Rhamin

by Bryce THOMAS

  As if released from a sling, the mountain lions took their cue and bounded forwards. The male, now recovered, but still bleeding, went for Rasci, but his confidence had gone and Rasci repelled him back towards the younger ones which, although they were doing a lot of spitting, threatening and posturing, hadn’t swung a claw between them. The female mountain lion went straight for Rhamin. He didn’t move. The female cat was smaller than her mate and Rhamin was bigger and heavier than any wolf. Her size matched his well. Yeltsa was behind him again, against the fence, in the right position so that he could protect her. Rhamin’s thick coat seemed impervious to the mountain lion’s ripping claws which swiped at him from both sides as her jaws of needle teeth headed towards him.

  But, on three legs and with her splinted leg poking out in front of her, Yeltsa pushed past her mate and went for the tender underside of the big cat as it leapt for Rhamin’s throat. As Rhamin’s strong jaws contacted with the cat’s face, Yeltsa grabbed the feline’s underbelly. It rolled over, thrashing with its claws as Yeltsa stood over it. Using every ounce of her strength, she pinned it down, keeping her head and face close to its body while it clawed at her and snarled and spat. But she didn’t let go until Rhamin was clear of its fangs. He was moving to repel three of the enemy wolves that were bounding towards him. When he was well clear of the cat, she released the mountain lion. It reeled away sideways, spitting and snarling. Regaining its balance, and struggling to run, it staggered off towards her mate.

  Rhiana and her daughters attacked together. Rhamin caught Caysha’s front leg and, whipping his head up, he heard something snap as she plummeted into Jyan. But, as Rhamin did that, it gave Rhiana a chance to grab a hold of the top of his fore leg. She ripped at it, pulling Rhamin off balance.

  Rasci was about to grab hold of Rhiana, when Roxana, now accompanied by Brenlin and Solin, threw herself at him, lips curling, teeth lashing. Rasci fended her off, not sure that he could hurt her. But the attack gave Brenlin the chance to get in beneath her. He darted in and ripped at the flesh on Rasci’s side, pulling him sideways. As Rasci moved with the motion of his attacker’s head to prevent serious damage to the flesh on his rib cage, he toppled to one side. He was going down, and as he did so, Roxana grabbed his leg to prevent him regaining his balance while Solin grabbed a hold of his throat.

  It would have been a fatal move for Rasci, but for Yeltsa. Running on three legs she came from behind him and clenched her jaws hard on Solin’s muzzle, preventing him from closing his jaws, covering his nostrils so that he had to let go of his grip on Rasci’s wind-pipe in order to breathe himself.

  But Rhamin was also down, and now there were two wolves, Rhiana and Jyan, on top of him, trying to get at his throat. Prevented only by his huge mouth full of lashing teeth, they began to bite at his underbelly. What strength he had built up in the last few hours, was rapidly beginning to diminish.

  From the corner of his eye, Rasci could see the female mountain lion stalking forwards once again. Now she was concentrating on Rasci. He could tell she was waiting for the chance to flash in with her sharp teeth when his neck was exposed. But he too was still down, held by Roxana who retained a firm hold of his leg, and by Brenlin who stood astride him, his jaws locked on the flesh on Rasci’s side.

  Now Yeltsa too had succumbed to Solin’s superior strength. She had used up every drop of energy that she had recovered during her few hours of freedom and now she was at his mercy. Solin showed none. His mouth closed on Yeltsa’s throat. But then, as sure as death was to follow, Solin let go. There was a cracking sound as he travelled sideways and landed squarely against Brenlin’s back legs. Some force had hit Solin and had taken his body in an arcing trajectory towards his brother.

  Rasci could only watch as Lexa’s hot, growling, snarling form impacted with the wolf at a speed that he thought would surely break her neck. With her teeth heading up the onslaught, she impacted with the side of Solin’s chest, the momentum of her thick set body and neck, knocking him in the air harder than a kick by a buffalo. He heard the crack, but it wasn’t Lexa’s neck. It was Solin’s ribs.

  Brenlin’s legs buckled, but he still struggled to keep his grip on Rasci’s side. Rasci’s head swung upwards as Brenlin’s balance changed. His teeth grabbed at Brenlin’s throat but only managed to grip the loose fur beneath his windpipe. As he tugged at the flesh to draw Brenlin closer Rasci could see the female mountain lion charging towards him. She was in mid air when Lexa intercepted her, her own jaws against the mountain lion’s jaws. But Lexa didn’t have the thick coat of a wolf. The cat’s claws ripped at her left shoulder, tearing it like a leaf. Holding onto the mountain lion’s face with her clenched jaws, Lexa tried to spin out of the way of the flailing claws. Again her skin was torn, this time on her face. Blood ran into her eyes as she jerked her head from side to side, trying to worry the cat like a terrier shakes a rat. But she was going to have to let go, and if she did, then blinded by blood, she would be at the cat’s mercy. The claws came around again, but unable to see them, she maintained her grip and fell sideways with the impact, dragging the growling cat with her.

  Rhamin’s strength was failing. He was on his back. Rhiana had a strong hold of the flesh on his rib cage and Jyan had managed to grab a hold of his neck. Using every ounce of remaining energy, he twisted over onto his belly, dragging Rhiana around and underneath him. Jyan was also now beneath him but still holding tight onto his neck close to his throat but she dare not leave go and get a better hold. He was twisting his head to one side and lashing his teeth only inches from her own jugular.

  Unlike Rhamin, Rasci was well fed and well built. He was in his prime and his energy was nowhere near depleted. He used all his strength to push himself upright with his free front leg and shook hard at Brenlin’s neck. He could feel Brenlin’s grip on his side weakening, but Rasci’s eyes were still turned towards the lion. Its eyes were red with Lexa’s blood, and wide with rage, but the enraged creature was unable to turn on his wolf dog. She was determined not to let go. Again she shook the big cat’s head viciously from side to side. It was beginning to lose consciousness when the male lion came to its help. In mid air, leaping towards Lexa, its claws cut into her right shoulder, spinning her onto her back. Anchored by its claws, it landed squarely on top of her. Its jaws were already open as its teeth flashed towards her throat.

  The three lion cubs had not gained their courage but they were desperate to help their mother. They had seen their father go to her aid but they could also tell that Rhamin was breaking free from his attackers and that his next move would surely be to wade in and help the dog. Together they ran at Rhamin. Now they would find out if their play fighting had only been a game or if it had taught them to survive in a real fight.

  Rasci watched helplessly. He saw the lion cubs taking off, leaping towards Rhamin as if they were one. He saw the male lion’s mouthful of deadly teeth closing on Lexa’s throat. Desperately he swung his head ferociously from side to side, let go of Brenlin’s fur and, with his teeth barred and ready to strike anything in their way, he curled his body and pushed with his back legs against Roxana. It was all he could do to lunge in an attempt to get in between the male cat and Lexa. But Brenlin who was on the ground had grabbed at Rasci again and once again latched onto his fur, this time from beneath him, biting at the skin beneath his chest. The thrust with his legs had not been enough to put Rasci between the male lion’s jaws and his wolf dog. Still pinned down, his leap fell short by inches. There was nothing Rasci could do to save his Lexa now.

  But then, suddenly, a dark shadow passed over the male lion. As it glided past, it took hold of the lion’s neck and carried it off to the side like a strong wind catching a leaf. The male cat crashed to the ground, legs sprawling and dust flying as it turned over and over, entwined with the black angry figure. But then Rasci recognised Smokey as the whole area was bathed in bright sunlight. Smokey had left the male lion lying wounded and was heading towards the female lion. Lexa hadn’t let go of it
but she needed help desperately.

  Yeltsa had seen what was happening and had to think quickly. Rhamin was between her and her beloved Lexa. There was no way she could reach her but she could help Rhamin. As she jumped towards the lion cubs, the furthest of the three was thrown to the ground as Rhamin grabbed its whole head in his massive jaws and flicked it to one side. It landed next to its father, howling and spitting. Yeltsa grabbed the nearest one’s neck and swung it backwards over her head. Her strength seemed to come from nowhere. One moment she was weak, the next she was unstoppable. Nothing was going to part her from her mate. She was filled with the same determination and aggression that had overtaken her in the prison camp.

  The third and final lion cub was on Rhamin’s back and had just closed its jaws on the back of his neck when the light came on; a dazzling unstoppable beam that made every one of the combatants freeze. Except for Smokey. She was going to kill the female lion; her anger was volcanic. It saw her anger in her eyes and in her snarling teeth and in her massive muscled body that was careering towards it like a deadly avalanche. But its face was still pinned in Lexa’s jaws.

  Lexa shook the female cat’s head to one side yet again. Blinded by her own flowing blood, she couldn’t see but she had heard the deep throaty growl of her natural mother as her black, shadowy form carried the male lion away from her body. Knocked away, the big male cat’s jaws had closed a hairs breadth from her throat, but he still tore at Lexa’s face with his claws, as he was spun off into the darkness. When it came, through a fog of blood Lexa couldn’t tell what the light source was or from where it was coming. Then the female cat howled in surrender as Smokey’s strong jaws closed on its spine. Lexa could tell it was no longer attacking her. Its claws had retraced and it was struggling against her jaws to turn its head. Amidst a chilling howl from the cat, she relaxed her grip on its face, and let her head sink to the blood soaked earth.

  The male lion was going to help its mate when a crack like thunder opened the air above their heads; then again and once again. But this time, the invisible tooth of Raymond’s gun cut through the air between the male mountain lion’s ears. His interest in the wolf battle had suddenly wilted. The cat looked up and then, ducking his head down in case of more stray bullets, he jerked away and disappeared out of the light beam and into the night.

  In the light, Rasci could see clearly what was happening. Smokey had the female lion at her mercy, her jaws locked on its backbone beneath its shoulder blades. There was no way it could reach her with its teeth or claws. It howled again as she shook it viciously. But then a call from Raymond made her leave go instantly. The lion howled again and then, dragging its back legs behind it in a trail of dust, it scrambled away after its mate and sidled off on its belly, into the black shadows.

  The third lion cub sprung off Rhamin’s back and followed as fast as it could.

  Brenlin and Roxana followed suit and backed off. Eyes wide and stunned by the intense light, they turned and galloped away into the safety of the night.

  Rhiana was last to let go of Rhamin. Jyan had already decided to retreat and fight another day, but Rhiana too, had to give way eventually to the superiority of Raymond’s gun. She knew too well what it could do if he pointed it directly at her.

  When Rasci regained his feet and looked around, he saw Rhamin getting up and shaking himself. He looked weak, but apart from that, he seemed no worse for his ordeal. He just sat down and scratched himself behind the neck as if it had all simply been a tumble with the cubs. Yeltsa lay on the ground. Finally spent of all her energy, she rolled over onto one side and lay panting incessantly.

  Rasci went over to Lexa. Despite her exertions, her breathing was becoming shallow. He licked her face helplessly wondering what he could do to stop the blood pumping from her wounds. She was bleeding to death. As a hunter, he had seen animals wounded as badly as this before. They never lived.

  Lexa raised her head the best she could and turned her eyes to him. ‘I’m sorry,’ she said weakly. ‘Solin drew us away.’ She heaved to take another breath. ‘It was a siege. They attacked the Darin. Corvak warned us and we went…’

  ‘Save your strength,’ Rhamin said as he listened from Rasci’s shoulder. ‘Don’t talk.’

  But Lexa knew how badly she had been wounded and, in the time she had left, wanted to explain to Rasci why they had not been there to protect the returning wolves. ‘Roxana,’ she whispered. ‘Silvah and I knew she had lied. I was in the back of the cave with the cubs when you told Silvah and Zelda about her. None of us ever told any of the other wolves.’ Again she took a deep breath. Her voice was suddenly much fainter. ‘When Solin stopped heading the attacks Silvah asked Corvak to go back to the farm to warn you. But I broke through their lines.’ Closing her eyes now, she lay her head back on the blood sodden ground. ‘I’m sorry we let you down,’ she said, her voice trailing off to silence. She took another deep breath and fighting unconsciousness, she spoke again. ‘Thanks Smokey,’ she whispered.

  ‘We’re all so proud of you,’ Rasci said, licking the blood from Lexa’s eyes. ‘You saved all our lives.’ He turned to Smokey. He didn’t need to say anything. He just licked her on her nose. Her big, sad, brown eyes just looked back at him from her crumpled face.

  He looked towards the bright lights of the station wagon. Raymond Rozalski was silhouetted in front of them, casting a long shadow past and beyond them. He had taken off his shirt and was walking towards Lexa.

  Rasci looked up at him. ‘If you can understand anything we say,’ he woofed, ‘please don’t leave her here for the vultures.’

  As if he understood, Raymond knelt beside Lexa and wiped the blood from her face, talking to her in comforting tones while he tried to stem the flow of blood from the deeply gouged flesh. Quickly, he ripped his shirt into broad strips. Then, wrapping the pieces around Lexa’s chest, he folded the largest flap of skin back into place on her shoulder and pinning it tightly with his knee to stop the flow of blood, he tied it securely. He bound another length of the material tightly around her head and jaw and then, carefully, and without so much as a whimper from his patient, he lifted her limp body into the back of his station wagon, laid her on a blanket, and turned to look at the others. He just stood over the three wolves and the dead stranger and shook his head. How he had arrived there just in time, nobody knew.

  Except Corvak.

  But Corvak would have to wait to tell his tale. Without another word, Raymond stood to one side. The three wolves knew what his gesture meant. They were all wounded and needed attention. And without their escort of wolves back to the Darin, safety lay back at the farm. With no sign of the rest of the pack, Rhamin turned to Rasci and said, ‘Looks like we’ve got a ride again. What do you think?’

  ‘I think we had better take it,’ Rasci suggested, and sprang up into the back of the vehicle.

  Recovering slightly, Yeltsa struggled to raise her head off the ground. Seeing how weak she was, once again, Raymond lifted her up in his arms and placed her in the back of the station wagon. As soon as he had seen his mate safely inside, Rhamin followed.

  Raymond took some time examining Caysha, but she showed no sign of life. It was obvious, the way the other wolves ignored her, that she wasn’t one of their pack. Eventually, realising there was nothing he could do for her, he stood up straight. He walked over to the station wagon and let Smokey jump into the passenger seat, then, closing the doors, he went around to the front, got in and drove off.

  Back at the farmhouse, Raymond opened the back of the station wagon and lifted Yeltsa out. Although she was still weak, she was strong enough to stand. Rhamin and Rasci jumped out beside her and then watched as Raymond lifted Lexa up in his arms and, led by Smokey, carried her through to the kitchen. Yeltsa wobbled slightly as she followed the other two wolves and Raymond through the kitchen door. They were all worried about their wolf dog. She showed no sign of life.

  ‘Oh dear!’ Maria said when she saw the state of Lexa. ‘Can you save her?’
she asked. Maria had been waiting for Raymond to return from the moment Corvak had noisily alerted them. They knew that Corvak was a friend of the wolves and when he landed outside the farmhouse a short time after the wolves had departed, and had danced about on the veranda first going away and then croaking as he fluttered back to their feet, refusing to go away until Raymond followed him, they had both realised that something had gone wrong.

  ‘Can’t say,’ Raymond replied curtly. ‘I think she’s lost too much blood.’

  He lay Lexa on the kitchen table and the wolves and Smokey watched as he did things with a tool sharper than the mountain lion’s claw, pulling a long hair-like strand gently through the flesh and binding together the edges of Lexa’s wounds while Maria pressed hard against them. When he’d finished, both Maria and he washed her carefully, dried her with a soft blue towel and then bound the injuries best they could with the same kind of white tape that he had used for Yeltsa’s leg. Still the patient showed no sign of life. Raymond checked all the dressings once again and, satisfied with his work, he carefully lifted up her limp body and placed it on a blanket in the corner next to Smokey who had watched with the same unbending curiosity as her companions.

  ‘We’ve done all we can.’ He took hold of Maria’s hand. ‘We’ll have to just wait and see now,’ he said, shaking his head wearily.

  Nobody except the children slept at the farmstead that night. Raymond and Maria checked Lexa constantly, and the door was left open so that the wolves could enter if they wished. In the middle of the night, well before daylight had broken, a stranger drove up to the farmstead in a large black truck. The three wolves watched as the driver got out, looked at them curiously in the light cast from the farmhouse door, just as they, keeping their distance, similarly watched her, and then she disappeared inside.