by Tora Moon
He heard Jaehaas roar with pain and whirled to see a cat hanging onto the centaur’s flanks. Blazel ran across the clearing and bowled into the sabertiger. He dug his claws in deep and shredded its belly with his back feet. A sabertiger thudded onto the ground next to him, its bones shattering at the impact of its fall from a great height.
He saw a cat slinking toward him, but before he could do anything, a red-gold ball of fur landed on its back. The fur ball resolved into Aistrun as he sank his claws into the feline and crushed its throat with his powerful jaws. He jumped up and waved above him. Graak’s screech answered, and a moment later Broogk dove for one of the few remaining cats, his talons digging deep into its side as he lifted it off the ground. Aistrun rushed to swipe his claws across its throat. Blazel crouched, jaws open, claws held ready to fight.
“It’s over,” Rizelya cried.
In a daze, Blazel scanned the clearing. He caught sight of a tail disappearing into the forest. Sabertiger bodies littered the ground. Blood dripped from Jaehaas’s flanks. A Phengriff was on the ground, blood pooling around its dead body. Another one was whimpering, his wing drooped at an odd angle. Aistrun wore a maniacal grin, his jaws dyed a bright red, He lifted his head and howled. He didn’t appear to be injured, but until he shifted back to human, it was difficult to tell.
Blazel hissed as the punctures on his back began to burn. He ignored the pain as he searched for the one who filled his heart. He finally found her, blood spattered all over her face and arms. He jogged over to Rizelya and pulled her into an embrace being careful with his claws. She hugged him back.
“You hurt?” he asked.
She shook her head. “Not badly. A few scratches is all. You?”
Her fingers reached up his back and found his wounds. He couldn’t help but yelp and pull away at the pain.
“You’re wounded. Let me take down the shield around Chariel and Wisah and then we’ll get you patched up. Too bad Kaieli isn’t with us.” At his quizzical look, she added, “She’s my heart-sister and a skilled healer. We don’t have anyone with healing abilities with us. Unless …”
Blazel shrugged then hissed at the unwise move. “Perhaps.” He had more he needed to say but couldn’t get enough words out of his warrior muzzle. He had heard Rizelya’s mind-speech; perhaps he could communicate like that. *Rizelya?*
She looked at him, startled. “You used mind-speech! What do you need to tell me?”
*The Phengriffs have healers, but I’m not sure one has accompanied us. They are usually females. I’m fine but Jaehaas is badly hurt and so are some Phengriffs. At least one is dead.*
“Chariel and Wisah have some first-aid supplies. Let’s go get them.” Rizelya tugged on his hand, and he followed her to where the women waited. As soon as the shield dissipated, they ran out carrying bags over their shoulders. Chariel rushed to the Phengriff with the injured wing while Wisah raced to Jaehaas.
Wisah and Jaehaas spoke a moment before he tugged her into his arms. When she saw his hindquarters and back, her hand flew to her mouth. Her face was white and her hands trembled as she pulled out bandages and salves from her bag. She lifted a waterskin and poured water over Jaehaas’s wounds. His hindquarters quivered, then he let out a shrill gasp, and crumpled to the ground.
Blazel and Rizelya raced to him. Blazel knelt by Jaehaas’s head. He had scratches on his face, shoulders, and arms, but they didn’t appear to be as deep or severe as the ones on his horse haunches. In his warrior form, Blazel couldn’t do much to help. He glanced at Rizelya and Wisah, who were busy trying to stanch the bleeding from a particularly deep slice. Rizelya nodded to something Wisah said and stood up with her helbraught in her hands.
“Blazel, hold him,” Wisah commanded. “This is going to hurt like Crone’s fires, but it’s the only way to stop the bleeding.”
Blazel nodded and carefully placed his paws on Jaehaas’s shoulders. Rizelya’s helbraught blade glowed red as she heated it with her fire magic. Her lips pulled in a tight line as she touched the blade to where Wisah indicated. Jaehaas screamed and kicked out with his hooves. Blazel pressed down hard as Jaehaas struggled.
“Aistrun!” Rizelya yelled. “I need you.”
The red-gold warrior loped over to them. He’d found some water to wash the gore off his muzzle. Blazel wished he had thought to do the same. Every time he breathed, he smelled the unpleasant stench of sabertiger. Jaehaas had stopped kicking, falling into unconsciousness.
“We have to cauterize three more of these slashes,” Wisah said. “If we don’t, he’ll bleed to death. We need to keep him from flailing.”
“Tie him,” Aistrun said, then switched to mind-speech. *If we tie his legs together, he won’t be able to kick them. Hey, I don’t want to get hurt.*
Without waiting for a response, Aistrun loped to the horses. While he dug through his bag for rope, Blazel picked up the water bag and splash water over his muzzle and claws. He sighed in pleasure at getting the stink of blood off. He took a drink and passed it to Rizelya, who gratefully took it, drank, and passed it to Wisah. She shook her head, concentrating on slathering salve on the cauterized wound. Jaehaas’s skin shivered under her touch, but he remained unconscious. Aistrun handed the rope to Rizelya, who quickly looped the rope around Jaehaas’s legs just above the pastern and tied them together.
Wisah pointed to a long, bloody stripe that stretched from the top of Jaehaas’s back all the way across his flank. Blazel set his paws on Jaehaas's shoulders while Aistrun held his rump. Rizelya looked determined as she heated her helbraught blade. When it glowed, she placed the length of it on the cut. Jaehaas woke up screaming, his head and shoulders rising in protest, and it took all of Blazel’s strength to push him back down. Wisah rushed to place her hands on either side of Jaehaas's face.
“We have two more to do, my darling,” Wisah murmured. “Be brave, my love, and it will all be over soon.” Still holding Jaehaas's face and staring into his eyes, she nodded to Rizelya.
This time Jaehaas clenched his teeth before finally letting out a loud moan. Wisah gave him a few milcrons to recover and then nodded to Rizelya to do the last one. Jaehaas's eyes rolled back in his head and he passed out again. Wisah kissed his forehead before standing up. She opened a jar and carefully dabbed salve on the seared flesh.
“He won’t be able to travel today,” Wisah said quietly, not looking up from her work. “If he tries to walk, these will break open and he could die.” Blazel heard the fear in her voice.
“Isn’t there a cave around here?” Rizelya asked. She leaned on her helbraught as if it were a staff.
Now the danger was gone and his warrior strength wasn’t needed, Blazel released the magic and nearly sagged as his injuries flared with fresh pain. He gritted his teeth against the pain as he looked around the clearing, getting his bearings.
He nodded. “The cave with the hot pools isn’t far from here, but we’ll have to somehow get Jaehaas there.”
“Perhaps the Phengriffs can help,” Rizelya suggested. “They used a sling to carry him up the cliff to Alkaak. Couldn’t they do the same and fly him to the cave?”
“If they could, it would be best,” Wisah said as she looked up from applying salve. Tears streaked her face. “I don’t want to lose him.”
“I’ll go ask Graak,” Blazel said.
He found Graak beside the Phengriff with the injured wing. Chariel had bandaged it the best she could and was now smearing salve on Broogk’s neck. The big Phengriff towered over her.
“How many of your flight were injured?” Blazel asked.
*Keeru is the most seriously injured. We have one dead. All the other injuries are minor. We fight the sabertigers often.* He turned to look at Blazel. *And you?*
“Jaehaas was badly hurt. We’ve cauterized his wounds, but Wisah says if he walks he’ll break them open and bleed to death.”
*I’m grieved to hear this. There is a cave nearby. We’ll go there to rest and treat our wounded. I’ll have two of my warriors
bring the sling and carry Jaehaas there. We’ll have to lift Keeru as well. He can’t fly.* Graak indicated the Phengriff with the damaged wing.
“Thank you.” Blazel bowed his head in relief. Chariel came up to him as Graak was giving orders to his flight.
“Blazel, what happened to you?”
She made him take off his shirt so she could examine his back. He tried to pull away from her touch, but she grabbed his shoulder and wouldn’t let him go.
“These wounds need stitching,” she said as she strapped a bandage over them. She handed his shirt back to him. “We’ll take care of it at the cave. Is it the one with the hot pools?”
He nodded.
“Oh good! The hot water will help all of our injured. Did I hear right? Jaehaas is badly injured?”
“Yes, but Rizelya cauterized his wounds so he’ll be okay.”
He trailed after her as she ran to where Jaehaas still lay on the ground. Aistrun had shifted back to human and only had a few scratches. He helped Blazel maneuver Jaehaas into the sling under Chariel and Wisah’s supervision. They watched anxiously as the Phengriffs lifted him off the ground. Wisah’s voice was strident with worry as she urged the Phengriffs carrying him to be careful. Once Jaehaas was safely off the ground, Chariel and Wisah ran to their horses.
“Go with them, Aistrun,” Rizelya ordered. “Keep them safe. We’ll soon follow.”
Aistrun gave Rizelya a salute and raced after the girls. The sound of large wings beating to take off filled the clearing. Soon only Blazel, Rizelya, and Graak stood in the clearing.
“Would you like me to burn your fallen warrior, Graak?” Rizelya asked quietly. “It would be more dignified than leaving him here for the scavengers to eat.”
Graak dipped his head. *I would be most grateful if you would. It is our custom to burn the dead so their souls can pass to the Mother’s arms.*
“It is ours as well.”
It didn’t take long for the body to be immolated by Rizelya’s fire. Exhaustion hit Blazel as he climbed onto Lighzel’s back, and his own back hurt where the sabertiger’s jaws had punctured him. He could feel blood dripping past the bandages. But as he looked over at Rizelya, he knew that with her he could endure anything.
* * *
The horse’s hooves rang on the stone path at the cave’s entrance. Rizelya slipped off Kymaya and hung against her, holding back a sob. She hadn’t experienced the pain of having one of her squad-pack so seriously injured before. Fighting the monsters was dangerous, and many of her friends had been hurt, some even killed. But this was the first time someone under her leadership had been wounded.
She shuddered, remembering the deep gashes on Jaehaas's back and flanks that she had cauterized. The stink of burning flesh and hair rose unbidden to her mind. Please, Warrior, Mother, and Crone, protect my pack. Let nothing more happen to them. And I pray I never have to do that again to one of my friends.
Kymaya nosed her shoulder and gave a snort. Rizelya pushed away from the security of her old friend. She grabbed Kymaya’s reins and led her to the makeshift stables. Blazel walked in front of her, his shirt boasting bright stains of blood. He needed his wounds taken care of soon.
Aistrun was waiting for them and took the reins of both of their horses. He slapped the reins against his other hand. “We put Jaehaas in the back where it’s warm. Wisah is with him. He hasn’t woken up yet, but she assures us that’s better for him. Hey, Blazel, Chariel told me to send you to her as soon as I saw you. She’s in the same place.”
Blazel grunted in reply and turned around. Aistrun whistled. “Sweet Mother, no wonder she’s looking for you. You need to get stitched up. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of your horses. I’ve got help.”
He tilted his chin to indicate Broogk, who was carefully brushing Tejen. The curry brush looked odd gripped in the Phengriff’s talon. When Broogk stopped his brushing to look at the newcomers, Tejen snorted and nosed the brush. Broogk dropped his beak in a grin and, chortling, went back to brushing the horse.
Blazel laughed and then bent over coughing. As soon as he quit, Rizelya gripped his arm and guided him to where a fire was burning brightly. He had waited long enough to get his wounds tended properly, and she wasn’t going to let him dither any longer. Chariel looked up from stirring a pot simmering on the fire.
“Blazel, sit down before you fall down,” Chariel ordered. “You’re too pale.” Blazel slumped to the ground, and Chariel hustled to stand behind him. She frowned when she saw his blood-soaked shirt, then dipped a towel in the pot warming near the fire and tossed it to Rizelya. “Here, soak his back.”
Rizelya placed the steaming towel on Blazel’s back. He hissed through his teeth when it touched him, and it took a few milcrons for him to relax against her hands. When the towel began to cool, she put the it down, and together with Chariel, gently eased the shirt up off his wounds. Rizelya bit her lip as she watched Chariel remove the blood-soaked bandages.
Four deep punctures were on either side of his spine. She could see clearly where the sabertiger’s front claws had fastened onto Blazel’s back. If she hadn’t seen the attack and killed the cat, Blazel wouldn’t be here now. Tears prickled her eyes. She blinked them back quickly. Chariel was gently examining the punctures.
“Will I need to cauterize any of them?” Rizelya asked. She didn’t want to hurt her lover, but she would if it would save his life.
Chariel shook her head. “No, they just need to be stitched.” She handed a piece of wood to Blazel. “Here, bite down on this if you need to.” Then she picked up a long, slender needle threaded with fine, strong thread.
Rizelya turned her head away, unwilling to watch. Instead, she moved to sit in front of Blazel and took his hands in hers. “You can hold onto me,” she said.
He gazed into her eyes as Chariel plunged the needle into his skin. His hands convulsed, squeezing hers tight. By the time Chariel was done with all eight puncture wounds, Rizelya’s hands were bruised from Blazel’s crushing grip. Once the stitching was completed, Chariel slathered on salve. The tightness around his mouth and eyes eased, and his grip on her hands gentled.
Jaehaas had regained consciousness, but he was still weak from his injuries. The sabertigers had attacked him the hardest. Chariel had stitched several wounds on his shoulders and one on his chest. If he didn’t try to run or use his damaged flanks, he’d heal.
As Rizelya curled up next to Blazel that night and his strong arms held her close, she gave thanks to the Goddess all of her people had survived.
Graak had his flight rig two slings in the morning, one for his injured Phengriff, Keeru, and one for Jaehaas. Jaehaas wasn’t happy about being carried but didn’t have much choice. He’d managed to hobble outside to relieve himself and was shuddering with pain and exhaustion by the time he was finished.
Even flying with slings between them, the Phengriffs were able to travel quickly. The snow Rizelya and the others had trouble with on the journey out had melted, increasing the pace the earth-bound horses could travel. They raced past the place where they had fought the wolves, and she was relieved to see no shadows skulking in the trees.
What had taken them eight days to travel, they now crossed in three. The air was warm, and she caught glimpses of flowers blooming in the meadows as they sped past. Trees that had just been budding were now in full leaf. Their rush startled a lonely bear, who roared as it chased them. A huge eagle-type Phengriff dove on it and snapped its neck. He gloated with pleasure for such a fine meal.
“If we keep this pace, we should reach the boundary to the Sanctuary’s territory tomorrow,” Rizelya commented as she ate dinner. Her arms ached so badly from gripping the reins, her spoon trembled on its way to her mouth.
“I might make it,” Wisah said with a groan. She was staring at her soup bowl. “I’m so tired I can’t eat.”
“Hey, just think,” Aistrun said, sounding much too chipper, “when we do make it, there will be safe houses along the way with real beds to sleep i
n.”
Chariel’s eyes lit up. “No more sleeping on the ground.”
They had been so exhausted when they finally stopped for the night, no one even mentioned digging out the tents and setting them up. They laid out their bedrolls in a circle around the fire. Jaehaas was just as exhausted, and his belly was sore from being rubbed by the sling’s ropes. Wisah rubbed his belly with ointment and curled up next to him. She mumbled something about fixing the sling for him before her eyes drooped shut. Rizelya had just enough energy to give Blazel a goodnight kiss before her own fatigue pulled her into sleep.
Late the next evening, just when the light was failing and they were about to give up for the night, the trail they followed became a rough road. A tall pillar marked the boundary of Sanctuary Territory. Rizelya pulled up Kymaya sharply.
“We’re here. Let’s make camp,” she said. “It’s too dark to go any further.”
Aistrun and Blazel pulled down the packs from their multa, Kressy. She gave a hoot of pleasure, immediately dropped to the ground, and rolled in the dirt, quickly followed by the other multa. Chariel and Wisah dug through a pack for the cooking supplies. Rizelya gathered firewood, using her fire magic to create a small light to see.
She dropped the armload of wood next to the circle of stones Aistrun had made for the fire. A few moments later a cheery fire filled the night with light. Graak landed beside them. He settled next to the fire and watched while the pot of water boiled and taevo was brewed.
He took a sip and said, *I expect Moraak and his group will arrive here sometime tomorrow. We should wait for him.*
“Our horses could use a rest,” Rizelya said. “We’ve pushed them hard.”
“Hey, I could use a rest,” Aistrun complained. “So could Blazel and Jaehaas. This arduous journey hasn’t helped their injuries any.”