Love Struck Delusion
Chapter 187 – Am I really alive?
Pepper's POV, about an hour later.
"Ahhhhh...ughhhhh...ahhhhh...where...where am I?" I asked myself in utter confusion. As the words left my mouth I felt something pressing against the right side of my head. Gently I turned over to widen my eyes. Molly's head tucked right into my eyes as soon she opened her small eyes to see me staring right at her with a blank and confused gaze. My body remained still as she stood up to bark.
"Braf! Braf! Braf!"
With her voice going off I looked to my other side to Cody making his way over to me. My rifle in his hands as he rushed my side to state.
"Thank god your okay. Can you hear me?"
Keeping myself down I replied with a dry mouth.
"Yeah...I can hear you. What...?" In confusion I began to taste blood in my mouth. It was dry and without even thinking I turned on my right side to reach up for my mouth. The second my hand touched my lip I felt my heart stop when I remembered my arm just before this. In a loss for words and with chills invading in time I realized my arm was actually there. It was in one piece and not missing. With my body unable to function from this. I looked passed my hand to see the snow just under where it and I had been. The snow was a foot out and drenched in my blood. In a slight panic I tried to push myself backwards across the ground. Cody got a hold behind me as he urged.
"You're safe! You're safe Pepper. You're okay. Trust me."
Looking back to the fox I questioned with fear in my tone.
"What happened? How am I...?" Cody smiled as I had no clue what had happened. All I got back from the guy afterward was.
"Raptor and I got to you when that rock came down. You got crushed."
With my heart racing on Cody added with that wide smile.
"It was like some shit out of a cartoon. You got a fucking piano dropped on you."
"How am I alive? My arm? Cody I saw it! What happened!?"
Placing his hand on my arm Cody replied while lowering my weapon onto my lap.
"Raptor and I got the rock off you and he managed to save your life. You passed out early on but it's okay cause he managed to save you before you lost too much blood."
Now completely spent I questioned.
"Raptor saved me? How the fuck...? Cody my fucking arm was off! How the fuck did he save me from that!? And that rock! That rock is heavy enough to crush a car! I should be fucking dead!"
"But your not!" He replied back with some laughter to his voice as I began to look around. With my eyes soon going to my left I widened my eyes when I saw the man in question sitting in front of a large oak tree. A rag on the outside of his mouth and his eyes closed. He was covered in some blood and without even thinking I said in confusion.
"Raptor?"
The man didn't move as I said his name from maybe twenty yards away. With Cody's hand still on my side he urged.
"Give him a few minutes. He's been trying to focus. He hurt himself pretty bad to help you."
I went silent as I tried to stand. Cody helped me along the way as I couldn't unlock my eyes from the man. And as I stood I noticed a pretty large pile of blood next to his left side in the snow. Taking a step forward I said his name again.
"Raptor?"
This time the hedgehog looked up from his slumber. His left eye was the only one opened for us to see as I took my care to approach his front. As I got closer he muttered though a pair of blood soaked teeth.
"You're awake. How do you feel?"
I was at a complete loss for how to react or for what to say. All I could reply when I reached his legs was.
"I'm okay. What about you?"
Closing his eye again Raptor replied back.
"I'm okay too. Tired and a little lightheaded. But I'm okay."
Like I just said I didn't know what to do now. My eyes looked towards where my arm had been severed and just remained there as the jacket itself that I wore had been also cut in two. The sleeve was dangling and as I went to touch it Raptor reopened his left eye to order.
"Let's get going back."
Both Cody and I panicked as he then went to stand. The tree had to support him and once he was comfortable he looked back at me to state.
"This isn't enjoyable."
Reaching down to tuck his gut Cody and I watched as the man coughed up a chunk of blood onto the snow in front of him. In a panic Cody got to his side to urge.
"Let me help you."
Getting under his arm the fox adjusted his hat and looked to me as I stood there in complete disarray. Taking a few steps forward it was clear Raptor wasn't in a good condition. His legs were buckling and Cody was the one supporting the both of them. As I stood there Raptor's eye looked back to me to mutter through a voice I knew was pain.
"I know you must be confused. But we can't talk about what happened here. It's been an hour since you passed out and we might have company coming. Can you do me a favor Pepper and lead us home?"
With my rifle in my hands I could only keep myself staring at him as he was trying to delay me from asking about what the fuck happened to me just then. How could I focus on anything else? I tried to ask myself as Cody shifted their bodies to look at me and add.
"I got him. Someone needs to get us back and you're a tracker right? Think you can do it?"
It took a second but I nodded my head and replied.
"I...I...? Yeah I can do it."
"Thank you." Replied Raptor as it took everything in my power to not ask questions. But I knew in the back of my mind that he was right. All this blood would attract attention if a pack of wolves was nearby. We had to move regardless of my emotions. So turning back towards the edge of the hill we once climbed I ordered softly and with some hesitation in my step.
"This way. Come on."
The two of them followed and Molly kept herself at my feet. My eyes focused down on her for a second as she looked up at me to bark.
"Braf!"
I had to stop as I heard from behind me from Raptor.
"You saved her by doing what you did Pepper."
Looking back to the man I replied.
"What I did was reckless. And I don't even understand why I did that in the first place. I almost...I almost got myself killed. And I don't fucking understand how I didn't!"
With my voice being raised Raptor replied as Cody helped him forward.
"Don't try to understand any of that right now. We can talk when we get back to the lodge. And even if you don't want to hear it...thank you. Not just from me. But from her." He said as he looked to Molly who was right in front of me now pawing at my hind leg.
I was out of my element. I was not suppose to be this emotional. Not after everything I've been through. But god damn it what else can I do? I asked myself again as Raptor urged.
"She wants to ride you."
Widening my eyes I looked over to the hedgehog as he pushed off Cody to stand his own ground before me. With his one eye still shut he urged.
"Get down for her. She won't bite. Come on."
With my eyes struggling to leave his, I slowly lowered myself down like he said and without missing a beat Molly ran behind me and jumped right up onto my back. I suddenly felt an amazing amount of joy as this was really happening. This little girl was riding me like I was a swing. Her back legs hanging on my back as her small head licked the right side of my neck and face. As I stood back up Raptor stated with a smile.
"She trusts you. You saved her life. No matter how you feel about it you made a best friend doing what you did for her."
"I...?" I couldn't speak. I cut myself off as Raptor gently reached out to place his hand on my shoulder. Up till recently I would have cut that hand off. But now I was lost on how to feel about him. I had no idea what happened. Was this all dream? I wondered as he urged.
"Let's go."
Nodding my head, I refocused and began to lead the way back to the lodge. But before I could press forward I looked to where I once laid to pick up my hat which had been knocked off my head from the incident. Once I got it back on my head I refocused and did what I was told.
Raptor's POV, Twenty minutes later.
Cody stayed with me the whole walk back. And for good reason. I was getting myself together but I still had blood coming up from time to time. It was much worse before, but at least now I could function on my own for the most part. But my body was still numb in some joints. I knew I needed to rest. If I was by myself I would just sleep in the snow. Fuck it at this point as we neared the lodge.
Pepper on the other hand was keeping to herself mostly. Occasionally she would talk to Molly who hung on her as she did me. Just simple things really, but I knew I had to figure out how to break the news to her about what happened. Even more so I was concerned about Zeta. If she was awake by now and she saw all the blood on her sister she might lose her shit. But there really wasn't anything I could do to stop that from happening. I'd have to bite the bullet on this one. Fuck if this wasn't getting any easier.
With the lodge coming into view Pepper asked with a soft voice.
"What about Zeta and the others?"
"What do you mean?" Cody wondered by that question as Pepper stopped to look at us. Keeping calm she replied.
"My coat is red Irish. Clearly not by design. Not to mention this." She said as she showed us the part of her arm where the rock cut through. That part of the coat was just hanging on as it was no secret if she took it off it would be two separate pieces. With Cody looking to me I replied while keeping my right eye shut.
"Just...Aghhhkkk!"
With more of my blood coming up, I coughed it up into my sleeve and went on to finish what I started. Even with the two of them looking to me in serious concern for my condition.
"Just let me see your coat."
Slowly Pepper looked to Molly to urge.
"Get down."
She obeyed and once she was off Pepper took off her coat for me. As to be expected the sleeve came off with it and I approached on my own to take them from her. As I did I looked at her chest. Her shirt was just as bad. With her coat in my arms I mumbled.
"Shit."
Pepper knew there was no way through this without being noticed. But as I thought for an answer I remembered my cloak and began to undo it from around my neck. Once it was off I handed it to her to order.
"Put it on."
With her eyes glancing me over I waited there till she decided to take it from my hand. As she soon went to get in it I took the chance to find a place to hide this. With more then enough places to put it I took care to slowly walk over to a tree trunk that was laid over in the snow maybe ten meters away. Cody followed as I tucked it inside and stated.
"That should do it."
"What's the plan?" He asked me next as I looked back to him after making sure the coat was hidden to reply.
"We just walk in and act like nothing much happened. If Zeta is up we need to talk to her."
"About what?" Pepper asked in confusion as I gave her this look. A look which had my own confusion in it as I wondered how to put my next sentence. After a few seconds I replied.
"About the truth. The truth about me."
"What about you?" She then asked as I urged while coming back to her side.
"Just wait till we get inside. But do me a favor and keep yourself together till I get us alone. Zeta already knows and it'll make more sense if she's there to hear me explain it."
Pepper was lost completely for what I was talking about and I wasn't going to wait this time for confirmation. I needed to sit down or at the least I needed a drink. So walking by the wolf I started the small hike over to the main gate. Before the guards could see me I wiped my mouth and face with a handful of snow and shook off the excess to shout.
"Anyone home?!"
The same two men I met before turned to see me. Together they replied.
"Nice to see you back so soon commander. Did you bag another bear out there you three?"
With Pepper and Cody coming up behind me as I walked into the main yard I replied while keeping pace for the front door to the lodge.
"Wasn't much out there to be honest. All that racket from before must have made most of the animals shift further south of the mountain. We did all we could but rabbits aren't worth the time."
"You got that right." The one guard replied as he looked to Pepper who was clearly still shaken up. You could tell by how she was holding herself. Molly ran between us as I got the door open and began to walk in.
As we entered I wasn't really surprised by who was there enjoying a good breakfast. Her eyes looked up to smile wide as Pepper and Cody came in behind me. Staying at the table Zeta asked while taking a bite of what appeared to be eggs on her plate.
"You guys could have woken me up. How'd it go?"
Shutting the door behind us I replied while approaching the table with Pepper who stuck by my side.
"It ahhhhh...it could have gone better."
Zeta switched her view from me to her sister as Pepper slowly undid my cloak. Then you could see she knew something happened. Pepper however kept herself calm and quiet as I said it bluntly to Zeta who I knew was waiting to question.
"We had a small problem."
Lowering her fork Zeta then asked in confusion.
"What happened? Pep what happened to you? We're you attacked?"
Pepper stayed back a few feet in silence as she didn't really know how to say it. But I did and first thing is first I looked to Zeta to ask.
"Where's Roman and Blitz?"
Standing up she replied while approaching her sister.
"Roman went out for a security check and Blitz is in the pool."
"Okay good." I said back as I watched as she got to her sister's side to reach for her shirt. I kept quiet with Cody for a few seconds as she leaned in to sniff her. Instantly after recognizing the smell she questioned while looking up into her sister's eyes.
"Blood?"
"Yeah." I replied as Zeta broke her eye contact to face me and ask.
"From what?"
Keeping things straight with her I replied while raising my arm to my mouth.
"We went out to take Molly hunting. Everything was going well for the most part. We got a few rabbits and then Molly managed to track and elk. We went after it and it took the three of us on a trip around the mountain. Pepper was in front and she knew Molly was getting away from us."
"So I used my venom a little and ran ahead after her." Pepper herself stated as Zeta looked back at her. Pepper held her ground and went on.
"The elk was pinned in a corner and when I managed to take the shot to bring it down it must have disrupted the mountain a little with it's weight. Cause after I brought it down the hill above started to come down. She...she was in danger and I ran in to try and save her."
Pepper's voice was trailing off as I took over. While keeping Cody's rag on my mouth at the ready for the next bad cough.
"She did save her. But she wasn't fast enough to get out of the way before the hill came down on top of her."
Widening her eyes Zeta then asked.
"So what happened? Why all the blood? Was it from the elk?" Her eyes went back to her sister as she just shook her head to reply.
"No."
Now Zeta refocused on me to question.
"What happened then?"
Lowering the rag I replied.
"A boulder came down the hill and landed right on her."
Instantly the wolf panicked and jumped to look back at Pepper who now looked for a reaction. I just kept on by stating.
"Cody and I had a front row seat. By the time we reached her the rock had crushed her ribs and punctured her lungs. Basically it caved in her chest."
Zeta was silent and still as Pepper and her eyed one another. Cody came to my side to offer me a new rag.
"Thank you." I told him as I took it and went on to say to the pair of wolves.
"The rock also snapped her right arm off. She...she was awake to see it. Right Pepper?" I asked her as she looked down and towards the arm as Zeta took a step back to nod her head. I knew she was putting pieces together cause she was calming down.
"She passed out shortly after and Cody and I got the rock off her. It...aauuuhk!"
The three of them looked back to me as this cough caught me off guard. Blood came right up as Zeta was the most concerned by coming right up to me. I needed her as I almost stumbled off my feet. Thankfully she got me stable by taking my arms and asked.
"Are you hurt?"
Nodding my head I replied while getting back my own feet.
"Yeah...auuughhkk! Auuuughkk! Fuck me." I mumbled as I was still coughing. My friends all had their eyes on me still as I tried to refocus and finish saying what I was saying.
"I did my best. But it took more out of me then anything before this. Twice as bad when I helped you." I directed to Zeta as she still had her hands on me.
"You saved me. You didn't help. You saved me. That's more. That's something bigger. You saved her too?" She asked as I nodded and locked eyes with Pepper who was still looking completely lost by what was going on.
"I think so. Are you okay Pepper?"
Nodding once she replied.
"I feel fine."
I smiled slightly as Zeta then asked.
"Are you okay Raptor?"
I shook my head to reply.
"I don't know. Probably not."
With that I took a step back from her. Her hand returned to her side as I switched the subject back to what was clearly important now.
"I don't know how to tell her."
Zeta instantly looked back to her sister who questioned.
"Tell me what? What the hell is going on between you two?"
Zeta gave her this confused smile as I went silent. Cody on the other hand replied.
"It's not something you can really expect someone to understand just from words Raptor."
I kept quiet as Zeta questioned next.
"He knows?"
I nodded and replied.
"I told him last night before you guys came to the bar. He knows."
Zeta now looked to Cody as Pepper asked again but this time approaching us.
"What are you fucking talking about!?"
With the three of us looking to her Zeta decided to be the one to say it. Or at least start it by saying.
"Raptor isn't what you think he is Pep."
"What do mean?" She then asked as she stepped next to her. The pair locked eyes as Zeta replied.
"He's...? Raptor is...?"
"He's what!?" She asked back with a loud and annoyed tone as Zeta kept herself positioned to reply.
"He's a god."
mT Shadow.