Shade's POV:
The sunlight filtering through wherever I am hits my face, effectively waking me up. I blink my eyes open, squinting at the offending sunlight. I try to push myself up only to fall back with a gasp. The pain is still raging from my injuries. I glance around to see that I am in Buck's cave. There is no one else around. I keep trying to get up, but it hurts too much. That's why I just lay back down. I need to rest. The pain keeps telling me the same thing.
I hear some rocks shift outside. I look to see Buck entering the cave. "Hey, Buck," I whisper hoarsely.
"Shade, are ya alright?" Buck asks while sitting beside me.
"I…I'll be fine. Still hurts, though. Quite a bit, actually. Enough about that, though. I'd rather forget about the pain. Can…can I ask you something important?" I start.
"Sure. Anythin'," Buck replies.
"Did…did my mom die quickly? She…she didn't feel any pain when she died…did she?" I ask, looking down at my lap.
"No…she didn't. Looked like a clean cut…oh, sorry…" Buck apologizes, obviously seeing me wince at the 'clean cut' comment he made.
"It's…it's fine…" I reply. I bite my lip and look away from Buck, trying to keep my tears from falling. Buck puts his paw on my shoulder in a comforting gesture. I take deep breaths and manage to compose myself.
I look up at Buck. He has a look of sorrow on his face. "'m sorry 'bout yer loss. Ya still won't cry, even though you're obviously upset?" Buck asks.
"No. I won't cry until Whisper is safe. I can't let my feelings get in the way of saving her!" I growl.
"We'll bring her back," Buck replies.
"It's my fault. If I had stopped him, she'd never have been in danger…" I look down, an expression of guilt on my face.
"Listen, it's no' yer fault. Ya couldn't 'ave stopped 'im no matter 'ow 'ard ya tried. It's no' yer fault," Buck lays his paw on my forehead.
I slowly nod my head. "O…okay…" I mumble.
"Good. Now, if you're up ta 't, we can leave now ta get my daughters back," Buck suggests.
"Yes. Let's go," I agree. I try to get up again. This time, despite the pain, I succeed. Though, I can still barely stand upright. Buck takes my left arm and wraps it over his shoulders while he holds me up using his right arm. He helps me walk outside. There, I see Whisper's mother, her extended family, and all of their friends. They all look worried out of their fur for the sake of the girls. I get that. I'm beyond worried for Whisper's safety. I love her.
Taisley comes over to us. "When will we leave?" She asks.
"Taisley, ya should stay wi' Talo an' th' kits," Buck argues.
"No, Buck! Not when our daughters are in danger somewhere! I'm going and you won't persuade me otherwise!" Taisley argues back.
Buck sighs. "Alright, but I don't like 't. I just want ya ta be safe."
"I know you do, Buck. Don't worry. I'll be careful," Taisley promises.
"I know ya will. Now, let's start makin' plans. Shade, wot did ya see when Thomas 'ad ya?" Buck asks me.
"We…we were in a cage in a chamber. It was a tunnel system. Thomas chased me out of there so fast, but I might be able to recognize it from the outside," I try to explain.
"Alright, then. We'll set out immediately. Mom, dad, Marie, an' Timothy, come wi' us. Lily, Caleb, Raven, an' Kaitlyn, take th' kits ta th' herd an' protect them there. Now, then, let's go!" Buck speaks.
We all begin to follow him. In my case, I am holding onto Buck. I can't stand on my own just yet due to the pain. I'm limping beside Buck instead. We come up to a hill. Despite the small size of it, the hill looks more like a mountain when all my pain is taken into account. As we walk, I happen to step onto a rock with my right footpaw. My footpaw turns inward and I fall to the ground with a yelp.
Buck kneels beside me. "Are ya alright?" He asks.
I can't answer right away. My ankle is killing me. I take a look at it. My ankle is bleeding heavily. I can see the bone protruding from my ankle. It's obviously broken. The sight nearly makes me sick. I look up at Buck. "It…it's broken…I…ahhh!" I scream as waves of pain torment my ankle. I curl up on the ground, whimpering from the pain. It took a while, but I've reached my limits.
Buck strokes my forehead. "Don't worry. I'll 'elp ya," Buck whispers softly to me.
I nod my head. "O…okay…" I whimper. Buck takes some water from a nearby pond and washes my ankle with it. He then bandages it up.
After my ankle is wrapped, Buck places his paw on my forehead. "We haven't been travellin' far. I'll see if Diego can come along ta carry ya," Buck offers.
I nod my head. Buck races off towards the herd's home. He returns a moment later atop Diego's back. Diego stops beside me. Buck hops off Diego's back. Buck then picks me up, mindful of my injuries, and places me on Diego's back. Buck hops up beside me. "It'll be alright. Sleep, now. We can make our way ta th' dino world without ya bein' awake," Buck whispers.
"But…I want to do more!" I argue.
"You'll get yer chance, but ya need ta rest in order ta heal. Please, just get some sleep," Buck places a paw on my forehead.
I sigh and nod my head while yawning. "Fine. I'll try to sleep," I reply. I close my eyes while trying to ignore the pain. After a while of trying, I manage to fall into the blissful realm of sleep.