Jade

Chapter 20

I came to with a start, with a feeling that something wasn't right.  I was still in the recliner, in the cabin.  The fire had burned down to embers.  There was a chill coming on, in the air.  Where was everyone?  Jade, put more wood on the fire, then open the door.  Okay.  I got up, testing out my feet.  I seemed to be okay.  I slowly walked to the fireplace and put three of the smaller pieces of firewood in.  I turned and made my way to the door.  I unlocked and opened it cautiously.  Aris stood on the other side holding up what appeared to be an injured Ripley.  Max was behind them.

“What happened?” I inquired, instantly worried.  “I do not know.  We need to get these wet clothes off of him, though.  I think he is succumbing to the cold.”  Yaris sat him down on the side of the bed.  “Do not lay down yet Rip.  Let me get these clothes off of you.”  Aris worked fast getting Ripley undressed while Max worked on the fire.  It wasn't long before Max had the fire roaring to life.  Aris got Ripley down to his boxer shorts, then had him lay down and promptly covered him up.

“Jade, he needs your body heat.  Can you get down to your night clothes and get in with him?”  “Okay,” I did as he asked, uncomfortable with the situation.  I got into bed with Ripley and scooted over right next to him.  Aris covered me up, then covered us both with the blanket that I had used when I was in the recliner.  Ripley was shivering so hard that his teeth were chattering.  “S-s-o-o-o c-c-old,” he chattered.  “I know.  Shhhh,” I whispered, “don't talk.  I'm going to warm you up.”

Aris then stumbled over and collapsed into the recliner.  He obviously wasn't okay either.  Are you injured?  Yes, but it can wait.  Ripley needs you now.  What happened?  “Max, can you explain to her?  I just need to rest for a little while.”

“When Yaris and I got outside, we were already surrounded.  Ripley was down on the ground and they attacked.  I do not know what is wrong with him.  There are no injuries that I could find.”  I moved to where I was halfway on him and half off.  I listened to his chest.  “I think he is sick,” I offered, “I think he has a fever.”  Max approached the bed.  “Don't we need to cool him down if he has a fever?”  “No.  Laying in bed with you is a better cure than anything else,” Aris stated, “Just rest with him.  You are supposed to be resting anyway.”  He is right.  I'm so tired after my little bit of exertion.  “Try to fix Max's head first though,” he grunted out.  Max got down on his knees on the other side of the bed and put his head by my hand.  I gingerly felt around on his scalp, “I don't feel anything.”  “It is more the back of my neck than my head.”  I felt around some more.  “I think it is just bruised,” I told him as I laid my hand on it.  After about thirty seconds, “that is enough.”  He removed my hand, “I do not want you overdoing it.”

Rest for a little while.  I will be fine.  Max is going to keep watch for us.  I was too tired to even move.  I fell asleep draped halfway on Ripley with my head on his chest.  Sleep didn't come easy though.  I dreamed of Ripley and what happened to him.  He turned his back to them to come knock on our cabin door again and they fired something at him.  He spun around and fell to the ground.  I couldn't see what it was that they hit him with.  It was too small.  As soon as he hit the ground, he started transforming into something else, some kind of monster.  He grew blue fur everywhere that was exposed.  He had long teeth and blue talons on the tips of his fingers.  He covered his face with his arm.  The fur on his arm started smoking.  He changed back to himself as quickly as he had changed into the beast.  Then he just laid on the ground unconscious.  Then I see our cabin door open as Aris comes outside, ready for a fight.  I look to my left.  Max is also approaching.  They communicate back and forth about not knowing what happened to Ripley and the group of adversaries surrounding them.

Jade, stop watching now.  I don't know how to stop.  The group is closing in on them.  They stay close to Ripley to protect him.  What do you want to have for dinner tonight?  I don't know.  You need to roll off of Ripley.  Breaking contact will help.  Then think about something else, like food.  I rolled over onto my back and scooted far enough away to where I was no longer touching Ripley.  I just rested in place.  I think I want fried chicken again if you feel like making it.  That does sound good.  Now I want you to attempt to come to me.  I know I can do it.

I sat up, slowly, on the edge of the bed.  I took my time standing up.  I made sure that Ripley, who was sleeping peacefully, was still covered up.  I turned toward the recliner and took a step, running into a wall of a man.  I stumbled backwards and he caught me before I fell.  “How about I just carry you?” Max asked, picking me up.  “Where did you come from?”  “Nowhere and everywhere,” was his answer, “I came to check the fire.  And to check up on all of you, of course.”  He carried me to Aris and sat me slowly and carefully on Aris' lap.  Aris put his arms around me to shift where I was sitting a little.  I slumped against his hard chest.

“I think we left her with Ripley too long,” Aris spoke to Max, “she is exhausted.  She started seeing what happened to him.  That is why I had her get up.”  “What did she see?”  “She saw him shift.  Blue fur.”  “Wonderful,” Max said as he covered us with a blanket.  “What does shift mean?” I asked, groggily.  “We will talk about it after you rest a little while.”  Within minutes I was asleep, but could still hear them talking.

“This is not good.  They made him shift in the middle of the day.  That explains why they wanted to get to him so bad.  Do you think that he has already sent out the signal?”  “Yes,” Aris answered, “he probably did right before he passed out.”  “They are probably on their way here now.”  “I will not be able to go.  I have to stay with Jade,” Aris stated.  “I will go in your place,” Max assured him.  “I thank you, Max, it is greatly appreciated.”  “I just hope that Ripley sees it that way.  I know he does not like me much.”  “Hopefully he can overlook past differences.”

“Is Jade okay?” I heard Ripley ask.  “She will be fine,” Aris answered, “she is just resting.”  “Would you like your bed back?”  “I would, if you feel like getting up.”  “I do,” I heard some rustling.  “Wait.  Let me help,” Max offered.  I heard Max offer to change the bedding to which Aris agreed and thanked him when he was done.  Max picked me up off of Aris' lap and moved me to the bed.  A few minutes later I felt Aris sit down next to me.  “Max, can you check her again?” Aris requested, “I need to know if she has improved, or not.”  I felt Max lift my shirt, then feel of me like he did earlier, “she looks a lot better, actually,  I am a little surprised.”  “Let me see,” my shirt was lifted again, “how?”  “Is Ripley a healer too?” Max asked.  “I wish!” Ripley replied, “Max, can you help me to the recliner?”

I was covered up again, then heard more rustling as Max helped Ripley move.  I felt Aris slide into the bed next to me.  I rolled to my side and snuggled up next to him.  I laid my head on his chest and my hand on his leg and went back to sleep.

When I awoke, sometime later, it was dark save for the fireplace.  I stayed as still as I could, not wanting to wake Aris.  I could hear Ripley's light snores.  It is okay.  I am awake.  I turned myself to look at him.  Have you slept at all?  I drifted a little earlier.  Max left to get some dinner.  I have to stay awake now.  You could sleep and I could stay awake.  He smiled.  I would much rather stay awake with you.  He will be back soon anyway.  I smiled.  How are you feeling?  How is your leg?  It is much better.  Tell me, how do you always know exactly where to put your hand without me telling you?  I am not sure.  I noticed that I put my ear on Ripley's heart just like I do you though.  When I had my ear on Ripley's heart, I couldn't find Max's wound.  He had to tell me where to go.  Interesting.

Just then we heard the key in the cabin door.  In came Max laden with sacks of delicious smelling food.  He set everything down on the kitchen table.  First, he let the dogs out by themselves.  I hadn't seen that happen before.  They are fine.  Ripley goes out with them by choice.

“Can I do anything to help?” I offered.  “You can help me by staying in bed,” Max replied.  “I feel a lot better.  I can help.”  “Yaris can help.   I assume that after his little foray in bed with you, he is fine now.”  I know my face turned the deepest blush ever.  “He is,” Aris answered.  “I can tell that you are telling me the truth Yaris,”  Max made me turn even redder, “that blush on her face says virgin.”

I felt a spark of anger, “Do you all just sit around discussing my bedroom habits while I sleep?”  They all looked taken a back, even Ripley, who had just woke up.  “No,” Aris answered, “it is just to help them understand.”  “Understand what?” I cut him off.  “Some things that we will discuss without an audience,” he answered.

Instantly dressed, I sat up, pictured white snow boots and a fluffy white parka.  “How does she do that?” Ripley asked, in awe.  I got up, grabbed the cigarettes from the nightstand and headed for the cabin door.  “The same way I do,” I heard Aris say, following me.  “I need time alone!” I warned, shutting the door behind me.  I stormed over to the Lexus, then stood, leaning up next to it.  He didn't follow me, but was watching me through a window.  I turned my back to him.  Jax and Reese took notice and stormed over to me.  I petted each of their heads and told them to go play, but they opted to stay next to me, one on each side.  I painstakingly took out a cigarette and tried to light it, the tears of embarrassment were flowing now, but was shaking so hard I couldn't.

“Here, let me,” Aris offered.  I handed it to him.  He, of course, had no trouble lighting it, even with the wind.  He handed it back and lit one for himself.  He told the dogs to go play, which they did, then just stood in silence for a little while.  “I am sorry that I embarrassed you and made you angry.  What can I do to make it better?”  “Just don't talk about it anymore.”  “I can not guarantee that.  It is for your safety.”  “How does telling strangers that I am a virgin guarantee my safety?”  “I have only told Ripley, Theo, Antony, Kale and now Max.  Only because they will see themselves as potential mates if they do not understand why you are not yet marked.”  That sort of made sense but did little to take away the embarrassment.  “So, are you saying that you wish I had already?”  “No, not at all,” he interrupted me, “I would not change a single thing about you.”  “You wouldn't?”  “No.  You are wonderful the way that you are.”  We finished our cigarettes in silence.  The dogs, finished playing, ran up to us and sat expectantly.

“Are you ready to eat?” he asked me.  “Yes,” I turned to look at him.  His face was wet with tears.  Why are you crying?  You still have not told me what I can do to make it better.  You already did.  I think that you are wonderful too.  He smiled.  I reached up and wiped the tears from his face.  Let's go eat.  We both turned to go in.  He reached down and took my hand.  We walked into the cabin followed by the dogs.  Our coats and boots disappeared simultaneously.  I put on bunny slippers and he put on just regular ones.  The dogs ran to their food and water and we went to the kitchen table.

“Everything okay?” Max grunted between mouthfuls.  “Yes,” I answered, “What's for dinner?”

“She is fine.  If she wants to eat, she is fine,” Ripley answered.