His Favorite Pet

2. The Regret of Being Right

Karma woke to the sun rays that shined straight on her eyes. It made her blind every time she would open her sockets and see nothing but a laser taking away her sight.

As usual she was the first up, not that she minded in all honesty. Karma has always preferred to be alone unless she was come across a challenge she could not understand herself. Though, this accustomed time gap of her rising and her parents did have its perfect moments. Like returning to the river and proving a point.

Karma rose fully and swiftly as she walked out, made certain not to disturb the slumbering adults. Once she was fully out, she kept a jog pace to the river bank.

She slowed her steps when she had gotten closer to where she last saw her jeans. When Karma had fully gazed at the scene, she saw her jeans. Returned and folded as if it was left behind.

"I damn for sure that is not right," she whispered to herself.

Karma approached her jeans with caution though saw that they were the same way they were found. Folded nicely on the bank. She grabbed them and began to undress from her pajama replacements and into her denim comfort.

She sighed in relief when she began to walk back to the cave, but heard a yell.

"Help me!"

Karma turned around to see a man, who had been limping toward her. He had dirty blond hair, light green eyes. He looked badly hurt from the look of his ripped jeans and shirt.

"What happened," Karma asked as she ran to his aid.

She halted him from moving any further and inspected his calf. It was bloody and had teeth marks.

"Those...mutts," he finally gasped. "Yesterday, I was walking South from the other side of the border and those things attacked me. I didn't know where to go or what to do. So I just kept running hoping to find a place to take refuge for a day or two."

His eyes pleaded with innocence, fear and agony. Karma couldn't help but fall for that look of a victim who had been bitten.

"What's your name," she asked as she helped him up.

"Chauncey...Ah! What...is your's," he had screamed when his leg moved too fast for him.

"It's Karma, but don't worry Chauncey, you'll be safe. I know a place. Just over down that path."

Karma held onto his limp side while his other leg continued to carry his remaining weight.

"No, I know a better place," Chauncey turned his head down to the other path by the river.

Karma began to become weary but she didn't have time for worrying. This man needs help and any place that they can take shelter for a few days would be beyond perfect.

"Just point to the direction, ok," Karma told him as she turned their body's the other way and began the journey.

"Alright, it shouldn't be too far," Chauncey uttered to Karma.

As he pointed which direction to go, they made there way farther into the forest. Through out the whole time Karma thought of how this man is living proof of more people up north. Then her family can make the process of relocating. Then they'd be safe!

Chauncey told her to stop as they reached what looked to be a camp out. There was a small gather of rocks that enclosed on a dead fire; a few branches were held up as a way of shelter, and a rock had drying shirts and pants that basked in the sun.

"This is where I migrated," Chauncey exhaled in relief. "This is my site. You can set me there by the fire."

Karma gently sat him down by the fire and his process of re-lighting it commenced.