Struggle

story by Meilean

Rating: T

Disclaimer: Brotherhood AU things belong to Ridley C. James

What happened in 'Grief, Heir, And A Bottle Of Gin' (the previous story) so far …

Mike Campbell, Wade Wilmington and Bastian Summers - the current leaders of the Brotherhood - had died from a mysterious fever.

Mike's son and successor as The Knight, Cole Tanner, had gone out to find out more about what had happened to them. Samuel Colt (future Scholar) and George Harris (current Advisor and last remaining part of the leadership) came along too. They're also planning to visit the Liberty headquarters.

After all was done in Liberty, George and Sam had left for Canaan again. Cole had stayed, searching for a hunt. Cole, James Singer, Billy and his Godfather Graham Perry are going after a barely known creature called the Kyhara in the south …

Chapter 1 - Accidents

COLE

Graham came close into Cole's personal space, pointing his finger angrily at his chest. "You worthless piece of shit, Tanner! I don't know what Mike saw in you. I see nothing more than a complicated, reckless man. You take risks as if it's the air to breathe. You are nothing that is asked of a Knight. Though you might watch out for Daniel, you have a responsibility for the whole Brotherhood, are you aware of that?! I wonder if Wade only agreed because you are his nephew," Graham spat at Cole.

Cole still heard Billy's screams behind Perry. James would take care of him, he was sure. He needed space. Slowly retreating back from Perry, he didn't even say a single word to the accusations of the older hunter. He knew it was his fault that Billy would probably lose an eye if he would even survive this. He could no longer stay here; he had to leave! He had to think! He had to breathe! His throat felt like someone tried to strangle him.

He stumbled out of the damaged house and hurried to his stallion. On Savior's back in no time, he spurred his horse to full speed, Sky on his horse's heels. Cole didn't care which direction he took. He knew he was a coward to ride away from this. But he could no longer be among the others. Graham's accusing words had given him the rest. They had hit him like arrows - had dug their poisonous message deep into his soul.

Right now he longed for his father or his uncle, even Bastian or George but no one was with him. No other than strangers - hunters he barely knew - well yes, James was with him but James wouldn't understand the guilt and pain he felt. His friend would do what he was best at - care for an injured person and maybe he could do a miracle and save Billy's eye though Cole doubted it.

He let the horse ride slower in its own pace. The young hunter had finally calmed down a bit, only then feeling a stinging pain in his shoulder. Cole glanced over his shoulder. His coat had a cut at the spot it stung. "Shit!" Cole swore, more concerned about how to fix Mike's coat than that he was injured.

This must have happened when the thing had thrown him through the room. He remembered that the Kyhara had grabbed him by the arm with her razor sharp talons.

Everything had happened so fast then. The impact with the wall had pressed all air from Cole's lungs and he remembered that he'd lost the grip of his blade - the Dragon's Talon - which he had not been able to make out anywhere. The beast had been over him in a second - no time to recover. Without warning she had spat some liquid into his face. Then suddenly Billy had jumped on her, shoving his sword deep through her back. The thing had whirled around chasing Billy instead of him. He must have missed her heart with the blade. Cole had seen only one other opportunity to kill her. He had lit the match for the black-powder-ball invention Sam had given him as a prototype while he glanced at how the Kyhara threw Billy away from her. The wick had burned save enough then and he had jumped on the thing's back, straddling it. It had tried to get rid of him but he held fast like on a wild bull ride. It had screamed, opening its teeth-filled mouth wide and angry. Then Cole quickly stuffed the burning ball into the deep cut Billy had caused with his sword. The Kyhara screamed in agony then, whirling around, throwing Cole off its back.

While rolling, he had screamed at Billy to hide. There had been barely enough time to turn the table over when the body of the Kyhara burst into a hundred pieces. The explosion blasted everything in a two yard radius of what had happened to be a rack and parts of the wardrobe too. The wooden pieces of the furniture raced like daggers through the room. One had scratched Cole's left leg and another one had hit Billy right into his eye.

He had been at Billy's side in a few seconds. Blood had been everywhere on Billy's face where a large piece of wood had pierced his eyeball. Cole had feared the worst, though Billy screaming like he was on fire at least had told him he was still alive.

Then Graham had entered the house - or what had been left of it. He and James had been in the barn and the root cellar to check them.

"What the hell is going on here?" Perry screamed when he'd entered. He'd spotted the two young hunters on the ground. "Billy!" Graham had run over to his godson. "Billy, easy."

"My eye! My eye! I can't see, Uncle! Help me!"

Wide eyed, Cole had stared at Billy, realizing what he had caused. He had made some space for Graham and then slumped to the ground, staring at the scene. James then also entered and began to do what he could for Billy, who hadn't stopped struggling and screaming under the hold of the two men.

Cole was not able to recall how long he had been sitting there staring at the horror when strong merciless hands had grabbed him by the collar of his coat and had brought him roughly to a stand. Graham had been in a furious rage - understandable - his godson had been hurt - but there were ways to say things which were unforgivable - and Perry had a talent to do so. "You worthless piece of shit, Tanner! I don't know what Mike saw in you…"

Was he worthless? Was he only in this position because of his family ties? What had Mike seen in him? Did he only care for Daniel's safety? He didn't mean this to happen to Billy.

The pain in his shoulder began to worsen though he ignored it, brooding further over his guilt and the words Graham had thrown at him.

It was when he carelessly brushed over his cheek and realized that it felt numb. "What the hell?" He touched his face again. He didn't feel anything but a slight tingling. His left hand felt numb too. He tried to remember what could have caused this. Then it clicked in. The Kyhara had spat on him and in a reflexive motion he had brushed the saliva from his face with his left hand. He didn't know if the Kyhara had poisonous or dazing saliva. He had to wash it off as quickly as possible - just in case. Cole searched his surroundings. He didn't recognize anything here. It was not important at the moment, he searched for water. But he saw nothing but bushes, trees, and some rocks in the distance. Even the path he was on seemed overgrown and only used on rare occasions. Why the hell hadn't he paid attention to his surroundings? The movement of his head caused dizziness of the evil kind and he felt sick to his stomach. He got off his horse clumsily.

"Sky?" Cole called for his familiar, while he desperately tried to stay standing. He ended up on all fours. The world around him kept spinning and his head felt like it was under water. He tried to breathe but every time he tried there was not enough air that could fill his lungs. "Sky! Help me!"

Finally, he felt Sky's nose tapping at his side. Her whining got through the mists in his head. Cole stretched his hand to where he spotted his dog. "Water … Do you sense any water, baby?" the hunter slurred.

He saw his white dog leaving though he only made out a white spot dashing by. His vision blurred even more when he turned his head while trying to look up to his stallion's saddlebags where his empty water bottle dangled. Nausea set in again and he had to throw up where he sat. It felt like an eternity when he finally had nothing in his stomach anymore to spit out. Exhausted he turned over and just lay there, trying to catch a breath, that felt difficult like he had a stone on his chest.

He got scared, he was alone in the middle of nowhere and probably poisoned by the Kyhara. He had to find a way back to the others or his chances weren't any good. Where was Sky? He had to wash this poison off his body so he would be able to think clearly. "Sky!" Cole tried to shout for his dog. All he managed was a faint whisper before he passed out.

*** WWT - Prequel ***

SKY

shortly before …

Sky wondered why they were stopping. Cole had set a brisk pace first but had gotten slower every mile. She loved running fast with Cole and Savior. Sometimes they did it just for fun. But fun was a thing Cole seemed to have forgotten for a while now. Actually since Mike, Wade, and Bastian had died. She knew the pain of loss. She had lost her family too. But Cole had found her, had given her a new home, had given her love, warmth and safety. She would do anything for him.

Now she watched him stop, getting off Savior, unusually swaying.

"Sky!" he shouted, exhausted.

Why did he call so loud for her? She was right here next to him like always.

"Sky! Help me!" Cole shouted again, reaching his hand out like he searched for something to hold on.

Then he fell to his hands and knees. Sky came closer, worriedly tapping her nose to Cole's side to show him she was there.

"Water … Do you sense any water, baby?" Cole asked with slurred words, as if he had drunk too much of those tiny glasses in the saloon. But she hadn't seen him drinking anything. So what was wrong?

Sky lifted her nose and tried to scent the water he asked for. Her human friend didn't look good. Something was wrong with him. There it was, the fresh pure smell of water, it wasn't far, but she had to be sure it was safe there. So she took off.

In the near distance she found a pattering creek surrounded by light trees. The spot was perfect for a camp, shadowed, with fresh water next to it, and an even place for Cole's bedrole. Outside the few trees was a rich green meadow that was perfect for Savior. She rushed back to Cole to tell him the news. Tomorrow her friend would surely be okay after a propper night of sleep.

What the white wolf dog found was nothing she had expected. Cole lay on the side of the path they had traveled on and didn't move. He had thrown up not far from the spot he now lay. She came closer, smelling at it. Something smelled wrong in the mass.

Sky whined and tried to wake Cole. He barely noticed that she was back, only responding to her touch with a groan. She had to bring him to the water. It was what he had asked from her. This was no place to wait out whatever was wrong with Cole.

Sky barked at the horse, "Savior! Come on and help me, we have to get him to the creek I found over there."

Savior shook his mane, "He is not conscious, how do you think we could get him there?"

"Come over, old horse and lay down, I will bring him to move these few feet," Sky answered, confident of her plan.

She tapped at Cole's side to wake him, to make him understand he had to climb on Savior and they would have a safe campground in a few minutes. But Cole barely heard her barking and pleading whining.

Sky ended up biting into the sleeve of her friend's clothes and tried with all her power to drag him on Savior. Finally Cole moved, though only a bit, but it was enough with a lot of effort, to get him onto Savior's back.

Bent over and barely conscious they had him in the saddle. Sky wound the reins around Cole's hands to fix him on the saddle horn as best as possible to prevent him from falling from Savoir.

Savior had a hard time getting up loaded and still careful enough to not let Cole slide from his back. Slowly they made it to the clearing next to the creek where Savoir again lay down so that Sky could loosen the bedrole from the saddle first and brought it down next to the stallion. She tried to even the fabric like Cole used to do. It was not perfect but would serve its purpose.

Then came the tricky part. She loosened the reins from Cole's hands with her mouth and dragged him from Savior's back onto the prepared bedroll. Cole groaned slightly but didn't wake up. Sky also snatched Mike's blanket from the saddle Cole used to cover himself in the nights with. She tried to get the fabric over his body. When she was satisfied, she tried to remember what else Cole did when they prepared a camp. He usually made a fire but this was out of the question. Sky hated fire. She kept a safe distance from the element if possible. When the night would set in, she would lay down next to her friend and share warmth with her body.

She tried again to wake him, tapping her nose at his cheek. There was this smell again. It covered the skin of his face. She couldn't stand the ugly scent and tried to wake him by tapping his side instead without any luck. He just didn't wake up and Sky was left to watch out for him, aware of every movement his chest made while breathing flatly.

"What do you think, will he wake up any time soon? I'm worried. This isn't normal. And his face stinks. Something is wrong," Sky shared her concerns with the horse.

"Then wash his face, he asked you for water earlier, right? Maybe he wanted to clean his face. That is most times the second thing the humans do after they have drunk enough water," Savior suggested.

Sky turned back at Cole. "Well, it is worth a try." She fumbled out the cloth Cole had in his coat pocket and turned to the water. With the dripping cloth she came back and tried to clean his face properly. She repeated it after she had washed out the cloth once more in the creek until she was satisfied with the smell. Then made herself comfortable next to Cole and waited for either nightfall or Cole to finally wake up.

TBC