Jaxon's POV
"Get the meat to the smoke house and then return home - you all did well this hunt," I told the band of warriors around me. Our hunt had been successful so we returned home early, a small turn of fortune we were all thankful for. Once everyone had moved out I unsaddled my horse, gathering the furs from my kills before handing the reigns to the stable boy.
It happened to be the boy who arrived from the sky with the others. I said nothing to him as I moved past. He took care of the horses well enough, but still spent too much of his time chasing after Cole - a fact that irritated me. He would never be suitable for her, he was much too weak to provide for or protect her.
I set the two furs I had kept for my own on the table in my home. I could use the deer skin to make new supplies, the thick black bear coat on the other hand I had decided to give to Cole - with winter coming she would need more than the cougar skin to stay warm.
The sky people had made great improvements for our clan since they had arrived. Most had seemed to adjust to our way of life quickly, but it was unusual in the way they interacted with each other. They did not have a commander or warriors to look out for their weaker members - and they all insisted on working independently of each other. It was fortunate for them to have joined with our clan, they would be ill prepared for our world if they hadn't.
I thought of Cole momentarily, she found herself in enough trouble even with the clan. The thought of what would happen to her if she was alone was something I pushed out of my mind immediately. My thoughts strayed to her more often than I cared to admit since she had arrived, and I was not blind to the fact that she had caught the attention of others as well. No one had yet to offer claim of her yet - unsure of how the sky people would react - so I knew I had time before I made a choice myself. Until then I could continue to look out for her, give her tokens that would prove I could provide for her, and also make it clear to others that she was not theirs for the taking.
Yes, the bear skin would suit her well I decided laying it to the side.
"Jaxon! Jaxon!" a voice called from outside, breaking me from my thoughts. Stepping out I saw Artigas standing before me breathing heavily. His home was on the other side of the village, what could be so urgent to make him rush here?
Saying nothing I let the young warrior catch his breath.
"You need to come, Nyko needs you. Now!" he wheezed. I studied him for a moment, I had just left the healer not even an hour ago. And if it was so important why did Nyko not just come find me himself?
"It's Cole, she's hurt. Pretty badly. Nyko found her in the healer's building, told me to come find you and some of the others right away," he explained. After he mentioned Cole I was already moving towards the healer's building, catching the last part of his explanation as he yelled it out as I left. I moved as quickly as I could through the village, careful to avoid areas I knew would be busy with people prepping the meat and furs from the hunt. Three days was all it had taken for her to get injured again. She had promised to not do anything stupid. I clenched my fists in irritation.
"Where is she?" I growled as I entered the building. It was empty save for Nyko who was bent over a cot and the boy from the stables earlier. I wondered how he made it here before me, or why he was here in the first place, but as Nyko turned to me I pushed my thoughts aside. I would deal with him later.
It was only when Nyko stood that I realized it was Cole who he was tending to on the cot. Narrowing my eyes I made quick work of the distance between us. My breath caught in my throat as my irritation faded into concern as I looked over her. Her arms and legs were covered in bruises and scratches, her lip was busted and still bleeding, her cheeks black and blue - but the worst injury was the shallow, but long cut that ran from the top of her nose and across her eye stopping at her battered cheek. Who ever did this to her would pay, dearly.
"What happened?" I asked Nyko, my voice colder than I had intended. The healer sighed heavily and shook his head.
"I'm not sure. I came in to check on her and found her unconscious and bleeding out on the floor," he told me, his voice heavy with concern for the little sky girl who had fallen into our lives. "Whatever happened, there was definitely a fight. There's blood all across the room and the injuries on her arms are defensive."
This hadn't been an accident, someone had purposely meant to hurt her. I growled under my breath.
"Her arms are badly bruised, her shoulder was nearly dislocated and she had too many shallow cuts from shattered glass buried in her upper arms, neck, face and back to count," Nyko continued, not waiting for me to respond. "Her cheek bone is shattered, and the cut across her face - most likely from the glass I found - will probably scar… But that's not the most concerning part."
What could be worse, I thought to myself, still unable to look at anything else but Cole. She looked so small laying there.
"When I found her she was passed out on the floor bleeding," Nyko explained slowly, as if searching for the right words. I still didn't respond, he had already mentioned that.
"But when I found her … Cole's dress was pulled up to her waist," he continued. My head snapped towards him, equal parts fearful and furious of what he was implying. "I don't know how far it went, but she has bruises across her ribs and stomach, imprints from a man's hand on her throat, wrists and hip ,and a bite mark on her shoulder deep enough to draw blood."
For a moment all I saw was red. Someone had touched her. Someone had touched Cole... who was under my care...who was mine. I would rip the hands off the man who did this to her, torture him as he tortured her - I would kill him.
Containing my anger, I focused back to the task at hand.
"Do you know who?" I asked Nyko, whose expression told me he was as equally as outraged as I was. He shook his head no in response.
"What do you need for her?" I followed up. Food, medicine, fresh supplies - I would make sure he would get anything he needed for her care.
"I already have Artigas gathering everything I need," he replied. "I had Lucas sort through the remaining of the medical supplies she brought from the sky and have given her what I can to speed up her bones healing and to replenish the blood she lost. I will continue to watch over her to monitor any changes, but all we can do now is wait for her to wake up."
"And find who did this to her," I added darkly. Nyko nodded once in response.
It was long until Artigas returned with the supplies Nyko had requested, with Penn and few other warriors Cole had managed to befriend following closely behind. Nyko explained what had happened, no one took it well - especially Penn who punched the concrete wall after hearing about the hand prints on the more delicate parts of her skin.
The more I thought of her and what had happened the angrier I became. For a moment I almost felt sorry for the man who was responsible for this all, he would pay in ways he never imagined and would regret the very day he was born when I was done with him. But when Cole groaned quietly in pain from her cot, that thought quickly vanished. No, the man responsible deserved what he had coming to him. He deserved death, and I was more than happy to deliver it to him.
Cole's POV
I moaned in pain as I opened my eyes. It was too bright. I tried to turn my head but that only sent another course of throbbing pain through my head. What happened?
"Cole?' a voice called out softly from somewhere to my left. "Cole can you hear me?"
I tried to respond, to let them know I could but when I attempted to talk nothing came out - but my throat burned from the effort. God, why is everything so painful?
My eyes finally adjusted to the light, but my vision remained slightly hazy. Looking over, careful not to move my head again I found Lucas kneeling next to me, a concerned look etched across his face. I tried to smile at him but even that hurt.
"Nyko, I think she's awake," Lucas called out, before quickly being replaced in my line of sight by the native healer. Nyko's expression was also marked with concern, which confused me. Why were they looking at me like that?
I tried to remember what could have happened to worry them but my mind was hazy. I could recall the hunting party leaving, working while they were gone and that was it. Why couldn't I remember anything after that?
"You back with us Cole?" Nyko asked, his voice soft and low. I nodded slightly, careful not to move quickly.
"Good," he smiled softly, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Here, drink this. You must be thirsty."
Now that he mentioned it, I was. Nyko brought the canteen to my lips and let me drink slowly, pausing every few second to let me swallow. My throat felt like it was on fire, but the cool water helped sooth it slightly.
"Thank you," I managed to whisper to him, my voice rough and raspy. It didn't even sound like me…
I braced my hands on the cot wanting to sit up, but the moment I started to move Nyko stopped me.
"You're in no condition to move right now Cole," he told me. I just sent him a confused look, or what I thought was a confused look … I couldn't really feel anything but pain in my face. The longer I was awake, the more everything started to hurt.
Surely sitting up couldn't hurt though? I ignored Nyko and tried again, only to find him glaring at me with a hand firmly pressed against my shoulder.
"Now who's the stubborn one?" a voice called from the other side of me. Penn's light tone made me smile. Giving up on moving I took a moment to focus my vision on the three figures next to me - Penn, Artigas and Jaxon. I was glad to see them.
"How are you feeling?" Lucas asked from the other side of me, standing near Nyko once again.
"Felt better," I admitted, groaning at the sound of my voice. I sounded awful.
"Obviously," I heard Artigas mumble next to me, glaring at Lucas.
"What …. what happened?" I asked, having to pause to take another sip of water before I could talk. Everyone around me was quiet.
"We were hoping you would tell us," Nyko said quietly. I furrowed my brow as I tried to think about the last things I remembered. I was starting to see glimpses of things here and there, but it mostly just a blur and I couldn't put all the pieces together.
"I … I don't remember," I told them, earning a deep sigh from the healer and a dark look from Jaxon. After a moment Nyko told me of how he found me and off the different markings and injuries I had sustained. That explained the pain, but not why I was lying here in the first place. I hadn't noticed, but at some point I had started crying, I was only aware of it after Penn knelt down next to me.
"No crying Cole," he said, his voice uncharacteristically serious as he grabbed my hand softly. "We'll find who did this to you. You're going to be okay now."
I didn't say anything, just looked away ashamed. How could I always be so weak?
"Are you hungry?" Lucas asked, changing the subject hesitantly. "You've been out for a few days, you must be at least a little bit."
A few days?! That must be why my head hurts so badly, if it I was hit hard enough it would be possible to put me into an acoma - it would also explain why I couldn't remember anything yet... My head reeled as I tried to piece together my injuries, maybe I should just focus on food...
"My mom made some soup for you, I'll go put it over the fire," Artigas volunteered, moving out of my line of vision. Soup did sound good.
"I have patrol, but I'll stop by again soon alright?" Penn said softly. "No crying while I'm gone, and if any of these idiots give you a hard time let me know, I'll beat them up for you."
I smiled slightly, wincing as the cut on my lip pulled apart. Leave it to Penn to crack jokes.
"Why they're getting food for you, you should try to take some of these," Lucas said, holding out a variety of pills in his hand. "It will help with the pain, when you were unconscious we couldn't give you anything - we weren't sure how you would react."
That made sense I guess. And at this point I would be willing to fight one of those giant cougars for some pain relievers. I winced as I tried to readjust myself on the cot - maybe I would start with the pills and fight the cougar later.
Lucas handed the pills to Nyko two by two, explaining which each one was to the healer as he helped me take sips of the water to swallow them. I instantly started to feel the pain ebb away slowly. The sharp aches now nothing more than a dull throb - that I could handle.
"Do you want some bread with the soup as well?" Artigas asked holding up a basket of bread from Botts. I would recognize that smell anywhere. I nodded slowly in response.
"You definitely won't have to worry about supplies any time soon," Lucas said confusing me. "Botts brought you bread, a group of women dropped off a few sets of new clothes - it's been non-stop. People have brought you meat, blankets, herbs, flowers, and whatever else you could think of. Its been surprisingly overwhelming."
People have brought things for me?
"Why is surprising that people care about her?" Jaxon asked harshly. He had been so quiet I had almost forgotten he was here.
"I just hadn't realized she had made so many friends I guess," Lucas explained lamely. I could feel Jaxon and Nyko tense next to me, but I didn't put much weight into Lucas's comments. I understood what he meant, I would have never expected it either.
"Goes to show that there are a lot of things you haven't realized yet," Jaxon responded, his voice still low and accusing. Lucas bristled at the comment and was about to defend himself before Artigas stepped forward with a bowl of food.
"She's been sleeping for days and probably feels like shit, you guys really think that she wants to listen to you two bicker right now?" Artigas scolded as he handed the soup to Nyko. Both Jaxon's and Lucas' expressions softened.
The soup was heavenly, the warm broth was just what my body needed. In combination with the drugs and the food, I felt a hundred times better than I had when I woke up.
"That was exactly what I needed," I told the men around me. "Tell your mother I said thank you Artigas."
He just nodded and smiled. Nyko had told me to rest, much to my disdain, and pulled Jaxon and Artigas away from me. I was used to being on the other side of the bed, the one taking care of others, not the one being taken care of- it was unsettling. I wanted nothing more than to get up and act as if nothing was wrong, but the low throbbing across my body told me that wasn't going to happen.
I groaned uncomfortably. If I was going to be forced to stay in bed I at least wanted to sleep in a better position. I must have made a pained noise because in an instant Jaxon was crouching down next to me asking me what was wrong quietly.
"Can you help…" I paused, suddenly embarrassed to be asking for help so pathetically. He just waited patiently for me to finish, ready to agree to whatever I asked.
"Can you help me turn over?" I asked finally. "I … I'm not very comfortable like this."
Jaxon narrowed his eyes, running them quickly over my body. I knew he was probably just assessing how badly I was hurt and if it would be alright to move me, but his gaze made me blush anyways.
Carefully he leaned forward, wrapping one of his arms around my legs gently and using the other to brace my back. With his help I was able to turn on my side to face him. The jostling ignited some pain in my ribs, but the pressure against them as I settled into position helped alleviate it quickly.
I Ignored the pain in my shoulder as I laid my head on my arm, only for the first time noticing the plethora of cuts and bruises on my arm. I frowned.
"They will heal," Jaxon reassured me, his hand still resting on my hip softly. His thumb started to rub small circles against the fabric of my clothes. It felt good until he unintentionally brushed up against sore spot. I flinched and his hands immediately retracted, closing my eyes I waited for the pain to pass.
The small touch had sent a spark up my spine, for a moment I could almost feel his hands burn as they ran up my thigh, as they gripped my waist tightly holding me to him, and as hit bit into my shoulder. Panicked my eyes shot open, Jaxon was still kneeling next to me, his face stoic but his eyes filled with worry. I tried to take deep breaths to even out my breathing again. It wasn't Jaxon, he wouldn't ever hurt me.
Absently I reached up my hand to touch the back of my shoulder, where the phantom pain had been. I whimpered when I felt the indention of teeth in my skin - that flashback had been real.
"I'm sorry," I whispered sadly to Jaxon. I hadn't meant for him to pull away, this wasn't his fault.
"Don't apologize," he replied, eyes darkening as he watched me trace over the mark on my shoulder. He grabbed my hand gently, pulling it away from the bite.
"It will heal," he promised. Sighing, I nodded in response. I knew he was right, but right now I just felt violated and broken.
I wasn't cut out for this world, maybe my repeated injuries was the universe telling me to die already. Maybe I should, it would be easier if I was dead…
"Don't ever say that again," Jaxon growled harshly. I hadn't mean to voice my thoughts out loud, I wasn't even sure if I meant it…
"Don't even think that," he continued, gripping my hand a little harder.
"I'm sorry," I muttered. "And I'm sorry for breaking my promise, I'm sorry for doing something stupid again and making you all worry."
"This is not your fault Cole," Jaxon told me, cradling my hand closer to his chest. He leaned forward and rested his forehead against the top of my head.
"I'm sorry as well," he whispered in my ear so only I could hear. "I'm sorry I left you alone, and that I couldn't protect you."
I looked up at him sadly, "If this isn't my fault, then it doesn't get to be yours either. There's nothing you could have done."
He sighed and shook his head, standing back up to his full height.
"Rest now Cole, you're safe again," he told me before moving back towards Nyko in the middle of the room. My vision had stabilized I noticed, everything wasn't as blurry. At least that was a small step in the right direction.
I woke up a few hours later to voices whispering harshly from behind me.
"What are you doing here?" I heard Artigas ask, his voice low and demanding.
"We wanted to bring some meat by for the girl, it's some of the best cuts from the hunt," a voice explained. I didn't immediately recognize who it was, but their voice alone was enough to send a shiver down my spine.
"Put on the table and then leave, Jaxon and Nyko will not be happy that you are here," Artigas warned.
"Speaking of the healer, isn't that him calling for you now?" the voice questioned, his tone sinister.
"He can wait," Artigas responded without missing a beat. I could hear a voice in the distance yell for Artigas again though.
"Doesn't sound like it," the unknown man pointed out. Artigas sighed.
"Be gone by the time I get back, understand?" He phrased it like a question, but there was no room for disagreement in his tone.
"Understood," the man responded as he moved further into the room. I could hear someone dropping supplies onto the table and I hoped that whoever it was would think I was still asleep and leave.
"Stack them up boys and I'll meet you back out front in a moment, I want to check on the little sky girl," the voice from before commanded. I heard other grunts in response and it was quickly just me and the unknown man left in the building.
I kept my eyes closed, focusing on keeping my breathing spaced out and even so he wouldn't know I was awake.
"You up little one?" the man's voice questioned from beside me.
Little one? Why did that sound so familiar? … Why did that give me the chills?
"Open your eyes girl, I know you're awake," he commanded. Scared, I opened my eyes slowly.
Delano. My blood ran cold, a burst of terror ran through my body just at the sight of him. In seconds the memories from the incident came flooding back. It was him. He was the one I fought with ... He was the one who hurt me. And I was all alone with him again.
"It's good to see you again too little one," he laughed. His hand reached out to grab my chin as he studied me for a moment.
"I really did a number on you didn't I?" he asked almost proudly. Disgusted I yanked my head away from him, ignoring how bad it hurt to do so.
"Now now, none of that," he said as he pushed me onto my back and leaned against one knee on my cot. Grabbing my jaw, just above my throat he forced me to look at him again. How had he been able to heal so quickly? He looked fine, slightly bruised, but that was all. The very thought that he got off so lightly while I was stuck in a cot barely able to move infuriated me, but as he applied more pressure my anger turned into panic.
"You remember our little deal right?" he asked, his eyes dark with excitement. This was just one sick game to him.
"You tell anyone it was me and I'll kill off your sky people one by one," he reminded, grinning down at me. "And if Jaxon comes, or Nyko, or Penn, or any of the other warriors you have have disillusioned - I'll kill them too. Understand?"
When I didn't immediately answer his grip on my jaw tightened causing me to wince.
"I understand," I conceded quietly. I wouldn't be responsible for my friends dying. I couldn't be.
"Good girl," he responded sweetly, leaning down to bury his face in my neck close to where he had bitten me days before.
"Submission suits you," he breathed heavily into my ear, nuzzling my neck again before pushing off me.
I felt sick as I turned my head away from him.
"I'll be seeing you little one, of that I'm sure," he warned before he left. As soon as I couldn't hear his footsteps any longer I broke down. I could feel my body shaking as I sobbed uncontrollably.
How could I have let this happen? How could I be so weak?
"Cole?" Nyko called out, seeing me shaking as he walked into the building with Artigas and Jaxon close behind. They had been with me almost constantly, and I found myself both cursing them for leaving me alone once again and feeling horrible that they had been stuck with me. I just cried harder.
I started thrashing on the cot, not caring how much it hurt or that I was reopening my wounds. All I could think about was Delano, how his hands felt against me, how sick it made me feel. I could still hear his voice repeating over and over in my head.
Why did I deserve this? Why was this happening to me?!
"Cole you need to calm down, breath," Nyko commanded as he sat on my cot taking my flailing arms in his hands as gently as he could. I struggled against him, he didn't understand. He couldn't hear him in my head.
"What's happening?" I thought I heard Artigas ask, but his voice sounded miles away.
"I think she's remembering," Nyko responded, grunting softly as I twisted and turned to get away from his hold. If only he knew just how much I remembered.
"Give her to me," Jaxon demanded as he sat down on the other side of me. Nyko let go of my arms slowly. Once free I pushed myself into a sitting position hurriedly, my body screamed in protest but I paid it no mind.
Jaxon seeing his chance grabbed my legs and pulled me towards him, in a second I found myself sitting in his lap, his hands easily catching mine as I swung half hazardly at him. His grip was firm, making it clear I wasn't going anywhere.
"Cole stop," he said, his tone strong and demanding. "Stop and look at me."
I didn't listen, just continued to fight him.
"Look at me Cole," he demanded, shouting at me this time. His voice startled me, everyone had been speaking so soft and gently to me since I had woken up. I stopped thrashing, my wrists still held gently in his hands as I raised my eyes to his.
"You're okay now," he told me slowly, never breaking eye contact. "We're here … I'm here."
I looked down nervously.
"But you left again," I muttered, barely loud enough for him to hear. He sighed and pulled me closer, his hands leaving my wrists and pulling me closer to his chest.
"That was a mistake. I won't leave you again," he whispered into my ear. Tears were still rolling down my face, but I had calmed down now. I buried my hands underneath Jaxon's jacket for warmth and rested my head on his chest.
He was here now, Delano wouldn't dare come near me.
Jaxon repositioned himself so he was leaning against the wall next to my cot, still cradling me in his arms. He never made a move to let me go, and I was grateful. Sniffling, I nuzzled my head against him and tried to pull myself closer.
"I've got you," he whispered, his hands tightening slightly on my waist.
"Drink this Cole," Nyko suggested as he moved a canteen towards me. I hesitated, not wanting to let go of Jaxon, scared that if I did they would leave again and Delano might return. Nyko just waited patiently, motioning for me to take it again. I gripped Jaxon's shirt tighter with one hand, before reaching out my other to grab the water. After a few sips Nyko handed me a vial of crushed herbs and water. I scrunched my nose.
I shook my head at him, I knew what that was and it tasted awful. Nyko chuckled slightly before telling me to just drink it and get it over with. Groaning I did as he said, making a face as the sour juice assaulted my taste buds.
"That will help you sleep," he explained, even though I was already familiar with the natural tranquilizer.
"Do you remember anything about who did this to you Cole," Nyko asked hesitantly. I tensed.
What did I tell them? What could I tell them?
"I remember … I remember what happened," I responded honestly, my voice barely above a whisper. "But I still can't see his face. I can feel him, I can remember fighting against him … but I can't remember who he was."
I felt sick to my stomach lying to the men who had spent so much time fussing over me and taking care of me. But it's in their best interest I argued internally. It's better if they don't know. Safer.
Nyko just nodded sadly, and I felt Jaxon's arms tense slightly. I sighed. It was better this way.
"That's alright Cole," Nyko told me gently before moving away from us.
My eyes started to feel heavy as the drug started to take affect. I was going to suggest that Jaxon help me lay down, so he wouldn't be stuck with me. But the thought of him leaving if only for a second nearly sent me into another panic attack. I wrapped my arms around him again, he didn't protest or complain in the slightest.
Tomorrow I would sleep by myself I argued. But tonight, tonight I needed Jaxon. I needed him to be there next to me, to keep the demons at bay. I cuddled into him subconsciously and I felt him rest his head against mine - it seemed for tonight, he was comfortable enough to do that for me. I smiled against his chest and let sleep take me.
So a little different chapter style here. I probably won't use other character's POV very often, but it seemed to fit well with this chapter. What did you think? All of your reviews have been amazing so far! I love hearing what you guys have to say.
To answer a few frequent questions I have gotten so far:
This story will eventually run back into the 100 group, but not for a while. And even when that does happen this is still going to be MY story, so the events will be from Cole's perspective and not necessarily in line with everything that's happening in the show. Because this story is mine, so I can do that! Haha.
This chapter was a pivotal point in Jaxon's and Cole's relationship, as some may have noticed, and I've already had a few messages asking how far I intend to take them and if there will be a change in rating later in the story. To be honest I'm still playing with that idea. I could totally make this M rated if necessary, but just as easily leave the steamy stuff aside. Thoughts/opinions readers?