-SLASH-
Another thorn cut threw her right arm this time. At least five large slashes covered each arm now. Her clothes were ripped. But she couldn't give up now. That was her horse, her mother's horse. It was special to her. Every inch of her ached.
"Diamond…" she gasped.
She reached a clearing and found Diamond.
"Diamond!" she smiled and ran to her. The horse looked at her as if to say sorry. "It's okay girl. Come on, let's go back." Rey's ankle was swollen now. She panted and her vision was blurry. She swung her leg over Diamond's back. "Let's go girl." Rey squeezed her calves together and the horse trotted forward.
Rey's face was now dug into Diamond's hair. Her head hung low.
Kai ran into the clearing where the lake was and saw Diamond crossing the bridge with Reyanne on her back. The horse looked at him curiously but walked on. He noticed Reyanne was limp.
"Reyanne?" Kai looked up worried.
The brunette lifted her head slightly. "Kai…" her smile was weak. Her eyes closed and she went limp. Her body slipped off the horse's back.
"Reyanne!" Kai caught her before she hit the ground. She may have been a little taller than him but she was still able to be carried. Looking at her many cuts and bruises he wondered how she had held on for so long.
Kai grabbed Diamond's reins and pulled her along with Reyanne in his arms. He entered Claire's farm. Claire was already there, about to get on Cyclone. When she saw him she jumped off and ran to him.
"You found them!" Claire gasped.
"Actually, Reyanne found her but she collapsed when I found them." Kai handed Claire the reins. "Tie Diamond up somewhere then meet me at the clinic."
"That isn't necessary." Reyanne spoke up in a weak voice.
"Rey!" Claire looked at her friend, "Of course it's necessary, we have to get you to the clinic quickly!"
"I'll be fine, you can put me down pretty boy."
"Reyanne that's ridiculous. I'm taking you to the clinic whether you like it or not." Kai said roughly.
"I can manage, honest." She pleaded.
"No you can't. Accept the help. You're all scratched up."
Rey exhaled deeply. "Heh. Alright." She smirked. "I guess being carried by a good looking goofball will be nice." Although it was obvious she was having trouble breathing her voice had a tone of cheerfulness mixed with sarcasm.
"It's very sexy goofball to you, Princess."
"Hmm," she laugh-scoffed, "Princess, that's what my…" she had passed out in his arms.
Claire and Kai stepped into the clinic a few minutes later. Rey would have to stay the night; the sun had gone down already.
Trent stepped out of the exam room. "Rey will be fine. She's suffering from exhaustion, blood loss and a slight concussion. Her strength amazes me."
"Thanks sweetie," Claire kissed Trent. She loved being able to do so in public.
"It's my job." He smiled and hugged her.
"If that's what being married is like I don't think I want to." Kai teased.
"That's not what it seemed like," Claire put her hands on her hips. "You seemed pretty into Rey."
"Not true. And why do you call her that? It makes her sound like a guy." He crossed his legs and sat back in one of the waiting room chairs.
"Wow, people weren't kidding when they said you were a player." Trent interjected.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Kai looked up at his friend and narrowed his eyes.
"You're dating Popuri and you hit on Rey, what do you think it's supposed to mean?"
"Wow Claire, you weren't kidding when you said Trent could be a pain in the ass." Even though he was directing his words toward the blonde Kai didn't shift his eyes away from the doctor.
"You said what?" Trent turned to his wife.
"That was a long time ago. Trent," Claire looked behind her to make sure Elli was still inside taking care of Rey. "Popuri dumped Kai. Be a little sensitive will you?"
"Oh. Jeez, I feel stupid-"
"Yeah no kidding." Kai spat.
"Sorry Kai, I didn't know. I take back what I said."
He sighed, "It's okay. I did have a record of being bad."
"If you do like Rey I suggest you go for it. She's a fine woman. I'm sure she wouldn't mind going out with a younger man."
"Woah woah woah, wait. How old is this chick?"
"Didn't we tell you?" Claire looked to Trent who shrugged then back at Kai. "She's twenty one."
"Wow, really? I could have sworn she was nineteen."
"So, what do you think of her?"
"She seems nice." Kai looked away to hide his blush.
"Uhm Doctor?" Elli stepped outside with a slight blush on her face. "Do we have any other patient robes?"
"No, the only one we have is inside, can you find it?" Trent focused his attention on his nurse.
"Yes. But well, Reyanne seems to be a bit big for the robe."
"Oh come on, it's not that small. It sorta fits me big." Claire laughed.
"Claire, she's not kidding." Rey's voice came from behind the aqua curtains.
"Rey sweetie, just step outside and let's see how small it really is."
The woman stepped out into the waiting room barefoot. The robe was indeed tight on her. It hung about seven inches above her knees, slightly shorter than a miniskirt. The cloth tugged at her chest and hips. Rey blushed a deep shade of red as she walked out.
With her eyes wide, Claire pushed Trent to the floor behind the counter. She turned to cover Kai's eyes but it was too late. He had his hand over his nose and his cheeks were crimson. For that reason Claire had no idea how Kai could still be stupid enough to utter the next words,
"I think it looks great," Oh yeah, blood loss. "You look hot. Hey Elli, anyway to make the robe tighter?" Definitely blood loss.
"I swear to God, pretty boy if my hands didn't have this many scratches I'd go over there and pound your face in!" Rey yelled infuriated.
"Rey, let's go get you in some new clothes." Elli pushed Rey back inside the waiting room.
"You know, despite my height I feel often close to the ground recently." Trent looked up at the ceiling. "Is she back inside?"
"Sorry honey." Claire helped Trent up.
"Anyway, here's some money." He handed Claire his credit card, "Buy her some clothes but please don't put me in debt. You should be in the city and back before the last boat to Mineral Town leaves the city."
Before Claire took his card Kai spoke up. "It's okay Trent. I'll buy her the clothes, come on Claire I don't know much about women's fashion other than underwear."
Later that night Trent stood at the dock staring into the night sky. Claire and Kai stepped off the boat and Trent carried his very tired wife to their house. The doctor gave Kai the keys to the clinic so he could drop off the clothes.
"Reyanne?" Kai stepped into the check-up room and found her sleeping. This must have been how Trent had felt when he saw Claire. His face flushed, his heart pounded and his eyes were glued to her face. To him, she was a thing of beauty. Unfortunately her body was covered in cuts and bruises. It pained him to see her hurt like that. "Princess, I brought you some clothes. I'll leave them here and you can try them on to see which you like. I'll wait outside."
He stepped outside and sat in one of the waiting room chairs. His eyes began to get heavy as he stared at the clock's hands move. Soon, his eyes closed and he fell into a slumber.
Around four in the morning Rey woke up. She sat up and looked at the bag of clothes. Standing up she took out some shirts, pants, shorts, skirts etc. and looked them over before choosing a weeks worth of outfits and placing the rest back in the bag. She hadn't really chosen a lot; she wasn't much of a girl of fashion.
Rey put on a light turquoise button up, a nice brown vest which she left open, and a pair of tan colored pants. The brown work boots Claire had picked out were perfect. Comfortable, stylish and durable. Two pouches made a great alternative to a rucksack and a green bandana around her neck added the final touch. But she didn't want her hair getting in the way. She looked around and found a hat it was plain white. She didn't mind it but if she could get her hands on some spray paint it would look amazing. Once she was finished changing she stepped outside and to her surprise found a sleeping Kai.
His head was leaning on his left shoulder as he slept. He looked so peaceful Rey had even forgotten the crude words he had said. She went back inside to grab a blanket and sat next to him. She let her head rest on his shoulder and covered them both with the large blanket. Subconsciously, Kai shifted his head on to Rey's. They slept like that for the rest of the night.