I'd like to give another huge thanks to Spirit Kiss for the reviews. Don't worry folks, this might be the end of them on this planet but it's not the end of this story.
We were so close to the final part of the deal. If we could make it out of this cave and down to the skiff we would be free of this planet forever. It was getting hard to focus, the sounds outside growing even though we were hidden behind the rocks. Maybe that was the problem. We were hiding. I had no doubt that, if the time came, I could killed as many of those fucking creatures as possible to get at least Jack out of here. Fear permeated the area around all of us and I knew that the other survivors were afraid.
They had no reason to trust Riddick, no reason to know that the man would actually get us out of this mess. I wanted to believe it myself, and a part of me did. The other part of me was terrified that we were just going to all die, even the big evil himself. Right then I didn't have the time to soothe their fears. If they didn't understand now that the two of us would do whatever we could to save them, they never would.
Leaning my head back against the rocks, all I could do was wait. Riddick would get back to us as soon as he could, rushing him wouldn't work. We still had a lot of creatures between us and it, but if we focused we could make it. Closing my eyes, I tried to get some rest. No one should ever have to run like this. From the moment I escaped Butcher Bay I'd been running. I should have been able to get sleep in the cryo tube but I didn't. I haven't managed to get any sleep since the night before I left the Bay.
As my eyes closed, I tried to figure out the time that this planet ran on. How long as an hour? How long had we actually been here? It felt like hours, but was it days? With three suns there was a lot of heat but not a lot of time. How long was a year here? Was it a year like in the rest of the 'verse? Did one year here equate to four day somewhere else? These were the questions that ran through my head. It wasn't even that it mattered. Time was relative, wasn't it? A part of me wondered if we had even been gone long enough for anyone to start missing us?
None of us knew how long it would take before the bugs in the bottle would stop glowing, probably when they died, but we didn't know how long that would be. As each moment, passed I grew a bit more calm. While we might not exactly be in the best situation panic wasn't going to help. No. I needed to stay calm if I expected Jack to handle all of this. She needed someone that was a strong role-model and I knew it wasn't me. Slowly I opened my eyes and looked at the remaining survivors. There, crowded in the small cave, adults and children alike huddled as if this was our last ray of hope.
Abu Al-Walid was talking to his children in Arabic, trying to calm their nerves. Since the last time, he'd talked to them. Convinced them not to go running off again. Shazza was watching me, studying me as if she was trying to understand more about me. This wasn't exactly a time for us to relax, but maybe if we could actually learn more about the others we wouldn't be so willing to turn on them. Jack was settled into my side, her head resting against my shoulder as the boys glanced between myself and the body next to mine.
I knew that everyone had heard the sound of Fry's neck snapping against the rocks, they probably all wanted to ask me why she was dead but none of them did. Maybe later, when we all made it off this planet we could have that discussion. I knew that they only viewed myself and Riddick as a threat. If it wasn't for the fact that they all knew they didn't stand a chance on their own of getting out of here... I was sure they would have already turned on me. The silence inside the cave was driving me crazy. At least we could talk or something.
"I can almost taste the scorn on the air. Do any of you have any idea what it's like to grow up in a prison? No I don't mean committing a crime and watching yourself getting sentenced. I mean, being born and raised inside a Slam with no one on the outside trying to get you out?"
All eyes turned towards me as they tried to process my words. Maybe that was the problem. I was trying too hard to get them to understand. Each of us had skeletons in our closets, things that made us different from everyone else. Did anyone even care that someone's past could very well shape the way they acted in the future? To me, it mattered. I wanted to know why Shazza left her life of wealth behind. I wanted to know why the Imam was chosen to lead the pilgrimage when he was so gullible. I wondered if it was part of his religion, to always try to see the best in people, even when the evil was staring you in the face. I wanted to know why Jack had snuck aboard the ship, not really knowing where she was headed.
Running a hand through my hair, wishing for a moment that I had a holder to pull it back with, I thought about what else to say. My whole life had been spent living in caves and darkness, inside the quarters that houses dangerous criminals. It was kill or be killed from the moment I was born but did that make me evil? I thought I wasn't evil, I wouldn't even put Riddick in the category of evil either. We were survivors, animals, runners. We escaped the fate that we didn't accept and worked to shape our own.
"I might be a killer, but you have nothing to fear from me and you don't have anything to fear from Riddick. Not unless you purposely make yourself a target. Each of us have things to hide, reasons for being on the Hunter-Gratzner and we have reasons for still being alive. In truth, I don't think that Johns did any of you any favors by only telling you half-truths. Yes, Rididck is an escaped convict. I can't think of a single slam that has kept him locked up for long. He likes being free, most animals do. Yes. He is a killer, but you don't know anything about his targets. Us, convicts, I mean, we kill to keep ourselves alive. My first kill was when I was ten, it's what forced me to get this shine."
Opening my eyes, and for the first time, I wished they were their old shade of blue. I looked up into the darkness of the cave. It was just my voice that carried us through. My voice cresting across the sounds around us. Maybe this was pointless. They weren't going to open up, at least not there in the danger.
"What did it feel like? The shine job?"
It was a valid question but the person that asked it was not who I expected. Shazza surprised me by asking the question and I wondered if it was the right time to do so? Jack had already asked earlier how to get the eyes, and Riddick had told her. It wasn't something I thought that anyone really should know. The choice to go through that pain, it shouldn't belong to anyone. No one should be able to undergo that and live.
"I won't lie and sugar coat it for you. It's more pain that even most grown adults can handle. In truth, the only person I'd ever heard about that didn't cry out in pain was Riddick. He's tougher, stronger, and far better than I am."
I paused for a moment as I thought about what else needed to be said. I wanted them to understand that it wasn't a choice that most people would make. No, it was something that was taken from me at a time when I was impressionable. At ten years old, I shouldn't have ever been put through that. I should have been playing dress up or with dolls or something. Instead, I was strapped to a table as a man started cutting at my eyes.
"This isn't something that the children should hear, but since Jack asked about it earlier I will tell you. Most of the time if the procedure is done, the person getting it is strapped down. I was strapped, tied, and held by two burly men as they forced me to undergo more pain than I ever thought possible. See, you can't close your eyes so they have to pry them open. I remember staring up in the bright light above my head, unable to blink because my eyelids were held open. Most of the next bit is hazy at best, pain will do that to you. There was cutting, and lights, and things being thrown on my eyes. I couldn't honestly tell you what happened, but it felt like I was being stung by a thousand bees while being trampled on by a herd of elephants."
Even as I talked about it, I could still feel the remnants of the pain of it all. It'd been fifteen years since it'd happened and the pain radiated. Rubbing my eyes, I quieted. I let them focus on the sound of what I'd said as I listened out to the sounds. I could hear the creatures still fighting, beating at each other, but there was another sound carrying on the wind. It wasn't one that seemed to fit out there. For someone that had sensitive ears, it was hard to pick out. The soft clank of the metal, as it was scraped against something. A shiv.
The rock that was keeping those creatures from us started to move and I saw the others try to get up as much as they could. The cave was small and didn't provide a lot of room for people to stand up in. There was a face, one that hovered in the doorway as we all tensed. Only one person out there could have come back for us and I couldn't fight the smile that rose up on my face. He wouldn't leave me, or Jack. The others didn't need to know that though, so they didn't say anything.
"Anyone not ready for this?"
"There's my god."
I shot the holy man a glare as we moved out of the cave and into the remains of the gauntlet. One of us was going to have to take rear guard and I knew it would probably be me. Riddick was better at leading us, knowing which way was the right way to go. I could follow based on sight and smell but the others, they needed a stronger person leading them.
I moved and started to line them up, putting Jack right behind Riddick and then lining the boys up behind her, followed by Imam and Shazza. They wouldn't question this, they seemed to understand that I wanted the children wedged between Riddick and myself, where we could keep them safe. I wouldn't let anything happen to any of them if I could help it. Withdrawing my shiv, keeping one hand free, I waited a beat. We needed to get going, needed to run and there was nothing to stop us now. Rain pounded against us but we couldn't afford to lose hope. We were so close to the finish line.
They all tried to form as tight a line as they could behind the giant convict. As if Riddick was the buffer to ward off all the evil. Maybe he was, maybe this was his shining moment to show them that no matter what Johns had said about him, he wasn't the same. I didn't expect sunshine and rainbows or that people would easily forget that he was a convict. Perhaps, though, they could gain a small amount of trust in him to know that while he might be a bad guy, he wasn't the big evil on this planet. He'd gotten them all this far, now we just needed to finish.
"When I go, we go. Full throttle, no holding back. We go my speed or you will be eaten. I will not come back for you a second time."
None of us had to know that he wasn't joking. We knew he was serious. This was our chance to show him that we weren't just dead weight. I watched as my mate took off, and the others scrambled to follow him. They were doing a pretty good job, especially little Jack. For all she'd been through, she could run pretty fast when things depended upon it. I made a mental note to run some sprints with her when we got a chance too. Maybe if we made it off this planet and on a planet to hide out on at a future time.
We are running, full out when I see Jack slip. The others are scared, stopping for a moment but we are so close. We can see the lights of the skiff and know that we aren't that far away, just a few hundred more meters and we are home free. I watched as Riddick heaved Jack over the mud and shoves her towards the ship. It's dark and only my eyes could see what was going on. The others, they weren't sure whether to try and help or to run and hope they don't encounter anymore of those creatures along the way. They didn't have a choice, they had to run or I would drag them by their hair.
"You know the way. Run!"
There was no way to mistake the bellow from Riddick as the others took off. We all were rounding a corner when there's a creature there waiting for us. I had no idea whose fight that was going to be, mine or his. Riddick beat me to the choice. I watched as he pulled out two shivs and got ready for the takedown. I would not let them hurt him too much. I couldn't let the convict have all the fun, could I? The fight broke out quicker than most anyone could blink. Shiv versus claw versus tail versus man. It was a circle that seemed to draw each of them into a deadly dance. The victor would be the one still standing in the end. Reaching around for my other shiv, I sliced a small bit of my hand and jump into the fray. What kind of person would I be to let Riddick do all the work?
In between the grunts and groans of the fighting, I could hear the pattering of the others' feet as they raced aboard the skiff. They were safe, protected. They could leave us, I wouldn't hate them for it. Not in the least. Survival was about doing what is right regardless of who it hurts. In this case, their survival could very well be about leaving us behind. Jack would get over it eventually, the others too would forget. We could, in theory, make it; Riddick and I. We were strong.
A claw caught my thigh and pulled me from my thoughts as a scream ripped from me. I didn't see the blow, somehow the creature managed to get in my blindspot. This wasn't good. Bleeding around them would be the same as dangling raw meat in front of a lion. They were going to pounce as soon as they could. I watched as two more of these creatures join the fray. My blades and hands were covered in their blue blood, the copper stench permeating the air. It was enough to make me want to gag but I choke down the reflex and try to fight my way down.
I could see a body land in front of me. It was Riddick, who, for a moment, seemed dazed. Suddenly I felt the wind shift around me as I saw one of them going in for the kill. No! They wouldn't. Moving faster than I thought possible for me, I slashed out with my blades and sliced the neck clean off of the creature. The others around stopped for a moment as if taking in my feral stance. I could hear a growl emanating around us, feral and wild, but it wasn't until Riddick put his hand on my shoulder that I realized it was me. We were together, our backs to each other as we moved in a circle.
Slicing and dicing, we managed to clear a path back to the ship. Riddick was trying as much as he could to stay upright, he'd taken a slice to the thigh as well. We were limping along, but we made it back to the skiff. I could see the others, their terrified looks, as we hobbled aboard. They were waiting on us, as much as they could. None of them knew how to pilot. The only two in our whole group that had that knowledge was Riddick and Fry. Riddick was the only one still alive.
As soon as we were clear of the hatch, I heard the sounds of it being closed and could feel the creatures throwing themselves at the ship. For a moment,I couldn't see anything, the lights forcing my brain to shut down in pain as I fall to my knees. I could not move, too much pain. I heard the voices around me as if they were far away and I had to run to catch up with them.
The others were watching as all the lights are powered on and then suddenly turned off, as if they didn't understand why we hadn't taken off yet. I didn't understand it either, but with the way my brain was functioning right then was a sure sign that I had no idea of anything.
"Riddick why'd you stop?"
"We can't leave yet."
"Why.."
"We can't leave until we say goodbye."
I felt the ship turn at full throttle and blast off out of the area. There was barely enough room for all of us but we manage. I was still on the floor by the hatch, unsure of anything. The pain in my head was lessening but only because the darkness was coming faster around me. My right hand, which was on the ground, was suddenly grabbed and I was pulled up into a pair of warm arms. Then I felt it. A pair of hands massaging my temples as if trying to coax the pain away. Slowly, I felt it recede as a pair of goggles were slipped around my neck. Pulling them up, I look at Riddick. My eyes now protected from the harshness and I saw his smile.
We had wounds that needed to be looked at, but they could wait. At least mine could. Pushing Riddick gently into a chair, knowing that if he didn't want to go he wouldn't, I set him down so I could take a look at his leg. Seeing the shape of a med-kit from under the console on the cockpit, I grab it. It had just what we needed. Peering down at his legs I could see the slice through his pants, but I could reach it without having to create a problem for anyone's modesty.
My hands were gentle as they wiped away the blood and dirt from the wound. I needed it clean so I could see it. It didn't look infected, I didn't see anything blocking. So I slowly started to stitch up the cut. It was deep but clean, the kind that would heal with just the right amount of time and care. My hands, despite their shaking, deftly finished tying up the sutures and put a clean bandage over the wound as I heard the others start to talk. It was Jack's strong voice that surrounded me. I knew we were up in the shipping lanes, up where we were at the mercy of whoever found us.
"Gonna be a lot of questions, whoever picks us up. Could even be mercs. So whadda we tell 'em 'bout you two?"
"Tell 'em...Tell 'em Riddick died somewhere on that planet."
I understood, on some level, his desire. If everyone thought he was dead there was a better chance of living a life away from the mercs. It was wishful thinking at least. I hadn't said anything up until that point. Hadn't said anything since that feral growl out there on that planet. My brain didn't seem to even want to function, to try to come up with a story. No one even knew I existed. I could feel my whole body shake, quiver with pain and fear, as I spoke softly.
"No one even knows I exist. No one but the guards at Butcher Bay. They can't exactly report a convict escaped that they never reported was alive to begin with, can they? You can tell them whatever you want about me. But wherever Riddick is, I'll be there with him."
As I was talking, I could see the others nod. It was is if that was the final bit they needed before they allowed themselves to relax. I watched Imam and his three boys curl up in a corner and fall asleep. Zeke and Shazza standing guard for a moment just across from them before they too sat leaned against the wall and fell asleep.
There was a tiny bed on the ship, just the right size and it seemed as if they were waiting to give it to Jack. Nodding my head, I urged her to take the bed so she could rest. We had no idea how long we'd be in the shipping lane before anyone found us, or if we would even be found. She needed her rest. All growing children needed rest. As her eyes closed into sleep, I sighed.
I was alone with Riddick, well as alone as one could be with several others asleep around you. We needed to talk but now was not the time. He was still in the seat but his hands were around my waist, pulling me too him by my hips. I went willingly as he sniffed at my neck, memorizing my scent again. For a moment I thought he was going to just let me stay there but he didn't. He spun me around fast and had me sit on the chair next to him. Taking the kit from my hands he started to work on the cuts that he could find on my legs, sewing up one of the worst ones. My wrists were bleeding and one looked pretty bad. I smiled a wry smile at him and he knew that cut had been a diversion, a way to throw the creatures off of one of the other survivors.
When my arms and legs were suitably dressed of their wounds he motioned for me to turn. He wanted to see my back. I sighed as I shifted and lifted my shirt. I wasn't going to remove it fully, not that the ragged piece of clothing did much to protect anyway. I could feel his rough fingers glancing over the scabs back there. Strips of the shirt were sticking to the wounds from the dirt, rain and blood. He did his best to clean those and I could feel myself relaxing as he ran his fingers up and down the skin. If these were the only marks, aside from his personal mark, that I would receive on this planet I was happy. Those wounds were mostly closed anyway. As he soothed away my nerves I felt the remnants of my shirt sliding down and I leaned back against him. My back to his front as I drifted off into sleep. He could watch over us, would watch over us, until sleep claimed him as well.
As the darkness overtook me I knew that we had a few days to go. One part of our journey was done but there was more to come. Maybe that was the problem them. There was only so much that we could handle. I hoped that it wasn't a merc ship that picked us up but our luck wasn't really all that great lately. At least not the last time I checked it. I was safe, for now, in Riddick's arms and whatever we dealt with when we woke would be something for another time.
It honestly felt like hours since I dropped the cells off at the skiff. I didn't want to make the others wait that long but the run back wasn't easy. There were creatures everywhere and they all wanted a piece of me. Not that I minded much. I was always up for a good fight. The animal inside of me was demandin' that I move faster, that I had left our mate out there too long. I wasn't in disagreement. I just knew when not to push myself too fast. Right now was one of those times I was goin' to push myself hard. They needed me, and I wasn't sure I could let them down.
It'd been a long time since anyone had trusted me. I could see the trust though, pourin' out of the eyes of Jack. She trusted me. I still don't quite understand why, but she did. Autumn, she could have easily turned against me. After all growin' up in the slam you learned that it was you or no one. Protectin' others, trustin' others could get you killed faster than anythin' else. Yet our animals wouldn't leave each other alone.
With each passin' second I knew that I was dyin' to make her mine fully. To take her and claim her as a man claimed a woman and as a mate claimed a mate. Only, there were still too many people around for that. There would be 'till we got the survivors elsewhere. It was drivin' me crazy knowin' that she was mine but only partially. One thin' that would come in handy, as long as she didn't yell at me for it, was that we could feel what each other was feelin'. The longer our bond was formed the stronger it would be. I could feel her annoyance, and her fear. I wondered what was making my woman afraid. To me she was one of the bravest women I had ever met.
It took someone brave to sacrifice themselves for another. Brave or stupid. There were two ways about it. She was doin' it the smart way, the brave way. The only time I remember her bein' really afraid was when people started to ask about her past. Someone must have asked a question and she had no choice but to answer it. It only forced me to move faster, push farther down to the cave. I wasn't goin' to just leave them there to die.
Soon enough I saw it. The rock that I'd rolled in front of the cave to try to keep them somewhat safe. Movin' it out of the way, I pushed my face through and smiled. The others kept dartin' their eyes back as if tryin' to tell me somethin'. Honestly I didn't care. As they others filed out of the cave, I watched them. That's when I saw it. The body of Fry just layin' there haphazardly. I wasn't gonna say anything. If she had felt she needed to be dealt with who was I to judge. My mate had my full backin' on any action needed to protect the others, especially Jack.
"Anyone not ready for this?"
"There is my god."
I glared at the holy man and watched as Autumn did the same. Now wasn't the time to bring religion into this but I knew he couldn't resist the dig. After all, I'd made a spectacle of askin' where God had been when it started rainin'. That was goin' to be a problem for me. I didn't want anyone creating chaos just because they didn't like somethin' I said. I was not goin' to apolgize either.
Watchin' as Autumn lined the others up, I was curious. She was puttin' Jack closest to me because she knew that I'd make sure the girl made it. The others were in a specific order, as if to her, the children should be more protected. She was right about that. Rear guard wasn't a bad thing but I wasn't sure I wanted her that far away. She had a shiv, yes, could take care of herself but I was selfish. I wanted her close.
"When I go, we go. Full throttle, no holding back. We go my speed or you will be eaten. I will not come back for you a second time."
My voice carried over the sound of the rain. They heard me, loud and clear. I was not goin' to come back for them again. They had their one chance. If the only one's that managed to keep up were Jack and Autumn that would be fine by me. They were the ones I was tryin' to save anyway. I took off in a blink, knowin' that they would follow. I could hear their pantin' breaths close to me. Apparently when they knew that hope was on the horizon they actually could keep up. I was surprised at Jack though. She was still growin' all gangly legs and awkwardness and yet she was tryin'. That girl was a fighter, just like Autumn.
Jack slipped and I helped her up watchin' the others. They needed to quit stoppin' and waitin'. If I didn't help the girl my mate would. That was not somethin' to question. Stoppin' now was dangerous on all accounts. Getting to the skiff was the only thing that would get them all to safety and they needed to embrace that.
"You know the way. Run!"
I let my voice slip into a bellow. That seemed to motivate them more, forcin' them to take off the last bit of the way. We were almost there, just a corner and then we would have a clear shot to the skiff. Only they stopped and now we had company. I heard it land but we couldn't just stop. Watchin' I flashed my eyes to Autumn for a moment before I pulled out both my shivs. This was goin' to be my fight. I wanted her to get the others to the skiff but I knew if given the choice she'd stay and fight beside me.
It was on. I could hear the grunts, groans and subtle moans of pain from my mate and myself as we fought our way through the beasts. It was two alphas, in their prime, fightin' for a fucked up version of family that would probably never truly be grateful. The scream stops me. I drop the carcass of the one I was cuttin' up as I turned lightin' fast. I watched her stagger a moment, the creature catchin' Autumn in her blindspot. I moved, attackin' any of them that I could find tryin' to get to her. I didn't realize that we had drifted that far away from each other in our fightin'.
Feelin' one of them get a good swing at me, I felt my body soar through the air before landin' on the ground in front of Autumn. Not bad. It's actually where I wanted to be anyway. I watched her flip out. I had seen animals lose it before, when someone they cared about was injured. But this, this was something else. She was beautiful and fierce and I could feel my own animal purr in lust, and approval. She was mine. The growl that came from her mouth was feral and it called to my own inner beast. We would make a deadly combination and it wasn't until I put my hand on her shoulder, after standin' up, that she stopped the growl.
We needed to fight together, and we did. Back to back we sliced through the creatures as we moved towards the ship. I took a slice to the leg, nothin' too worry about right now. I'd had worse and this wasn't goin' to stop me. We were close, just a few more feet. I helped get Autumn there, making sure we were in the safety of the metal of the ship before hittin' the switch to close to hatch doors.
Takin' the pilots seat, I started the ship up. I knew that somethin' was up with Autumn but we needed to get in the air and fast. I had an idea suddenly, one that I was sure the others would appreciate in hindsight. Alright, so maybe it's not the best idea but at least it would get a chuckle out of me.
"Riddick why'd you stop?"
"We can't leave yet."
"Why.."
"We can't leave until we say goodbye."
Turnin' all the lights and engines back on, I steered us straight up into the wide open spaces. Settin' a course for the shippin' lane I put the ship in auto-pilot. We would coast out here for who knew how long but someone would find us. Eventually. Standin' up from the seat I watch as the others move out of my way, as if they knew they couldn't stop me to begin with. Autumn is still there, on the floor and that bothers me. Then I remember that she's not as used to dealin' with so much light. Butcher Bay was dark, so even after the shine she'd have still only been around the darkness.
Grabbin' her right hand, I pull her up and into my arms. It felt better that way, havin' her there. Gently I start to rub at her temples, willin' the pain to leave her and her eyes to relax. I can see Jack smile and then she does somethin' I didn't expect. She hands over her own goggles. It wasn't like the girl needed 'em. Slippin' the goggles around Autumns neck I kissed her ever so gently and moved away. As soon as she slipped them on I could see the relief in her eyes. Smilin' down at her I simply waited for her move.
Apparently she thought it was time to play nursemaid as she pushes me into a seat. She knows full well that if I didn't want to go she wouldn't have been able to move me. I let her get me sittin' as she fished around for the first aid kit. I wasn't to begrude her this. We all needed our wounds looked at. She started cleanin' up my leg and stitchin' it up and I could feel her shakin'. I didn't like it. It wasn't fear that was causin' it, it was pain. That first aid kit didn't have anythin' for pain, which if you think about it, is kinda stupid. When my leg was good I heard Jack's question. Girl better hope we don't hit mercs.
"Gonna be a lot of questions, whoever picks us up. Could even be mercs. So whadda we tell 'em 'bout you two?"
"Tell 'em...Tell 'em Riddick died somewhere on that planet."
"No one even knows I exist. No one but the guards at Butcher Bay. They can't exactly report a convict escaped that they never reported was alive to begin with can they. You can tell them whatever you want about me. But wherever Riddick is, I'll be there with him."
Her voice quaked and I wished the others could hear it. Did they not understand what askin' her those questions did to her? Did they not understand that she didn't know anythin' about her past but pain and bringin' that up was only causin' her more pain? Maybe not but I watched the others nod and then slip off into sleep. We all needed rest, especially if we were goin' to be rescued. We'd done enough runnin' and now was time to relax for a moment. Grabbin' my girl by her hips I pulled her to me and sniffed at her neck. I was inahlin' her scent, one I couldn't get enough of. It was goin' to be the death of me. Well, maybe not but it was all I had right now. We couldn't get any closer with the others around, not that way at least.
Sittin' her down in the chair, I started to bandage her legs and arms, not too happy with one of the cuts on her wrist. I'd have to make sure she realized that usin' herself as bait was somethin' she would never do again. Yeah she'd learn that lesson too. But that would be later too. I might be an ass but I wasn't an exhibitionsit, at least not if I could help it. That, and there were children around. When I was sure that her arms and legs were bandaged and treated I made her turn around. I wanted to look at her back, to see if any of her old wounds were re-opened. Runnin' my fingers across her soft skin was doin' me in. These small gestures, while intimate, were not enough. My animal was snarlin' at me in it's cage demandin' that we just take her. I was a bit more civilized than my animal but it was getting hard to fight.
I cleaned what I could find on her back, making sure to redress some of the cuts that had opened and cleanin' it all up the best I could. She was a fighter, a warrior queen and I would make sure she knew that. Wrapping my arms around her, I pulled her down into my lap and let her back rest against my chest. My movements were meant to soothe, not arouse, and I was hopin' I could lull her into sleep. My woman needed rest, and she would get it. As she started to drift I was watchin' over them. I'd fall asleep soon enough but I wanted to be sure that we were all safe, for now; and for now we were.