Greetings my friends Here are two new chapters. An apology and a short note are at the end of the next chapter. Thank you so much for your encouragement.

The Man Under The Mask

Part 9

Sawyer turned sharply at Kate's alarming scream, causing a rush of hot pain to explode in his side. The white wolf leaped and Sawyer's eyes widened, his hands instinctively rose to his face trying to shield it from the coming attack, but to his and Kate's puzzlement, the wolf leaped past them and strode carefully forward to face the other wolf.

Sawyer swallowed a sudden lump that rose to his throat. The two wolves growled dangerously, circling each other, totally ignoring the two humans that stood near.

Sawyer stepped away, one careful step at a time and finally reached Kate's side. Kate eagerly grabbed his hand, clutching it tightly. He looked up at her and saw the relief clear in her face. He managed to send her a weak reassuring smiled.

This time they did not run, Sawyer was too exhausted to try and Kate had no intention of leaving his side, so they carefully walked away.

After a while they stopped to catch their breaths.

"Hell, this day of surprises never ends, huh Freckles? Barbarians straight out of a comic book, horses and wolves, what else could a man ask for?" Breathing was becoming difficult and he struggled with each word.

Kate gently slid her arms off him and stepped away. After making sure Sawyer stayed on his feet, she turned her attention to their surroundings, trying to find a track they could follow.

"Find anything?"

Kate ignored him as she kept scanning the ground. A crisp whiff of breeze rocked the trees and sent chills through Sawyer's already feverish body.

"There," she told him as she knelt to examine something on the ground, "see that?"

"What?" But Sawyer didn't get the chance to hear a reply, for in an instant everything changed. Sawyer had a second to hear the approaching assault before he felt it. Arms grabbed him and pushed him gruffly to the ground. He hit the ground with force, sending shocks of pain through his whole body, the weapon he carried fell harmlessly to the ground.

"Sawyer!" Kate screamed his name and he tried to straighten himself and fight back – tried to protect her, but his own strength betrayed him. He watched helplessly as Kate was pushed and restrained in front of his eyes. He seethed with anger and desperation. "Let her go, you worthless bastards!"

His frustration and anger fueled a hidden strength he didn't know he possessed. He kicked one of the men restraining him and managed to raise himself half way, only to be pushed back roughly.

His head hit the stony ground hard, dazing him. When he regained some of his bearing, a man was hovering over him. Sawyer squinted at him and the man smiled evilly.

"If you want the woman back, follow the wolf a week from today, and come alone."

Sawyer frowned quizzically. The arms released him, and he lay on the ground, trying to summon enough strength to get up. Unfortunately, his efforts failed and darkness enveloped him. He blinked rapidly trying desperately to hold on to consciousness. Kate needed him.

The last thing he heard was her scream, before he finally lost his battle with consciousness.

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