Lumai's Mind

Chapter 24: New Suffering

Lumai help!

Lumai!

Please wake up!

LUMAI!

She's not dead? I thought I heard her back snap, I'm dead too, aren't I? Then how did I die? No, I remember kicking their drunk butts with the powerful presence. What was that anyway? Is it still there? I don't feel it anymore.

Stop thinking and help me!

My eyes snapped open and I sat up, looking for Tarnyx in my sleepy haze. 'Oh don't tell me your dead and stuck in a spirit form again. Where are you?'

Against the wall where I was thrown. Look left. I looked over to see a crumpled fur ball hissing softly. I tried to rush over to her but my body protested with a tsunami of pain.

"Argh!" I yelled with sudden tears streaming down my face. I curled into myself in the dirty cement, my only focus being the pain cursing through me. A meow broke through my bubble of agony and reminded me of how I got myself in this bubble.

'I'm coming, Tarnyx.' I crawled toward the crumpled cat sobbing. 'It'll be okay, I'll help you.'

I know. It just hurts.

I collapse next to her in a sobbing mess but even though my entire body was being tortured, I focused on Tarnyx's pain. She was there for me when I was hurt, now I have to be there for her. Even when rivers flow from my dead grey eyes and every inch of me was dying, she was more important right now.

'Where does it hurt, Tarnyx?' I asked, raising a shaky hand above her, I was scared petting her would make things worse but perhaps my hand would radiate a comforting heat.

I think my leg is broken... It hurts. She mewled brokenly. I checked her damage and she did in fact have a very obviously broken leg but also some badly bleeding cuts that she had failed to mention.

'Okay... Okay, I don't think I can move right now but I can try patch you up with what we've got here.' I told her as I unraveled one of my extra padding bandages from my arm with gritted teeth. Even this small movement felt like I was stabbing myself, tears that had been welling in my eyes spilled over but I ignored them and the pain as best I could. I carefully wrapped Tarnyx's torso in the rag because it was the place bleeding the most.

Okay... I'm still thirsty though. Tarnyx joked, trying to lift the mood. I smiled weakly and curled into myself so Tarnyx was between me and the wall. She was protected, she was safe.

'Now sleep, we need energy to get home.' I told her gently but doubted anyone could sleep in this much pain.

Goodnight, Lumai, she whispered. My angel...

I brushed off the weird nickname and tried to sleep but felt eyes in the back of my head. A familiar fear was once again creeping up my spine, this time I didn't ignore it. Someone was there, someone with -most likely- ill intent.

I strained my ears for any sound but only the cars and discombobulated chatter floated toward me. I'm just imagining things, I have to sleep so I can look after Tarnyx, I told myself while looking over the battered kitten.

"My little fur ball." I murmur so quietly even I could barely hear it. Apparently, that didn't stop the fuzzy skeleton from knowing.

How dare you. I am neither a fur ball or a fuzzy skeleton, I happen to be quite buff, some may even say ripped. But what I am, is hurt and tired, so hum me a song and go to sleep.

I chuckled softly but it soon became a repeated 'ouch ouch ouch.' Okay, a song. What song? A lullaby? Scarborough fare is easy enough, right?

"Hmm, hm hmmm hm. Hm hmm hmm hmm hmm." I hummed slowly to the grey kitten, even as my dry throat protested, I hummed until she snored softly next to me. I was also starting to doze to the tune that now played in my head.