TAMED

The other side

A heaviness weighed down on the Hound's body as he slowly came back to the light. He didn't know how long he had been out for, but it was long enough to leave him feeling groggy and half dead. His body...it was so incredibly sore and stiff.

The more time he spent simply regaining his own existence, the more he realized his surroundings. First it was the bed, it was firm yet comfortable, though he did feel a tad cold. His blanket was cool to the touch, somewhat heavy, and a pale salmon color.

Next, his sense of smell seemed to return. The air was earthy and dry, the familiar scent of worn canvas and wood brought back old memories.

Shifting from the stone-like position on his back, he rolled to his side. The action caused his spine to pop a handful of times, and a sharper bolt of discomfort to shoot up his arm. He'd forgotten it was broken, in fact...he'd forgotten everything until that moment; but it was all starting to flood back into his memory, and with it, came one hell of a headache.

"Nng..." He groaned as he forced himself to sit up. He noticed the gray/white cast that encased his arm from his elbow to his wrist.

As his processing speed seemed to fire back up, he immediately began scouring his surroundings for a clue as to where he was. However, the moment he did, a pang of something...longing...struck him.

He bent down and slipped his fingers beneath the desert sand. The warm, corrosive top layer resting as a dusty blanket atop the lower, cooler underside.

He was...home?

Ignoring his aching limbs and body, he snuck to the other side of the yurt. He remembered everything now. Austria...running away...being sick...the battle.

Losing the battle...

He grimaced as he tried to swallow the fact that he had failed his mission. Shivers ran up his spine as he moved about. His nose was runny and stuffy at the same time, his eyes were watery, his throat was terribly sore...it just went on.

Peering out of the doorway, he scanned the area for enemies...but what he saw, made his breath catch in his throat.

It was them, his brothers and sisters.

He heard the distant chatter and commotion as the group and the soldiers made their way around, completing odd tasks and prepping the training grounds for the next day.

For a moment, he wobbled on his feet. A wave of dizziness washed against him as he gripped one of the wall posts for support. Clearly he wasn't well yet, but he didn't care.

What he cared about...was the Land Rover in the distance. If he could get to it, then he could get out of there, and eventually he could get back to Levi and Vince.

He grit his teeth at the thought of losing them the way he had. He also wondered when he'd become so clingy...it wasn't like him.

Once the dizziness faded, and he regained his composure, he waited for the opportune moment...and then made a mad dash out of the tent.

Sand kicked up behind him as he sprinted toward the vehicle. There was no sneaking this time, one foot out of the tent and the others would detect his presence immediately. So the only available option was to be fast...very fast.

Thankfully he'd always been quick, and he wasn't ready to let his condition slow him down.

Within moments he was at the Rover, and as the gods would have it, the doors were unlocked and so he was able to clamber in and lock them firmly. Though he'd been prepared to hot-wire, the keys were already conveniently stuck in the ignition.