Her Champion

Chapter Ten

Word Count: 2800

Chapter Ten- Stitches

I opened my eyes and it was dark out, the trees above me blacked out the stars. Little glimmers that were surely looking down on the insanity of my reality like it was a tv-show. I slowly sat up, rubbing my head. It felt like I left part of my skull splattered on the tree behind me.

I gathered my things, sword and suitcase in hand. I started my trek to a clearer patch of woods. I weaved between unfamiliar trees and accidentally passed by a tent in the woods, light in color, the lamp inside it shone through the material. I kept walking as quietly as I could. Soon enough I found an area I was looking for; a clearing that let the light of the stars hit the forest floor. It was a small clearing but it would do.

I imagined where Cerberus might be; calling my physical form to his. I let myself warp through time and space to arrive outside the warm looking cabin. The cicadas were loud tonight, shielding my arrival from any tails I might have had back at the clearing. Fog was starting to creep back in through the trees. It was brisk tonight but not cold enough to fog my breath. I walked up to the cabin, up the steps and to the door.

Knocking on the door I should have realized that they wouldn't let me in. The light inside went out and everything stilled, getting colder. I felt empty, alone. I sighed, dropping the sword next to the door. A rocking chair nearby knocked against the wall when the hilt of the sword hit it.

"Hera?" I croaked to the door; I was leaning against it. I was dizzy again and felt like I was about to pass out. The light inside came back on and the door opened, I sighed in relief as I almost collapsed into whoever's arms caught me when the door opened. I was barely conscious but I could vaguely understand what was happening.

"What is she doing here? I thought we agreed she couldn't come back." A voice. Hera's?

"She brought me back here, she wants to fix everything."

"She can't fix everything because she was the cause of most of our problems. She's going to make things worse." A shout.

"That poor girl has had a rough night, she's bleeding out from her scalp and look at the wound at her side. She's dying." She's dying? Who is? I felt a stab of pain at my side, where the stitches were. Oh. They must have ripped when I fell. I tried to move my hand but it was heavy like lead. I lifted it to my side, pulling it away, I saw the familiar galaxy covering my fingers.

"Oh." I heard my voice say it but I don't remember wanting to say that. I moved my hand back to my side. I think Hank was holding me up?

"Hank?" My voice was soft, was he okay? I felt the arms around me squeeze tighter as I was walked forward.

"I'm here kiddo. What did she do to you?" I chuckled and then wheezed. I shook my head with minimal effort; I don't think it shook at all.

"I fell....sky." I heard all the words I wanted to say, but not all of them actually came out. I think I may actually be dying.

"Get her to the table Honey. Let's try and save her, it's the least we can do." I recognized that voice.

"Flower lady?" I think I saw her smile before I kind of zoned out again. Throughout the whole ordeal of them sewing my flesh back together and wrapping up the back of my head I only caught snippets of the conversation since I lost and gained consciousness again and again.

When I woke up for the next time since coming to the cabin, I noticed I wasn't on the table anymore, instead I was on the couch this time. A warm crocheted blanket of multiple colored yarns wrapped around me. I was warm, safe, and I could only feel the faint throb of my side and the back of my head. I shifted to get a better angle and brushed against someone's arm.