Chapter 43

Chapter 43

Evan - 

The demon tiger took on the form of a man standing on twos. A giant creature's stature towered over the top of Kaysi. Who was bleeding a lot from her arm and on the side of her cheek? I could tell that she was on her last leg. She was pale, a ghost. She was pouring down sweat. 

She lifted her sword and slashed across the chest in the stomach of the tiger Beast. 

"Oh no, I was right; Kaysi just used the last bit of her strength and that attack. She fainted and fell to the ground. We are not going to make it in time, and we are still too far away." 

"There's still something I can do Calian said." 

"Whatever you have planned, you better do it quick because the Tiger is opening his mouth, getting ready to bite down on her." 

As we were running closer to catch up, Calian stopped and pointed his spear at the Tiger. He threw it high into the sky. 

"You idiot, the Tiger demon is that way, not in the air!" 

"I've been throwing spears since I was a little boy. And I have been to war more times than you. Just give patience and watch." 

The spear took on a spiral, spinning through the wind up high, soaring hundreds of feet like an arrow. It came down, stabbing into the eye of the tiger. His Roar was a scream and a hiss to the loud winds of the mountain. 

"I take it back; you are brilliant. You look as young as we are. How long have you been fighting in the wars?" 

"Our tribe has been attacked for many of century. Like my sister, I began as a small boy, fighting in battles like a man." 

"I'm sorry about that, and I sure am glad you came back when you did." 

"I only wish I had come back sooner; I could have spared my people. Many lives have been took in my absence." 

"All that matters now is let's finish off this bastard." 

We sure did piss off that tiger. His attention was no longer on Kaysi's fainted body. 

"Becky and Micah, go to Kaysi and see if you can patch her up and stop her bleeding." 

"Duked, and I will protect the village kids. The rest is up to Josh, James, you, and Calian. Before you can finish him off, the Tigers are afraid of fire. Josh, I suggest using the flames of your Phoenix." 

"Great idea, I will back him into a corner. That's where you guys can get the jump on him and finish them off." 

"Don't get cocky little bro; watch your back." 

"I will, and you will watch yours too." Josh said as he gave me a fist bump." 

We circled around the tiger demon, who also had little life left in him. Josh's flames made him quiver and cower as he hissed, "I'm trying to head back to the cave." 

"He slipped my grip. I almost had him pinned, but he went the other way. It's up to you now stop them before he gets in the cave. He'll have the advantage there that's his home, and tigers can see in the dark." 

I cut them off before he could reach the cave and slashed at his foot. He tripped and still attempted to run into the cave. 

Duke shoots his gun at the top of the cave, causing the rocks to slide a bit. The rocks smash down onto the tiger and cover half of the entrance. 

Is he lying there pinned To The ground by the rocks? Calian ran over and took the opportunity. He grabbed a hold of the top of the tiger's mane. With his spear, he sliced the head off of the tiger through his neck. 

"This one is for my people. All the lives that you took, you shall no longer burden them." 

"Damn, Calian, that cold. But good for you, I am happy that we were finally able to euthanize this demon." 

"Evan and Micah were able to get some of the bleeding to stop, but she needs a doctor to get some stitches immediately, or she's going to keep bleeding out." 

I walked over and picked up Kaysi. " I will take care of her and take her back to the Village. You have people there who can seal her wound, right?" 

"We have many people sick in the hospital. I will try to find a doctor who will come with me quickly to the medicine Lounge." 

Duke stopped me when he saw the trail of blood-forming behind us as we walked. 

"We have a long way to the Village. I don't know if these wounds will allow her to survive long enough to make it back." 

"We may have to do this the old-fashioned way, at least get some of the artery sealed before she bleeds out. One of the tiger's claws must have nicked her artery in her arm. The bandage is not keeping the blood from flowing, so sit her down quickly." 

"Lay her down here and take off the bandage."

I put her down on the ground, where there was some soft moss by the tree. "What do you mean by the old-fashioned way? How else can we stop the blood." 

I said as I quickly unwrapped the bandage from around her arm. As soon as I did, I had to grab her arm again. Blood was squirting out from one of her veins. 

"Just as I thought, Josh, I need you to come over here," Duke said in a desolate tone that made my throat tighten. 

"We are going to have to work together on this one. She's not going to make it if we don't do this. I need you all to listen very carefully. Baby, I want you to put her head on your lap and hold the sides of her head still. 

Evan, I need you to hold her arm very still. Micah and Becky hold her legs. It is critical that you do not let her move, none of you."

"Josh, I want you to use your Phoenix fire and burn exactly on the artery when I open it up. Anywhere else, you might cause more damage. I only want you to cauterize the artery so it does not continue to bleed out. I'm sure you're well aware that she will move around even though she's knocked out; the pain will wake her up." 

"If you're squeamish, just look away and do your part to hold her down." 

Becky was already in tears, shaking her head and trampling. 

"Becky, do you want your friend to survive? I know right now, as cruel as this sounds, but it's the only way to save her life. If we continue to wait, she will lose too much blood to bounce back. We are not by a hospital where she can receive a blood transfusion." 

"Oh...okay... Becky said in a shaky voice as tears rolled down her face."

"On the count of three. Get ready, everyone...Josh...1...2...3..." 

Duke pulled open the wound, exposing the torn muscle and artery as the blood pulse and squirted from the cut. Josh put fire to the tip of his finger as he quickly but gently pressed down on Kaysi's artery in the wound. 

Ahhhh...Kaysi screamed, wrenching her head back and twisting it into the air back and forth. The pain was too much for her, and she passed back out. And tears rolled down her face."

"Jesus, Josh, do you got it? Damn it, Kaysi, I am sorry I said as I laid my head across her shoulder."

"I think I got it. I don't see any more blood coming out." Josh sighed.

"Let me see." Duke leaned over to get better lighting, looking into her arm. "Yes, you did it. You all can let her go and take a deep breath."

Josh walked over to the other side of the trees and started to vomit. 

Becky was surprised. "I thought I would be the one getting sick right now." She got up, walked over, and rubbed Josh's back. 

I stroked the hair back from Kaysi's face. "Again, I'm sorry. I should have stayed closer to you. I'm not letting you go, I whispered in her ear." 

Duke put his arm on my shoulder. "Kid, warriors get hurt sometimes, even the best of them. You can't get yourself up about this one. You did what you could to help her." 

"It's time for us to head back Duke yelled to everyone." 

I picked Kaysi up again. Did I not notice it before? She felt much lighter than the last time I carried her like this. 

When we got to the medicine lounge, I placed on one of the cots, and the nurses came over and started sewing her wounds up. 

"We might be a bit overwhelmed at the moment, but they could see that your friend was in critical condition." 

"Thank you, Calian, for helping us out and getting us this far." 

"Is this the girl you said is missing memory?" 

Calian Jumps. "Grandmother, you have to warn a person before you sneak up behind them. I missed you, grandmother," he says as he hugs her.