Beauty and The Beasts: Rain

22. Bruised and Broken

     Rain stopped struggling, all of her energy was spent, and her will was broken.  The male one-sidedly dominated her.  Unlike her ex-mate situation, she was the one who started attacking Damon.  She genuinely desired Damon's death, but not once did he try to kill her.  He wouldn't even lay his claws on her.

     Rain's beast form had no tear ducts, but she was crying.  'I lost?  Did I really lose like this?  This can't be right.  I'm not weak.'   Before she could spiral any further down in her emotional turmoil, the weight on her back was suddenly removed.  Rain coughed up all of the dirt and tried to blow out her nose, but didn't move otherwise.

     Rain lifted her eyes when a light pressure landed on her head.  Her shaking red orbs met pale yellow ones.  Rain noticed the fresh blood spilling from claw marks that trailed from the male's chin to his abdomen.

     Rain was still reeling with disbelief at her loss and couldn't respond properly to the male in front of her.  Brice was saying something to her, but Rain was unable to process the words.  She couldn't mind the look of remorse that Brice was giving her.  She couldn't register the growls and roars she was hearing behind her.

     Brice wasn't able to communicate with Rain.  It broke him to see her so dispirited.  Why had he trusted the tiger?  Was this the result Damon wanted?  Damon went too far and he had not stopped him.  Hurting a female like this was unacceptable.

     Biting into his lower lip, Brice carefully lifted Rain.  He wasn't able to fully carry her long body like this and the two idiotic males that could help him were fighting each other.  He wished she would shift, but knew it was unlikely.

     Brice was as gentle as he could be given the circumstances, but it was still painful for Rain.  She wanted to bite the one causing her pain, even if it wasn't his fault, but she had no energy left.  Brice walked her into the water of the lake and carefully removed debris in her scales.  There was no blood and he was unable to asses Rain's current wounds.  He held her while she drank some water before continuing to bathe her.

     Rain would have never allowed anyone to bathe her.  It was her first time experiencing such care.  She normally would have hated it.  That kind of dependence was weakness to her, but she was weak wasn't she?  She lost.

     Rain couldn't take it anymore and shifted, shocking Brice.  He didn't expect her to shift now.  "Stop."  Rain muttered in a barely audible whisper.  Brice was embarrassed and nearly dropped her.

     Rain placed a hand on his arm and pushed with almost no force.  Brice wanted to say something, but his voice was trapped in his throat.  He watched as Rain's tears fell into the lake and slowly let her go.

     Without facing Brice, Rain sunk into the lake and started swimming feebly to the other side.  She didn't want to see anyone and she didn't want anyone to see her.  Rain made her way back to the city at a slow pace, ignoring the sounds of fighting behind her.

     Brice had to hold back on joining Third.  Rain's pale body was mottled with bruising. How utterly foolish he was.  Why didn't he stop Damon himself?  Now Damon is as good as dead.  Harming a female is a death sentence.  Rain isn't just any female either.  She's the female they were both supposed to protect as ordered by the tiger king.  He was going to die too, since he didn't stop it.  Brice could only think he deserved it.

     Brice quickly grabbed Rain's top and followed after her.  He needed to make sure she got back safely.  Before leaving he screeched in his beast form at the two quarreling beasts and left.  Rain hadn't gotten far and dusk was turning to night.  Brice was worried.  They may not be far from the city, but threats were always aplenty.

     Brice scouted from the sky.  Seeing no immediate danger, he descended next to Rain.  She didn't look at him and continued on.  He knew she wasn't in a good place mentally and needed alone time, but his protective instincts were strong as if to make up for his earlier failure.  He moved in front of her, held out her top in one claw and lowered both his head and wing before cooing.

     Rain looked at the precariously balancing hawk in front of her and stopped.  She would have found the sight ridiculous before, but now she just wanted to go back.  She still felt the wetness dripping down her face.  'This must be how it feels to cry.  How disgusting.' Rain avoided Brice's worried gaze and took her top from him.  After fastening the piece of old shed to her body she got on the hawk's back.

     Rain looked at her tail drooping over the hawk, before shifting her bottom half.  Brice stumbled forward, keenly aware that they brought no bottom fur for her.  He only had his fur left, so he handed it to Rain in his beak with his eyes closed.  Rain took a second to understand, but had no energy to protest.  She accepted and fixed the fur over her lower half where it drooped, their size difference was evident.

     Confirming that Rain was situated on his back, Brice took flight.  His wound ached, but had started scabbing over.  It took little time for them to reach the city.  Brice cawed to the arial guards before heading to the castle.

     "No.  I want to go to my den," stated Rain.  Brice was not able to talk to her in his current form, but he wanted to object.  She needed to see a doctor.  He started to head toward the castle again when Rain plucked out a feather to get him to stop.  "Please don't."

     Not once in her short life had Rain ever pleaded.  She either got what she asked for, demanded it, or negotiated.  Never did she beg.  Right now, however, the thought of facing Winston in her current state was mortifying.  She would rather throw herself off this bird.

      Brice hesitated, but ultimately did as Rain asked.  He could bring the doctor to her later.  Brice listened intently to Rain's directions before making his way to her den.

     Brice landed on the tree that had been carved into a den.  The smell of sap was fresh and strong.  He must be on the outside of the fourth or fifth floor.  A thick and wide branch extended from the base allowing for ample landing room.

     Brice laid his feathered belly to the ground and extended a wing for Rain to descend from.  Rain got off of her mount and the much too large, bottom fur she was wearing slipped off.  She immediately shifted her bottom half and slithered into the uncovered opening in the tree.

     Inside the tree was freshly made furniture and Winston's scent.  Rain wasn't able to draw out any anger toward's Winston's actions.  She avoided the furniture, fully shifted, and curled up in a corner.

     Brice was unsure of what he should do next.  He shouldn't enter since he wasn't invited in, but Rain was alone.  She had no males to protect her so he couldn't leave her in this state to retrieve a doctor.  He shifted and put on his fur.

     Brice attempted to talk to Rain, but failed spectacularly.  He had to listen closely to make sure she was still breathing.  He was also worried about the temperature.   It was cooling down.  Snakes were cold blooded and Brice noticed the lack of furs in Rain's den.  "When are those two coming back?"  Brice could only wait impatiently for help while pacing back and forth.