The Fallen Sisterhood

Chapter 8

AN: Welcome human beans. Something I must explain is that witches can essentially see the world through their familiar's eyes. Their senses are heightened (or lowered) to those of their familiars as well. I use the term "connect" to describe this phenomenon. CONTENT WARNING! Mention of medical wounds (nothing too graphic just a statement about why Caroline is unable to move). Another thing I must mention is that due to an injury, Maxy's familiar's face is slightly deformed, the description is not too graphic. However if you wish to skip the description, when you hit "Half of his" just skip that sentence. The next sentence starts with "He sounded". Enjoy!

Maxy ran her hand through her girlfriend's hair. They were laying on Pandoric sand in a little alcove. If Maxy's prediction was correct their rescuers would arrive soon, today in fact. Her familiar had gone ahead to lead them here. She was too weak to do it, otherwise her familiar would be here with Caroline and she would be leading them here. Caroline's breathing was slow and more ragged than usual. Maxy assumed that it was because of the sharp object in her stomach. Maxy had managed to stop the bleeding, but she was too scared to try and fully heal it. Suddenly she heard hooves pounding against the sand. A warm nose pressed against her neck. Maxy opened her eyes to see the electric blue eyes of her familiar. A Jorvigian Dire Wolf named Jupiter. Half of his face was hairless and very smooshed due to an injury that crushed and burned half of his face. He sounded like a demonic lawnmower when he breathed now.He was still cute though. Maxy was fully connected with Jupiter, so her hearing and sense of smell was as good as a wolf. She could smell the sweaty bodies of four horses, one of them smelled slightly of fire. She smelled a variety of different smells of other humans. She glanced past Jupiter and saw three women on top of horses. One of the women had sunbeam yellow hair and sat on a dapple gray Jorvik Warmblood mare with purple eyes. The woman to her right was small but muscular, had bronze colored skin, orangish hair, and stormcloud gray eyes. She sat on a spruce colored Haflinger gelding with gentle brown eyes and a cloudy mane and tail. The woman to her right was tall and elegant with short white hair and grassy green eyes. She sat, without a saddle, on a reddish Belgian Draught with an ashy black mane and tail. A shire-like horse stepped forward. His feathers were fiery orange and his mane and tail were ablaze. He had lime green eyes without pupils and strange green mouth patterns that looked like Sally's stitching from Nightmare before Christmas.
"Hey," Maxy whispered, her throat and mouth bone dry, "we're being rescued."
She knew that Caroline wouldn't respond but she needed to tell her. The small woman got off her horse first. She took off the bag on her back and took out a plastic water bottle.

"Here sit up, Let's get you some water. My friends here can help Caroline." She said, helping Maxy sit up.

She handed her the water bottle as her friends scurried to Caroline's side. Maxy's world was spinning. With shaking hands she took the water bottle and took a sip. It was cool, soothing to her throat.

"I'm Sigry. My friends are Eva and Elizabeth, we're here to help you," the short woman said, pointing to each one as she spoke and keeping her other hand on Maxy's back to stabilize her.

Maxy watched as Elizabeth took something out of her pocket. The small thing transformed into a weird looking stretcher-like thing. They eased Caroline onto it, slowly and carefully.

"Hang in there sister," Eva said. "Grim, Phoenix, come help us out."

Grim and the Belgian draught trotted over while Sigry helped her up. They moved out of the way, Sigry helping her, as harnesses were attached to Grim and the Belgian. The horses were calmly laying down as the harnesses were attached. The stretcher was wide, big enough for two people.

"Hey doggy, come lay down on the bed, we don't want that leg to get hurt anymore than it already is." Eva cooed.

Jupiter hesitantly limped away from Maxy, laying down on the gurney pressing his side against Caroline's.

"Here you can ride behind me on Spruce." Sigry said. Her actions and the way she spoke reminded Maxy of that of a sister.

"No, I can ride Grim, we will go faster that way," Maxy said.

Sigry pursed her lips, clearly hesitating, "Very well."
Sigry helped Maxy limp over to Grim, who was now standing.

Sigry acted as the mounting block, boosting her up onto Grim's back. Sitting on the gelding brought back memories of riding double behind Caroline. She used Meteor sparingly since her 6'4 skinny frame could barely fit the old horse. Riding Grim more often than not. She had been a special case having two soul horses. Now though, Caroline would not fit on old Meteor. She had one final large growth spurt in those thirty years and had hit seven feet (approximately one and one fifths Jupiter the Jorvigian Dire wolf). She and Eva urged their horses on to a canter. The other two followed on either side. Upon seeing that the straps holding Caroline in place held nicely they urged the horses into a gallop. Jupiter stayed, laying by Caroline's side. It wasn't long before they saw the exit portal. Elizabeth and her mare leapt through the exit first. Then Eva and Maxy followed. Everything became weird and tingly. Her vision was blocked by pink, Maxy closed her eyes. Soon though it was over. Grim's hooves hit grass. Maxy opened her eyes and was immediately bombarded by the dark greens and browns of Devil's Pass. The metallic tang of blood hit her nose and her ears were bombarded by the sounds of gunfire. Sigry was right beside her again. Maxy heard yelling but her vision was starting to blur and it felt like she was underwater. Then the horses were galloping again. They ran full sprint through the woods. She caught sight of Audras and their riders as they surged up a wooden root bridge. Familiars ran alongside the horses. There were soldiers in black armor riding double, their assault rifles in hand. Skeletal warriors were distracting huge hordes of enemies. They ran up the wooden bridge. Soon they were on solid stone. Maxy was aware of the skeletal soldiers backing up the bridge as people were counted and soldiers fired their guns into the horde. She heard someone yell that everyone and their familiars were accounted for. She heard creaking as the root bridge collapsed taking the enemies with it. Then she felt strong arms wrap around her waist and pull her off of Grim. The arms were familiar. Ones she'd known for years. Her stepdad, Gilbert, was holding her. She heard the beating blades of a helicopter as her stepdad approached one. He stepped up into it and placed her on a stretcher. Then everything went dark. When she woke up again, she was in the hospital. All sorts of machines were hooked up to her. Her stepdad sat near her, his now silvery hair was messed up. His bushy mustache was in need of good grooming. His broad frame seemed to barely fit in the small chair.

"Hey," she whispered.

His head snapped up and he looked at her for a minute.

"My baby," he whispered, voice hoarse.

He stood and placed a rough hand over hers.

He pressed a kiss to her forehead. "You're okay."

"Caroline," Maxy whispered.

"She's in the next room over. She has some stitches and her friends are staying with her.

Docs say that she'll wake up any day now and she'll make a full recovery." He told her.

"Jupiter?"

"He had a broken leg that's been taken care of. He's being mighty spoiled by Eiren's wife I reckon," He said. "Your mom's working overtime in her kitchen. We're gonna have a whole ton of sweets once you get back."

Gilbert smiled, his gentle brown eyes twinkling.

Maxy, content with those answers, smiled and fell back to sleep.

AN: Well, short chapter I know, next chapter will longer. I am as of now working on Chapter #13. I hope you have a wonderful month. It's my sibling's birth month, HOORAY! As always, questions, comments, feedback, and constructive criticism is always appreciated.