My Say

14

It's been 2 years since that fateful day. I had broken down and told Craig and Monica about the Alpha threat, even offering to leave. Their response had been a resounding NO, in the end we had decided to tell everyone and let them vote. I stayed but never left the house without a bath in scent blocker and it worked. Collecting food, tools, equipment, and information became my life. Whatever would benefit my family I would seek out, but always alone. That mind set came at a cost, the ability to work in a group.

"Why can't I go alone again?" A supply truck was coming today and we needed sugar.

"We need as much as we can get in one haul. Are you going to be able to carry multiple 50 pound bags?" Craig had a point but that didn't mean I had to like it.

"Fine, but they better not slow me down." Stretching out for the run down the mountain, Monica began spraying me and Nick down. "New scent?"

"Yep, it's spring and so I thought why not."

"Nice, can I get a couple of extras. Big boy here can sweat up a storm. Wouldn't want him to expose us because he reeks."

"I don't stink. You're just intimidated by my manly aroma." His grin is huge as he gets me in a headlock.

"EWWW, when was the last time you had a bath?" Turning the tables on him he hits the ground, "Too bad you didn't put as much effort into your fight skills as you do your aroma."

"My aroma is ode de natural, my fight skills are legendary." Grabbing at me as I easily evade him.

"God save me now! This is gonna be a long long long mission." Reaching out I grab Mark's arm, "Are you sure you don't wanna go instead of hanging around with that witchy woman"?

Mark laughs, grabbing a heavily pregnant Monica, "With my witchy woman is the only place I ever want to be." Dipping her gently and giving her a passionate kiss.

"EWWWWWW, there are children here!" The squad has arrived. "When will you be back?" Lenny is now 10 and thinks that he is a big dog. Katie is forever having to take his ego down a few noches.

"Please tell me when you're due back? I want to schedule another spar session with Lenny."

"Now Katie, you don't need to hurt him."

"She can't hurt me, she's just a girl." Before anyone can grab her she lays Lenny out.

"Just a girl, huh?" Katie stands over him grinding. It's all we can do not to burst out laughing.

"No fair, I wasn't ready." He whines as Kirby and Franny help him up. The laughter bubbles up.

"What does Craig always tell us?" Franny asks him as she steps back to Katie's side. She cocks her eyebrow the same way as Nan, copying her idol.

"To always be prepared, a fight will not announce itself." Lenny kicks at imaginary dust.

"Is there anything else you want to say?" I ask, rumpling his hair.

"Sorry Katie, girls can be better than guys." I can see his next move, gonna have to talk to them about not telegraphing their intent, "at cooking." He's off and running, the rest of the squad in hot pursuit. We're so proud of those kids. Gives us all hope for the future.

"Good luck with that bunch," I laugh heading out the door. "Come on slowpoke we have many a mile before we can rest our weary heads."

We'd been traveling about an hour when the rains began. "Not again!"

"At least it's a warm rain." I poke at him. This year spring had come early with heavy rains mixed with heavy wet snows. The ground was saturated, our gardens were going to be huge if this kept up.

"This is not warm. I firmly believe that you spend too much time outside if you think this is..." His words ceased.

"What you finally realized that.." The ground under my feet moved. Were caught in a mudslide, all I could do is grab the closest tree and hold on for dear life. The slide flushed us into the river, high with spring thaw. I knew that if we didn't get out soon we never would. Looking around I sighted Nick's red hoodie, I had teased him for wanting to wear it as it would stand out. Now I was thankful that it did. It took me too long to crawl my way over the debris that floated us down the river. "Nick can you hear me?" No answer and as I closed in I could see that it wasn't his hoodie that I had seen but his hair was now red, blood red. "Damn it Nick. You will not do this to me. Nell needs you, Nan needs you, Craig needs you, and fuck it all I need you!"

"Woman do you have to yell?" He groans as I hug his head to my chest. "What happened?"

"Mudslide. We were washed into the river, can you move?" I had managed to arrange him more out of the water and onto the floating debris, but Nick is a big guy there was no way I could pack him off this rubble.

"Yeah, but everything hurts", he coughs and grabs his ribs. "How far from town are we?"

My brain froze, SHIT, I had forgotten that this river ran under the bridge that was the main drag in town. "We gotta go!" Putting my arms under his I attempted to drape him over my body. "Hold on tight, I'm going to try and catch the next branch." Within seconds I had grabbed the branch and tried to pull us up. The river was moving too fast and I couldn't pull and hold Nick at the same time. A choice had to be made, letting go of the tree, "Nick we need to get to the bank and jump. Can you do that?" Please, oh PLEASE I prayed.

"Yeah", again he coughed.

We moved, me falling and dragging him, him falling and attempting to walk. We reached the edge of the flow, "On three, one, two," Nick sought to toss me off but I was wise to his ways and pulled him with me. We hit the ground and grabbing his arm I began to pull him up away from the flow. "Come on, we have to get home."

Neither of us moved, "Leave me".

Nick's words crushed me, "Ohana!".

"You don't have time for Disney tales, we are in wolf territory and you are able to get home. I am not going to make it, no potion or brew will fix what is wrong with me." I cradle my brother's head, tears streaming down my face.

"No, but if he's turned, he'll be fine." The pack had found us. "Of course you'd have to come with us and answer the Alpha's questions. Truthfully."

Looking down Nick's eyes roll to the back of his head, "Nick!" I scream. I never saw who put my lights out nor can I say I felt the punch. All I can say is I was a real BITCH when I woke up.