To say Ginny was stunned as Penny led her in the opposite direction as Breena was putting it mildly. She herself had mentioned the gauntlet to the girl earlier, but on some level she didn't actually think it would happen. Part of her hoped and ultimately believed they would be saved by someone long before anything took place.
But that obviously wasn't going to happen. Breena would be at the mercy of those maniacs while she escaped with the Animals. Would she ever be able to forgive herself for walking away? Would her daughter ever be able to look her in the eye again after she told her Breena's last words?
A chill ran down her spine at the thought. Addena wouldn't blame her for whatever happened to Breena, but she would always associate her mother with losing someone she loved. And she knew her daughter well enough to know their relationship would never be the same again. She would never be the same if she let this happen without trying to stop it.
"Sorry, the first group just left." A Porcupine's voice drew her from her thoughts. "We've been ready all night and we didn't want to wait too long once the guards left so... If she had been a little closer we might have been able to send her with them but she was way over there with you and..."
"She can go with the next group." Penny cut off her nervous ramble.
"No."
The Lioness frowned at the Porcupine. "Excuse me?"
"I..." The Porcupine swallowed hard as she raised her paws in a 'don't hurt me' gesture. "I didn't say anything, I swear. It was..."
"Me." Ginny finished the thought for her. "I can't do this Penny. I can't just abandon her here."
"You're not."
"Aren't I?" She challenged the big cat. "Am I doing anything to help her?" She waited half a beat for a response before saying, "That's abandoning her in my book."
"Uh..." The Porcupine pointed toward the next group of Animals sneaking away from the camp. "They're, uh..."
"We worked this out earlier." Penny ignored the quilled creature. "The others are going to make sure you get back to your house safely so..."
"I can get help." Ginny spoke over her. "But that was before I watched them dragging Breena away. Did you see how many men there are over there? By the time I get to the house, explain what's going on and try to tell someone where this camp is, it'll be too late." She looked at the Lioness beseechingly. "For both of you."
"I appreciate that you're trying to watch out for me. And I'm sure Breena does too, but we'll be fine." Penny nudged her toward the next group of Animals gathering. "Now go."
Ginny shook her head. "I can't."
Penny sighed. "But..."
"Great Oz!"
"They've spotted us!"
The Porcupine's eyes grew wide in terror. "Run!!"
All hell broke loose around them as the Animals panicked. Someone shoved past Ginny, knocking her back into Penny, who instantly pulled her against her body to keep her out of harms way.
"They're coming!" A Bear stopped next to Penny. "What do we do?"
"Yeah." The Bear's son joined them. "We're here to help."
"So are we." A couple of Dogs spoke at the same time.
"I, uh…" Penny shook her head. "I don't really know. Breena was the mastermind behind the escape plan."
"Then I say we fight." The Bear growled. "What other choice do we have if we want the others to have a chance to get away?"
"None." One of the Dogs commented before running into the group of trappers that was almost on them.
"Go." Penny tried to shove Ginny toward the quickly disappearing Animals.
"No." The older woman shook her head. "I'm staying until I know Breena is safe."
"Then stay behind me." Penny pushed Ginny back as a man rushed her.
It didn't seem real. Everywhere she looked were Animals and men and yelling and bloodshed. It was enough to make her want to curl up in a ball somewhere until it was all over. But she couldn't do that. She had to be strong and start paying closer attention if she wanted to survive to...
The clash of wood and metal behind her had her turning in time to see Breena sidestepping a man with a sword before cracking him in the back with the staff in her hands.
"What's a woman like you doing in a place like this?" Breena gave her a lopsided grin as another man with a staff starting fighting with her. "Give me a second to take care of this guy and you should have a straight shot into the woods."
Ginny opened her mouth to tell the girl she was coming with her but flinched as the staffs smashed together, knowing anything she said would be lost in the racket. So instead she watched, mesmerized by the fluid movements of both fighters. Maybe if she had been paying attention she would have seen the swordsmen getting to his knees and reaching for his weapon. But she didn't. She had no idea what was about to happen until she heard Breena cry out in pain just as she knocked her opponent out.
"No!" Penny vocally reacted before the older woman could.
Breena somehow managed to use her staff to take care of her attacker before crumpling to the ground.
"Breena!" Penny made short work of the men around her before running to her friend's side.
One of the men nearby said, "What the hell is coming out of her?!"
The older Bear wrinkled his nose. "Whatever it is, it's green."
"Green?" One of the trappers echoed. "What if it's toxic?!"
Breena looked up at Penny as she knelt next to her. "My blood is green like..."
"Your sister's skin." Penny finished for her. "Is that why you wouldn't let me see your hand when I scratched you before?"
"It's not exactly..." Breena clinched her jaw against the pain in her leg. "Normal."
"Blood?" Another trapper scowled. "Blood can't be green."
"I heard she's a witch." Another spoke up. "So it's probably some kind of potion."
"She's trying to kill us!" Yet another man panicked.
Penny raised her eyebrows as the circle of fighters around them widened considerably. "That helps."
I have to get to Bree. I have to get to Bree. I have to get to Bree.
The thought played over and over again through Addena's mind like a mantra, keeping images of Breena being hurt at bay. She couldn't think about the wound until she saw it. If she did she would get to her girlfriend with preconceived notions of how she should treat her. The last time she'd done that Bree had kissed her to keep her distracted as she pulled a piece of mirror out of her stomach and healed her. She'd been convinced she was going to die that day. But Bree hadn't given up on her and she had no intention of giving up on the witch either.
She was too deep in thought to see the tree root until her foot caught on it. And she was running too fast not to take a nasty spill.
Normally she would have laid there once she stopped rolling and let herself hurt as she took mental stock of her injuries. At the very least she would have raised her hand to her stinging cheek to try to stop the warm flow of blood she could feel on her skin. But not today. She barely hit the ground before she was back on her feet, checking to make sure she hadn't lost any of her medical supplies as she continued her mad dash to Breena.
Saving the life of the woman she loved was the only thing on her mind again as she waded into the fight.
The word 'blood' rang through Ginny's senses as she continued to stare down at Breena. The man was right. Blood couldn't be green. Yet Breena was laying there, getting paler and paler, her body starting to shake, as more and more of the fluid saturated the ground beneath her.
"What?" She snapped out of it when she heard Penny say something.
"A tourniquet." The Lioness repeated herself. "She's losing too much blood. We have to find something to stop the bleeding."
"Right." Ginny looked around, her eyes coming to rest on the swordsman's belt.
Penny frowned as the older woman leaned over the unconscious man and started pulling at his pants. "What are you doing?"
"Taking this." Ginny held the strap of leather up like a treasure.
"Perfect." Penny reached for it.
"You shouldn't still be here." Breena's voice was weak and breathless as Ginny knelt at her side opposite Penny.
"Like your in any condition to be telling anyone what to do." Ginny tried to keep her tone light, taking Breena's hand as Penny eased the belt under the girl's injured leg.
"I'm sorry." Penny resisted the urge to bite her lip when Breena hissed, hating that she was causing the girl more pain.
"Do it." Breena breathed more than said the words.
She did as she was told, quickly tightening the belt around the woman's thigh just above the freely bleeding gash. Breena closed her eyes and clinched her fists, biting off a whimper of pain as what little color was left in her cheeks faded and her body continued to shiver.
"You still with us?" Ginny questioned as she ran her hand over the girl's cold, clammy brow.
Breena barely nodded in answer.
"Mom?"
Ginny's head snapped up when she heard the all too familiar voice. "Addena!" She let go of Breena to hug her daughter as she fell to her knees next to her. "What are you doing here?!"
"That's a long story that can wait until later." Addena swallowed, trying to catch her breath. "Right now we need to concentrate on Bree."
"Addy?" Breena opened her eyes.
"Hey." Addena leaned in closer, trying not to let her emotions get the better of her as she looked down at her girlfriend.
"You're... hurt." The witch frowned. "They... hurt you."
"No." Addena pushed her back down as she tried to sit up. "I was in such a hurry to get to you I tripped."
"Liar."
Addena couldn't stop the corner of her mouth from turning up. "It's true."
Breena lifted a shaking hand to the blonde's torn cheek. "Klutz."
"Yeah." Addena put her hand over the one on her cheek. "Can't leave you alone for a day can I?"
Breena managed a weak grin. "Apparently... not."
"Don't worry. Between your healing power and my doctor's touch we'll have you as good as new in no time."
"She doesn't have her powers." Penny pointed out.
"What?" Addena was clearly shocked by this revelation.
"They gave her a potion to bind them." Ginny explained.
"Those bastards!"
"Watch your… language." Breena teased her. "There are… ladies… present." Her chuckle died in the throat as she clinched her teeth against a fresh wave of pain.
"No more talking." Addena chastised her. "You need to save your strength." She moved to examine the wound. "And I need to be able to see this better."
"Here." Ginny reached for the sword laying nearby. "You can cut her pant leg with..." The sound of Addena using her hands to rip Breena's pants cut her off. She quickly dropped the sword. "Never mind."
Her words were lost on Addena as she studied the deep gash running diagonally from just above Breena's right knee to the middle of her thigh. "The blade must have nicked the artery. That's why she's losing so much blood." She looked up at Penny. "Did you think of the tourniquet? No offense to you Mom, but you've never been very good in a medical situation."
"Tell me about it." Ginny agreed. "That's why I was so shocked when you said you wanted to go to medical school."
"I've read a few books on medicine." Penny shrugged.
"You bought us some precious time." Addena gave her a grateful look.
Penny nodded. "What else can I do to help?"
Addena slipped her medical bag off her shoulder with one hand, keeping the other pressed against Breena's leg. "There's a bottle of alcohol in there."
"Getting me... drunk?" Breena quipped.
"Not quite." Addena answered. "I'm going to use it to clean out your wound so I can get a better look at it. Now shut up and save your strength."
"Addena!" Ginny reprimanded her.
"It's... all right." Breena grinned. "I'm... used to... it."
"Here." Penny handed Addena the bottle of alcohol.
"Thanks." She took it before leaning in close to Breena again, her heart hitching in her chest when she saw she was having a hard time keeping her eyes open. "This is going to hurt like hell."
"I... know."
Addena gave her a quick peck on the lips. "Stay with me Bree."
She didn't wait for a response before pouring the alcohol over the wound, telling herself Breena was just another patient as the woman's back arched in agony. She started to reach for her medical bag only to have Penny hand her an already threaded needle.
"I read about stitching too." Penny explained.
Under different circumstances Addena might have acknowledged the comment in some way but she was on autopilot. That's how she operated best as a doctor. Just let the training take over so none of the outside emotions could interfere. And the Unnamed God only knew she was due for a major breakdown once she was through with Breena.
She quickly dumped the rest of the alcohol over her hands and the needle to sanitize them before starting the task of finding the tear in Breena's artery. Once she did she mechanically made the small, even stitches she had perfected while she was still in school.
"I... I don't think she's breathing." Ginny stammered.
Addena continued the task at hand, oblivious to the comment as she finished with the artery and moved on to stitching the wound closed.
"Yes she..." Penny looked down at her friend. "Sweet Oz you're right! She's not!"
"She's..." Ginny choked on a sob. "She's dead."
That got Addena's attention. "What?"
"She stopped breathing." Penny had tears in her eyes.
"No." Addena tried to disagree with her, her heart sinking when she saw the feline was right. "No!" She put her fingers against Breena's neck, paying no mind to the bloody mess she was making of her love. "Damn it Bree!" She cursed when she didn't feel a pulse. "You said you would stay with me!"
"Addena..." Ginny tearfully reached for her daughter.
"She's not gone." Addena avoided her. "She's not!" She double checked for a pulse before tilting Breena's head back and breathing into her mouth.
"What are you doing?" Ginny was obviously shocked by her actions. "Stop that this instant!"
Penny got up to grab her. "It's a resuscitation method."
"What?!" Ginny couldn't believe what she was seeing as Addena straightened up and started using both of her hands to pump on Breena's chest.
"She's trying to help her." Penny explained.
"It looks more like torture!" Ginny countered.
Addena didn't pay any attention to either of them as she continued with another round of breaths and compressions. This would work. It had worked for Glinda and it would work for Breena. It had to. She couldn't lose Breena. Not now. Not like this.
"Addena." Penny spoke gently as she put her paws over the woman's hands. "It's too late."
"No it's not!" Addena yelled.
"It's been a couple of minutes now." Penny pointed out. "She's gone."
"No." Addena shook her head. "No!"
"I'm sorry Dena." Ginny put her arms around her daughter. "I'm so sorry."
Addena stared down at a motionless Breena through tear blurred eyes. Her worst fears had come true.
She'd lost Breena forever.