Chapter 6

It hurts.....

It is starting to hurt... I can now feel my left arm throbbing in pain, but keep quiet.

I'm sitting next to the wet backpack that I had on when I was in the river. Stevan is sitting on the other side of the cave, looking down while covering himself with his semi-wet sweater; Meanwhile, the kid shivered up to a tight ball, closing himself in while murmuring to himself.

I slightly grip my left arm, shivering under my teeth.

I am not sure if we lost them for sure... better not tell Stevan or he'll get worried...

A few minutes passed after sitting in silence in the secret cave Stevan slowly spoke up, his voice is hoarse from the cold water. "Sasha.... you are..." he paused then looked down to the floor with remorse in his eyes "...Bleeding...."

'....Bleeding?' I look down to my left arm and let go of it, I slightly raise and take a look at my right arm and see... Red? I then look at my left arm to see the blood oozing out from the bite...

'It looks deep...." was the voice in my head

"...Ohhhhhhhhhh....." was my response

'I believed it was just a scratch,...

..... not...'

"It's just a scratch... I can bearly even feel it....ha....ha....ha...." Stevan slowly looks up. Worriedly, I give him a reassuring smile while moving my left arm out of sight.

"Now go to sleep...., we will start moving when the moon is up" Stevan nods and closes his eyes..., a few seconds later he already dozed off. I turn around to see the kid and he is already fast asleep.

'Alright it's time to start

I open my backpack and look to see if there is anything useful...Books?....

.....No.....Pencils?.....Maybe?.....Wet...Paper?... Uh...Ummm.....A bottle of sanitizer?...

I slowly place it to the side making sure not to make a sound.

I then remember that Ms.Miraval would often give nacks to the top student after each exam, pop quiz, the best grade, and even in extra difficult assignments and to the most athletic one.

If my memory serves right I should find some in my backpack since I never really got the chance to eat them.....

I keep looking inside my backpack.....

At last, the snacks appear at the end of the backpack I slowly take them out and place them to the side...

... 2 bags of chocolate chip cookies, 3 butter crackers, 5 small fruit cups, 10 lollypops, 2 small sealed apple pies, 3 dry beef jerky 1 small water bottle, and 1 Chocolate bar.

....

...I look at the food next to me

....'Wow that IS a lot... It's sure something...

....We won't be hungry for now, that's for sure...

Now I need to do something about my arm....'

I slowly stand up and take my lunch bag with me outside the seemingly dark cave, where the kid and Stevan are resting.

We are far from the small village... but, far from those big dogs too... I quietly sigh and start strolling around, occasionally picking up some herbs here and there with the help of my nose and the little light that was left from the day.

I place the herbs and some leaves in my lunch bag and keep on going

It's now late and I go back to the cave bringing one small, round dull rock and a light but flat rock.

When reaching the cave's entrance, there was a soft "thud" from behind, I turn around to see a dark silhouette figure glowing under the fading sun with radiant ember eyes, it was Kira.

"Hello, Kira..." I look down at Kira's paws to find the head of one of those big dogs...

"Looks like you found some intruders..."

[Yes... After all, they first entered my territory...]

Kira slowly walks towards me, I stand straight, holding tightly the rocks I have in my arms, and cold sweat starts to form on my back.

By the time she reaches me her face is inches over mine, I look straight at her when I notice her deep dark fur having small splashes of red, her mouth looks wet and dyed in red, and she is slightly opening her mouth showing her pearly white teeth.

I then look at her eyes

She looks into my eyes,

Her eyes soften

Her snout then sniffs out to my left arm, and starts to lick once and twice, then proceeded to walk towards the cave, with me following behind.

[Why are you hurt? Did you get hurt by those intruders?] Kira's voice echoes in my mind

"Yes... but the one who did it has died already.."

Kira stops for a second but, keeps walking to reach the cave's exterior wall and lies down.

[Does... your parents know about this?]

"I... am not sure.... but we will be going tonight with mother.... she is possibly hiding at the village down the mountains "

I murmured under my breath as I sit next to Kira and start to mix the herbs with the rocks to create a dark green paste.

[What if you two stay here, for now, that arm of yours needs to be healed....]

I contemplate the idea for a few seconds but, refrain from it

"I don't think that will be possible... If we stay you could get hurt by those men and their monstrous dogs..."

Kira stays silent as I continue to apply the medicine to my wounded arm, I then proceeded to apply it.

The light touch of it on my skin makes a sting then starts to ease my pain, giving me a slight chill.

We keep quiet as I begin to fall asleep

Kira begins to talk

[An weak prey is an easy prey.... more when they have a Rat calling out their every move to the hunter...]

"A... rat?"