Last of her Pack

Chapter 16

I awoke to light shining in my eyes, and a heavy arm draped across my stomach. I take a peak at the clock, only to burst out of bed. It was 12:30 in the afternoon. "Holy Hell!" I screamed while running around the room, gathering items for the day. I then zipped into the bathroom to get ready. In doing so, I earned a deep, husky giggle. "Mateo this is your fault that I'm late!" I screamed at him. Bouncing out on one foot, trying to put my runners on, I glare at him. This only caused him to sit up laughing, making the sheet fall off his chest. I groaned in angst, he was trying to seduce me again. I wasn't going to fall for it right now. I need to focus on the task at hand. 

Once I achieved at getting my shoes on, I quickly gave Mateo a kiss before running out the door, down the halls, the stairs and the front door. I ran all the way to the path clearing. Once there, I stopped to catch my breath. I took a look at my surroundings, the fields, the people heading to work and the trees. I looked at the entrance of the path and noticed something on the tree closest to me. It was a heart with two sets of initials in it. They were RN + ES. This must be someone's meeting spot. I looked above the initials and there was a surprising sight. It was a swan and a throne. Seeing these symbols sparked something inside me. It was like something that daft man said. "I will travel through the clearing path, only to stay on the edge...."  

"This must be where he means it all started. I'll have to get this part patrolled a bit more." I mumbled to myself. I then shook my head to clear my thoughts. I came here to help the men move trees. So, I headed into the cleared path, jogging to catch up and help out for the rest of the day. "Damn Mateo. You just had to show me up last night. You just had to go for three rounds, I can barely run thanks to you, asshole." I projected, not really expecting him to be listening. I finally caught up with everyone else. Following there lead, I grabbed a large log with ease, and headed for Eridanus. It was a long walk between packs, but it was serene. Every now and again another log would get placed on my stack. The logs ranged from big to small, but it was nothing I couldn't handle. 

I started to notice that I was blasting by others. I was basically at the front of the group now. I just kept my pace, pushing myself forward. I weaved through the branches of trees that haven't been cleared yet. Some would smack me in the face, but its not like they were doing any permanent damage. After speed walking for three continues hours, I finally saw the light at the end of the long tree tunnel. I was almost to the end. I tried to pick up my pace a bit more with out running, but I did not succeed. I didn't even make it to the end, for I felt something snap around my right ankle. I fell over, the logs I was carrying fell off my shoulder, a majority of them landing on me. I was almost flat to the ground on my stomach. My left arm was pinned forward, while my right was stuck to my side. I was able to wiggle my body a bit so I could try and touch what was around my foot. 

My fingers then came in contact with metal. I was stuck in a trap. I brought my hand back up, bringing it up to my face. I could see something yellow on my hand, but it didn't have a distinct smell to it. So, to rule out blood, I tasted it. When the yellow liquid touched my tongue, I ripped my hand away. It was hawthorn berry juice! "Fuck! HELP! SOMEONE HELP ME!" I called out, hoping someone would hear me. I didn't think anyone would be so far behind. But I didn't hear any heavy foot falls, signaling someone was running. So I did the next best thing. 

"MATEO! HELP ME!" I called out to him, hoping his mind was open. Then it came, "HEATHER?! What's wrong?" He answered back. I sighed in relief, or as much of a relief as it was to hear his voice, sort of. "I was helping move trees, and I was almost to Eridanus when I stepped in a bear trap. The trap was covered in juice from hawthorn berries, and I'm allergic. I called out for help, but I don't think anyone heard me. I'm pinned under my load of trees!"  It was silent for minute, and I was starting to think he hadn't heard me. "I'm on my way. Just try to stay awake! Talk to me until I get there." 

I chuckled out loud. He could be so stupid sometimes. "Okay, well its better late than never that I tell you about my self." He chuckled back at me, making me smile. "You already know the basics, but when I was younger, I would spend almost every Saturday with my uncle. He would take me on picnics in the warm and fall months, and then in the winter he would take me skating. My parents were close to both sides of there family, so we would always go and visit family when they weren't busy." I paused for a little bit so I could listen if someone was coming.

"Almost there, keep talking Heather, don't pass out." I heard Mateo say. "Uh..... I have always really liked the color blue, and the simple fashion from the 1950's. When I was 3 I really wanted a dog, but never got one..... I learned not long ago, that.... I.... was.... going to.... be a..... big sist-" And then it went dark.