We Don't Choose Our Time

Rebirth

"—I'm gonna turn you into a fuckin' feather mattress!"

"Not if I turn you into a hat first!"

Ben awoke, slowly at first, then faster as the heated words continued.

"You couldn't touch me, you double-crossing chicken!"

"Bold words coming from a mangy dwarf-wolf!"

"Brass fucker!"

"Ass-licker!"

Ben growled in annoyance, causing the voices to stop. He looked up and saw Caleb and the golden eagle glaring at each other, sitting on a small log nearby.

When he saw that Ben was awake, Caleb sprang down from the log, the motion rocking it back and forth, nearly knocking the eagle off balance.

"It's about time you woke up!" The fox shouted. "I was about ready to bury you and skip the funeral! Hey, Goldilocks!" he snapped at the eagle, "go get everyone! And try not to lose any more of your brains while you're at it."

The eagle glared at the fox, spreading his great wings. "At least I had some to begin with!" he screamed as he took off.

While they waited, Ben looked at his surroundings. They were in the main cavern, near a dip in the earth where the Riders had formerly stored their food in. He looked further and saw hundreds of Frank's pack and Citadel soldiers, seemingly at peace with each other. Near the back of the cavern, a small area was set apart for prisoners, the sight obscured by a huge pile of stone that had once been the tower and plateau.

He shook his head, still struggling to make sense of what he saw.

After a short while, the eagle reappeared, with Rachel, John, Frank, and Draco in tow. Rachel immediately ran up and embraced Ben, silently hugging him as the others arrived.

He stood quietly embracing his young charge, joy growing in his heart as his companions all began to speak at once.

"You gave us quite a scare, brother!"

"I still don't know how you survived, uncle!"

"Really? I've seen him take worse wounds just by tripping!"

"I doubt it, fox. Ouroboros broke some of his ribs, and that's besides most of his shoulder being ripped out."

"Aw, c'mon, Draco! You one to talk, seeing as how half your face is gone!"

Ben laughed suddenly, startling everyone into a stunned silence.

"That's—you laughed?" Caleb all but squeaked.

Ben smiled slightly. "I did, my friend—I did."

Rachel sat down next to him, leaning against him with her eyes closed.

Ben motioned toward his companions with a flick of his head. "But enough about that—How in the fucking fuck are you still alive? And how are you here, Frank? And how did you convince the Citadel to help you? And who are you?" Ben asked, directing this last question towards Draco. The giant wolf began to answer, but Caleb piped up impudently. "He asked me first!"

Then the fox turned towards Ben, a grin lighting up his face.

"So, lemme see—When I began to fight those soldiers in the desert, I was certain that I was destined to die that day. But, before they could do me in, here comes the biggest, meanest wolf I had ever seen! The mere sight of him scared the fur off of those lily-livered bitches, hahaha! Then he picked me up in his big ole' jaws—I still ache from his fuckin' teeth poking into my ribs—and brought me to a cave nearby. He gave me herbs to stave off the adder's poison. Somehow, they worked."