The Fenrir Saga - Part I

Chapter 6b

--- Beonnie ---

I had managed to limp a few minutes into neutral territory before I slumped down against a tree. It was still early, perhaps noon, but it felt like a lifetime had passed since this morning. I also felt stretched thin in my emotional capacity, like I had experienced all emotions that existed in the world in too short a time. I probably had. 

I allowed myself a few minutes to rest before I examined wounds, scrapes, and bruises, changed clothes, packed my backpack, and got up. The more minor injuries on my legs and torso were nothing to worry about. The one on my forehead I couldn't see, but my shoulder felt.. ok. The wound under my left knee had almost bled through the makeshift bandages someone had made, and I considered the pharmacy option Zac had told me about. Perhaps it was a good idea to get some clean stuff on and restock on chocolate bars?

Another lifetime later, I limped inside the small pharmacy a couple of miles from a crossing south of Zac. A little old lady hurried over and wrapped me in her arms before she leaned back to examine me. Friendly place, huh?

"Oh, dearest dear. How are you?" she fussed and put me in a chair. "Zac called and told me to expect you. I'm Berta. Let us see what we can do here. Oh, la-di-da, this is deep. Hmm, okay, this is... also deep and here, oh dear, oh my sweetest one, what have..." she stood back and looked at me.

"You know what, dear? I think you should start with a shower," she ushered me behind the desk and through a door behind it. I entered a small hallway leading to a kitchen, a staircase, and a closed door.

"Here we go," she said, opening the closed door to reveal a bathroom with a shower, soft towels, and soap—heaven.

"I.. um.. thanks," well, my communication skills had certainly not improved since my last attempt, but she seemed okay with what I could offer.

I got out of my scraps, formerly known as clothes, and into the shower. Oh, la-di-da, this was awesome. One shower later, and I felt like a new person. A person acutely aware of the streams of red water that appeared in the shower, but still, a new person. A bathrobe had replaced my dirty clothes, and I put it on and turned towards the mirror. The wound in my head was probably going to leave a scar, but I could live with that. I had expected worse.

My stomach rumbled as the smell of newly baked bread seeped through the door. Had Berta managed to bake during my shower? For how long did I shower? And would she consider adopting me?

I carefully opened the door and peeked into the kitchen. It was empty, and I turned towards the open door leading into the pharmacy as I heard Berta conversing with someone there. The doorbell jingled as the door opened, and whoever it was left together with what I assumed was a bag of freshly baked buns.

I ventured into the pharmacy, and through the windows, I spotted the back of a guy about to jump into a black SUV. He stopped midmovement and turned back towards the pharmacy again as if he had forgotten something, giving me a glimpse of his appearance. La-di-da. Gorgeous. Dark, maybe black, unruly hair. He shook his head and jumped into the car. Two more black SUVs were parked behind the first car, and they all drove off on what seemed a given signal.

"Who was that?" I turned towards Berta, having no idea why I asked in the first place.

"Oh, nothing to worry about, dear. Just that Alpha Neron Johnson and his son picking up some mail," she spat the name out, and as it seemed a touchy subject, I dropped it.

"Okay," she continued. "Let's see what we can do about all of this."

Again, I was ushered down on the chair, and she cleaned and bandaged all the wounds that needed attention. Unfortunately, some bruises had started to hurt, and the one under the knee took some time to care for. I didn't mind, though. Berta had not baked, but she offered sandwiches, and I was pretty happy with my situation. I was clean and fed for the first time in a long time. It was nice.