratched her ears. Sunny licked their finger tips.
"Do you want me to keep an eye on her while you girls are gone?" Althea asked.
"Nah. She's as much a part of this team as I am."
"Be careful," Cornelia instructed Caleb as he, Aldarn, and Alex snuck quietly past the guard to get to the supply room. Sunny wriggled impatiently in Jess's arms and she closed her hand over the puppy's muzzle. The guard turned to look in their direction and they hastily ducked behind the wall. They were back up incase the boys got caught. Jess silently prayed that they would be ok.
She wasn't so lucky.
Suddenly there was a loud crash and she heard Alex's unmistakable yelp as a guard's club connected with his head. Jess darted out of hiding to go to his aid. "Guardians in the castle!" The guard hollered, and Jess electrocuted him, landing at Alex's side, Sunny bathing his face in kisses.
"He's unconscious!" She said and Caleb put a hand on her shoulder.
"I've got him," Caleb said. "Go, get out." Two guards suddenly blocked their path as Alex woke groggily.
"I've got him," Jess said aggressively, sitting Sunny on the floor. Jess gathered her powers and prepared to strike when she felt the guards club crash against her head. She hit the wall and fought to stay conscious.
"Sunny no!" Alex yelled as the puppy darted forward, positioning her little one-and-a-half pound body in front of the guard, her puppy teeth bared. She lunged forward, her teeth sinking into the guards leg. In the blink of an eye, Jess heard Sunny's agonized yelp as she was thrown into the was. She turned, growling, to the guard once again and bolted again.
"STOP!" Jess yelled as he kicked her across the floor. The puppy hit the wall, went limp, and didn't get up. "SUNNY!" Jess yelled, summoning her power. "DON'T HURT MY DOG!" She released every ounce of power she could, propelling the guard from the room. She collapsed, drained into Alex's arms. Will lifted Sunny off of the ground and looked at her, tears dotting her eyes.
"She's alive, but I don't think she's going to make it." Jess took her from Will and held her in her arms.
"Let's get her back. Althea will be able to help her." Aldarn said gently as he, Caleb, and Alex grabbed several sacks of grain. Alex slipped an arm around her waist and the girls looked on with concern. Jess nodded.
Althea didn't ask questions, she just took the pup from Jess and ushered her out of the room. Jess was leaning up against Alex now, her head resting on his shoulder and his arm resting around her waist. Every once in a while, he would kiss her temple or her lips, telling her it was going to be alright. The other guardians were silent as well, leaning against the wall or each other. Hay Lin had drifted to sleep.
After, what seemed like, an hour, Althea entered the room carrying the limp pup in her arms. She stooped down to hand her to Jess. "Sweetheart, I'm sorry. There's nothing more I can do. Whoever did this broke several of her ribs and one has punctured one of her lungs. She's going to start drowning in her own blood soon." Jess took the pup and cried into her fur. Alex pulled her back to him and whispered soothingly in her ear.
Jess cried.
She cried until her tears ran dry and her eyes ached. She cried until she was nearly asleep in Alex's arms while she snuggled the dying puppy to her chest. Suddenly, Jess felt a heat emanating from her body as she was bathed in amber light that drifted from her body and into Sunny's. Jess wasn't aware how she was doing it, all she knew was that she was. Under her hand, which was pressed to the pup's side, she felt the bones rise back into place. The blood on the corner of the puppy's mouth was reabsorbed into her veins. Sunny gave a shiver and sat up in Jess's arms, wagging her tail stiffly.
"Sunny!" Irma said, sitting up from her position leaning up against Hay Lin. The other girls were aroused as well and they excitedly scratched the puppy's ear.
"What did you do?" Will asked.
"I don't know. I was almost asleep, wishing I could heal her, and…I did." Will narrowed her eyes contemplatively.
"That could come in handy." Irma giggled as Sunny licked her face.
"Hey, were glad you're ok, but you don't have to drown me."