Upon hearing the wooden door swing open, Jasper cast a dismissive, unbothered look over her rump at Jamie and David. Giving a defiant bleat, she tauntingly continued to slowly walk toward the woods, daring the two humans to stop her.
Jamie gave a sharp whistle and jabbed a finger in her direction.
"Don't you dare," he warned, moving towards the beast.
The yellow eyes gleamed with mischievous joy as Jasper's steps quickened with Jamie's approach. The bell on her collar tinkled with every step.
"I'm not kidding, young lady. Get your ass back here," he growled now, feeling very foolish trying to reason with a disobedient goat.
David watched from the doorway to see if the naughty animal would obey or it decided to flee. He thought he predict how this was going to play out and it wasn't in his companion's favor. Attempting to give Jamie ample warning, he called softly.
"She's going to be a runner."
Jamie grunted.
"I know. She always is," he replied over his shoulder, not taking his eyes of the sassy goat.
This time, Jasper allowed her human to get close enough to feel somewhat hopeful that capture was eminent.
"Come on, girl. We're getting soaking wet and it looks like its going to get worse. Be good and come back," he coaxed sweetly.
Reaching out a cautious hand, Jamie attempted to snag her collar. At that moment, Jasper's knees dropped, and she bounded swiftly off into the underbrush.
"Dammit, Jasper!" Jamie yelled and followed close behind.
David couldn't suppress a laugh at the cheek of this brainless creature. It fully intended to give Jamie hell. The rain wasn't yet pouring and the ground was still firm.
"What the hell?" he laughed to himself and rolled out into the icy droplets.
David could still hear Jamie yelling in outrage at Jasper as he carefully made his way to the trees. Water rolled down his bald head and neck then slid down the back of his shirt. Strangely he found he didn't mind; in the past it would have been a cold day in hell before he willingly went out in such weather.
Stopping just shy of the undergrowth, he could see Jamie a short distance ahead, hands planted on his hips and leaning forward to bark threats into a tangle of brush. Bleats emanated from within the snarl of branches. Lowering himself down from his chair, David was able to ambulate carefully into the mix of weeds, downed limbs, sticks, and God knew what else.
"Get out here now," Jamie demanded. "I'm not kidding, Jasper."
Hearing the crackle of twigs behind him, the man whirled around to find David approaching on his stumps and upper arms. His brow creased in confusion.
"What are you doing out here?"
"I said I wanted to help," David smiled up into Jamie's flush and exasperated face.
Honestly, Jamie had expected him to even go to the door with rain lazily misting. Lord Drakkon was as prissy as a feline unless he was pissed off and in the blood to splatter blood. David's shirt and altered pants were streaked with wet dirt and his cheek had a swipe of muck.
"What?" he asked noting Jamie's stare.
"I'm not used to seeing you covered in anything besides blood and human gore," Jamie answered.
"First time for everything, I suppose. Now, it looks like I can get in there and snatch your goat, Jamie. Step aside," he grinned grandly.
If the former warlord wanted to worm his way into the bramble, Jamie wasn't about to stop him. Sweeping his arms toward the shambling snarl of growth, he stepped out of the way.
"Be my guest then," he chuckled. "There's no way I can fit under that."
Lowering himself down, David wiggled his way forward with his arms and managed to work his way in following Jasper's recently trampled entrance. The bleating became almost haughty at this point as the new human approached it. The animal sensed that Drakkon wasn't completely on the up and up.
The bell tinkled as she backed up, but there was no way out the other side.
"Come here, you bratty flea bag," he hissed, lunging forward as Jasper attempted to plow out the opposite side.
David caught the foolish animals back legs and pulled it back towards him.
"Lot of trouble, aren't you?" he hissed in its dumb face. "Goddamn, those are some fucked up looking eyes."
Grasping the collar, David began working his way back towards the place Jamie now stood. He could just see make out bits and pieces of the other man's figure, but judging by his stance, Jamie was shocked.
"Looking for his?" the tyrant huffed, dragging the animal up with him.
Kneeling Jamie grasped the collar firmly before he decided he was leaving nothing to chance; he scooped the struggling beast up into his arms and tucked it under his arm. Jasper squalled indignantly, spindly legs kicking to no avail.
"Right back at you, you little shit," Jamie muttered.
David panted as he grinned up at the other man, the rain making him squint.
"Ta da!" he announced, attempting a modified curtsey.
A clap of thunder roared ominously. Jamie looked nervously around, straining through the trees. He thought again of the otherworldly hound and his first Ranger fight in decades.
Was this just a storm? Or something more?
There was no eerie howling or large canines lurking nearby that he could discern. Licking his lips anxiously, he continued scanning the woods as he addressed David.
"We should probably hurry back. Just in case…"
David also narrowed his eyes as he too peered into the wet greenery. Even with his enhanced hearing, there was nothing but the pelting of rain on leaves and vegetation, Jasper's incessant bleats with his tinkling bell, and Jamie's pounding heart.
"I don't hear anything, but I think I prefer warmer and drier locations," he answered.
As quickly as they could, both men made their way out of the trees; David hauled his bedraggled body up into the wheelchair, but by now, there was no way, it was going to make it through the mud under his own power.
"Fuck," he hissed.
Suddenly, a wriggly warm body descended on his lap.
"Here. Hold this a second," Jamie quipped, grabbing the handles. "I love having Ranger strength."
David griped the goat snugly as they were pushed through the increasing rain towards the door.
"She's coming in with us. I can't do anything about her pen right now. And I'm not doing this again today," Jamie snorted, giving Jasper a dirty look.
Once they got into the kitchen, he kicked the door shut behind him. Just in time too, as Jasper managed to free herself from David's weakening hold. The clatter of hooves echoed on the wood floor and she trotted off, twisting her tail at the two humans.
With a final, demeaning bleat she was gone in search of edible items.
"Hey," Jamie leaned down into David's weary face. "You alright?"
David shrugged.
"Yes, I'm just really tired now," he answered blankly.
Not buying the explanation completely, Jamie wheeled the other man into the bedroom where his other clothing was still bundled in his satchel. Pulling out fresh, dry garments, he turned back to find David's eyes drifting closed, his head propped up on one arm.
"Let's get you dry first then maybe you should lay down for a bit," he advised gently.
This time, he felt certain that David wasn't faking weakness and truly did need assistance. He had managed to help capture the marauding Jasper so the least Jamie could do was not let him catch a cold.
"Come on. Arms up!" he prodded, helping pull the wet shirt over David's head.
The whole process of changing and transferring was quiet on the tyrant's end. Surely that foray off into the woods hadn't zapped all his strength that easily. Jamie frowned. No, there must be something more.
By the time, the Fox Ranger had tucked the colorful quilt around him, David was already snoozing. Jamie stared down at him a moment longer, trying to puzzle out what was going on with him. Despite his claims of wanting to change and that he would behave, Jamie had expected some form of grab ass or sexual innuendo.
But David didn't even attempt the subtlest of groping.
While glad of it, Jamie felt uneasy.
A thump from the living room grabbed his attention as Jasper found more ways to aggrieve him. Hanging his head in quiet supplication, Jamie took a deep breath.
Of all the fuckery he was being forced to endure, did the snotty creature have to add to his laundry list of issues?
While his new roommate dozed, Jamie took a quick shower and changed into fresh clothing. By the time he was finished the sun was peeking through the clouds again. After pouring himself a much-needed mug of coffee, he tip-toed to the bedroom door and observed David still slumbering peacefully.
This break in the weather was the perfect opportunity to run to town and pick up some supplies and a few things to secure that blasted goat's pen. Pulling a sheet of paper from David's sketch book, he jotted a quick note regarding his trip, leaving it on the pillow beside the man's head.
As he leaned over to put the paper in place, David muttered a word under his breath as he curled into a tight ball.
"Vulpes."
Holding his breath, Jamie waited nervously, muscles tensed as he expected another wild outburst. But nothing more happened.
The trip to town would have to be quick indeed.