Author's Notes: This'll be a 2 shot because as I was writing it, it kept getting longer haha the inspiration for this was from one of the hour long episodes with El Cuchillo. There's a moment when one of his men was about to shoot Zorro in the back and Cuchillo stops him and says we don't shoot a man in the back.

But the bandits in my story don't hold the same morals…..muwaahahahahahahha

Shot in the Back

As if hit with an iron mallet, Zorro propelled forward. Tornado skidded a little trying to counteract the balance of his owner who was now slumped over on his neck. Tornado ramped up his speed knowing he needed to get them away from danger.

He cut across some flat lands and ducked into a cluster of bushes as his owner would do when there was a threat. There had been no direction from his master sitting on top of him. It was odd. When all was quiet, he came out of hiding. Get back to Bernardo, that's what he needed to do. Bernardo would know what to do with his master.

Tornado guided them through some bumpy terrain, taking it slower than usual and crossing the Highway Road. Tornado grunted and came to a stop as his owner slid to one side and fell to the ground. Tornado waited. His owner didn't move. He nuzzled him gently in the face to try and rouse him. Tornado turned his head this way and that. He couldn't leave his master but he needed to get back to Bernardo. Bernardo would know what to do.

Tornado tried nudging the lifeless form a little harder but he didn't budge. Tornado jerked his head up at the sound of a steady clip clop.

Moneta and her brother Miguel were traveling home from a long day of helping the poor and the Indians. Moneta was proud of her brother who had returned a few months ago from medical school. He had not graduated yet, he was to intern with Doctor Moreno for a year or two and put his education to practice. They spent the better part of the day helping take care of the sick and handing out food to those in need. Miguel was allowed to do some minor examinations without his superior's aid who was needed elsewhere.

Now as they traveled home in the large buggy, which they had used for carrying extra supplies, Moneta found it hard to keep her eyes open. The sun had set and the moon cast its eerie glow on the road. She squeezed her brother's arm and gave him a proud smile before resting her head on his shoulder.

"Look over there," Miguel pulled back on the reins as his sister turned toward where he was pointing. They saw a dark saddled horse several yards away.

"Looks like it's thrown its rider," Moneta surmised. They dismounted from the buggy and neared the horse to see if they could catch him. As they grew closer the black horse reared on his hind legs and shrieked a terrible sound. He faced them and snorted several times, his ears flicking constantly. Both of them froze not wanting the animal to charge. "Look!" Moneta pointed to the black form coming into focus on the ground. It was hard to see in the moonlight. Her heart leapt into her throat at the thought. "Zorro," she breathed allowed.

"Zorro, the outlaw?"

The horse rose up on its hind legs again and shrieked, keeping himself between them and his rider.

"He's protecting him," Moneta stated, "he must be hurt," her limbs trembled at the notion. Was he even alive? She sent up a silent prayer. "How do we get to him?"

Miguel took a cautious step forward, his arms displayed out to his sides. The horse snorted and stared directly at Miguel. "We're not trying to hurt you. We are your friends."

"I don't think that will work," Moneta clipped. "Oh, what are we going to do? We have to get to him. He may be hurt or dying."

"Oh wait," he pulled out some sugar cubes from his breast pocket. He always kept some on hand to show his admiration for these beautiful creatures. He displayed the cubes in his hand and extended his arm toward the animal.

The black stallion's nuzzle twitched as he recognized the scent of the white cubes. Bernardo always gave him sugar cubes. He paused for a moment, surmising if these two strangers were indeed friendly and not a threat. They were offering sugar cubes, they must be friendly. They could help. They didn't look like the ragged men earlier and weren't dressed all the same. Tornado stepped forward and took the sugar cubes from the man's hand.

Miguel cooed as he took another cautious step forward, "Good boy," he rubbed the animal's neck, admiring the massive muscles of this stallion. It was magnificent.

"You keep him calm, I'm going to check on Zorro," Moneta took a few hesitant steps past the animal then knelt next to the man in black. "Senor?" she called. He didn't stir. She went to put her fingers on the vein on his neck as Miguel had taught her but stopped. It didn't feel right to even be this close as if touching him would risk his safety. She curbed her hesitation and pressed on his neck. She exhaled in relief at feeling the vein pulsating. "He's still alive," she informed over her shoulder. "It's so dark. I can't see what is wrong. Miguel, you must check him for an injury."

Miguel patted the animal, satisfied he had formed enough trust with the animal to leave it to attend to his downed rider. He came to the outlaw's side, knowing full well the stallion had turned and was standing right behind him as he checked the masked man for injuries. Miguel did an initial check and didn't find anything. He had an idea and gingerly turned the black form on his side and the ground was stained with a dark spot. Miguel placed his hand on the man's wet back, pulled his hand back and it was blood. "He's been shot in the back."

Moneta gasped and her whole body trembled, "What do we do? We cannot take him to the hacienda. We can't call on Doctor Moreno, he'd report this to the commandante."

A whirlwind of scenarios went through Miguel's mind. It was true, they couldn't tell anyone about this. Zorro would most certainly be taken into custody or left to die. Miguel stood and looked around at the landscape.

Moneta stood too, "We must help him."

"Shhh. I'm trying to think," Miguel knew they were close to their own land. An idea formed, "Come, I have an idea," he took the masked man by his arm and hoisted him up. He slung him over his shoulders and buckled a little under the weight of this outlaw. He carried him to the buggy, "Cover the blood stain with dirt. If someone is after him we don't want them tracking him," he instructed as he went to the carriage and laid the man in the back seat. Miguel almost jumped at the loud snort directly behind him. He turned to find the stallion inches from him. He rubbed his nose, "I am going to take care of him. You have to trust me, okay?" He took the reins of the black stallion and guided him to the back of the buggy and tied him to the frame.

Moneta rushed up and climbed into the buggy herself as Miguel assumed the driver's seat. "Where are we going?"

Miguel checked the road for any signs of movement before clicking and tapping his horse to a fast pace. "There's a place on our property where we can hide him."

Moneta never took her eyes off of the man in black. He lay so still in the backseat. After a few minutes, Miguel guided the horse off the road and across some terrain. He pulled the buggy behind some boulders and trees to hide it and came to a stop. Moneta didn't recognize where they were. Her eyes were fully adjusted to the dark. A few feet away amongst the trees and boulders there was an opening. Miguel carried the man toward the opening and Moneta followed them into the cave.

"Moneta, make a torch."

She did as she was told. It was something she had done since she was a child. She lit it and went inside the cave. "What is this place?" she found Miguel tearing the black clothing away from the wound. She neared to give him more light.

"We think it was a place the Indians used to escape to hide during the wars. Antonio, Mateo, Diego, and I would come here as kids acting out many adventures," Miguel grimaced at the dried blood on the skin, "I need to clean this. Get my bag and the canteen from the carriage."

Moneta found a hook on the wall and maneuvered the torch into it then raced back for his medical bag and a blanket. When she came back she saw her brother reaching for the mask. "Miguel!" she admonished.

He jerked his hand away as if a child being caught, "Moneta, you startled me."

"You are not to touch his mask," she ordered as she handed him his bag.

He huffed, "But aren't you curious?" Many times he and his friends would get together and have spirited speculations as to which one of them was this outlaw. It was known that it was a caballero but which one of them was this daring and cunning fox.

"Of course I am, but if you find out, you will put his life in jeopardy. It is not our place to know who is under the mask," she tore some of her petticoat and handed it to him to help clean the area of the wound. "Do you think you can save him?" She found a deserted campfire a few feet away and worked to make it usable.

"I hope so. I'd hate to go down in history as the doctor who lost his first real patient – an infamous patient at that." He looked over the wound, "He's still bleeding pretty bad. Doctor Moreno says the first thing is to stop the bleeding. The bullet is still in there. Moneta, come here," he took his sister's hands and had her press the strips of her petticoat onto the wound. "Press hard," he applied the pressure over her hands. They both heard the man grunt and froze. But he did not stir so Miguel rummaged through his medical bag.

"What about the bullet?" Moneta asked applying pressure.

"It's got to come out."

"Are you going to do that? Have you removed a bullet before?"

Miguel paused, "No. I've only watched Moreno. But if I don't get this bullet out he will die." He huffed in frustration, "I do not have all the supplies and medicine I need. I used them up today. I will need to go back home and get them." He stood, "Keep applying pressure."

Moneta's eyes widened, "You're going to leave?"

Miguel explained as he gathered a few of the stray sticks that had found their way into the cave and finished making the campfire, "I have to. It'd be easier than sending you when you don't know what I need. I'll be back as soon as I can," after the campfire was burning, giving the cave more light, he left and started for the buggy. He stopped. He turned toward the black stallion and approached the animal, "Your master needs help. I think I can help him but I have to be quick. Will you let me ride you?" he ran his hand along the stallion's neck as he grabbed the pummel of the saddle. "All I want is to help your friend. Can we do it together, boy?" He eased his foot into the stirrup and hoisted himself up into the saddle. Without even coaxing the horse, it took off with a speed Miguel had never experienced before. He clung to the pummel and squeezed his legs to stay on. The wind stung his cheeks as the horse raced at its unimaginable high speed. Miguel couldn't believe it. It was as if he was flying. He emitted a laugh as he leaned forward and raced toward home.

Moneta had placed his head in her lap and propped him on his side with the blanket. Her arms were hurting from the constant pressure. Surely she could take a moment and see if the bleeding had stopped. She pried the cloth away and there was only a minor trickle of blood protruding from the wound. She shook her hands then went back to applying pressure. Her heart rate accelerated when he stirred.

He grunted and then groaned painfully.

"Lie still, Senor." She tried to comfort him but he rose onto his elbow.

"Where am I?" His gravelly voice was abrupt. He surveyed his surroundings to see if it was a threat.

"In a cave." Moneta put a hand on his shoulder.

"How did I get here?" He groaned in pain.

"My brother and I brought you here. You're safe. You must lie back, you were shot."

"I have to get out of here," he didn't listen to her advice. His breath was uneven and strained.

"If you leave, you will die. My brother is returning with medical supplies. He is skilled in medical knowledge. He wants to help you. Please, Senor, lay back. We only want to help you."

He collapsed back into her lap then reached for his face.

"Do not worry. We did not remove your mask. We are not wanting to find out your identity. We only wish to help." He licked his lips as his hand dropped to the ground. She grabbed the canteen and gave him some water. She gingerly stroked his cheek with the back of her fingers then stroked his head which was also covered within a black bandana.

"I am indebted to you, Senorita," his voice was barely a whisper.

"Rest now," she soothed him until he fell asleep. She prayed Miguel would be back soon as she went to apply pressure.