Beasts

39: Baby Steps

  My blood pounds in my ears as I put my arms up to block my face. A pulse went out that was barely anything but it still saved me from a fireball to the face. There was no explosion but instead the fireball just burnt out. What happened next was that my legs buckled and my cheek was kissing the ground as everything darkened to blackness.

  I woke up in a dark room. Where the only light came from the from a window over my head. There was a soft beeping sound beside me. My body ached all over when I tried to sit up. I closed my eyes and took in the biggest breath I could. As I did so, my lungs had a sharp pain that spread throughout my body. I dared not to try sitting up so I just slowly propped myself up on my elbow instead. A tube from my arm led into one of those blood racks. There was chatter from outside before Phoenix, Iridescent, along with a Wolf opened the door.

  They stared at me with frozen expressions. "June, thank God you're okay." Iridescent sighed with a smile.

"Not really." I croak out with a breaking voice. I make an attempt to get up but fell back against the wall. "Everything hurts." I sighed and relaxed.

"I'm so sorry. This is my fault. I-I..." Phoenix stuttered and covered his face with his hands.

"Is he alright? I mean, this has happened before. I'm just sore and everything."

"Um, June, there's something you have to know..." Iridescent said nervously and took a step back for the Wolf nurse to start talking.

  "When that omega wolf scratched you, there wasn't enough of a dose of magic to make you sleep. However, it still got into your bloodstream. It's been circulating in you which explains the pain you've been feeling. Then there's the magic from the fireball. Normally, something like that would either kill someone, or they'd walk away with burn scars. You...you are another story." She tucked her sleek black hair behind her ear.

  "The fireball magic has muted the Wolf one for a short duration but now it's back and stronger. Using magic will result in more pain. It works like a bruise: the after pain of getting hurt. Only, your bruise won't be going away anytime soon..." She said sadly and turned to her clipboard. "What I'm saying is-"

"You could die." Iridescent blurted out. My skin turned ice cold. Death. What I thought was a sore that was being stretched out, turns out to be a reason why I may die young.

  "C-can't you do something about it?" I stutter as my heart raced in fear.

"This has never happened before. We'll have to do many tests first. You could delay it by restricting your magic use and pacing yourself. You'll have to stay here for another day or two." The nurse explained.

"What time is it?" I say and turn to the window where's it light out.

"10:02. It's been two days." Iridescent said sadly. Two days!? I was absolutely speechless. Two days was I asleep for and had my friends-no, family worried sick. Then I remembered about Phoenix.

"Phoenix?" I peered over at him. He was standing off to the side with his head down and his hands in his pockets. He glanced up at me. His eyes told me enough. They full of sorrow and guilt. Guilt he shouldn't be feeling. He blinked then turned and left. "Iridescent-"

"On it." She waved and went after him.

"Danny'll come by later. He's doing some planning for the wedding. That is, if you still want it on."

"Sure. If there isn't a chance of me living, then no. I don't want him to marry someone that will probably die soon." I sulk and bring my legs up to my chest.

"I'll go get you something to eat. You must be starving." The nurse said. That's when I noticed her appearance. Aside from her sleek black hair, she wore glasses and wore a black cardigan over a grey shirt and black pants. I wonder how Wolves get their clothes. With Beasts, those who look normal enough like Bear go and buy them. We get the money from Beasts that live in civilization and have proper jobs. I'm pretty sure that Bear is a carpenter.

  The nurse came back with brunch for me. A stack of three pancakes with maple syrup and strawberries. "So what is this place exactly?" I said and looked around. The room literally only had the bed along with some medical equipment and a wardrobe closet.

"It's a private infirmary. Away from the main one if it's best that the patient is on their own. I'm going to go tell Danny that you've woken up. There's some books in the wardrobe if you think you can walk." She said with a smile before leaving. So much to worry about now. I turned back to my pancakes where the smell of syrup wafted up my nose and made my mouth water. I can deal with life after I eat my pancakes.

  I can only describe the pancakes as glorious. I already know that they must be one of Omega's creations. I set the plate on the nightstand and drink the milk. Then the wardrobe taunted me to go to it. I was so curious to see what was inside. That giant wooden closet of mystery. Phoenix calls me kitten so I better not get killed by curiosity.

  I swung my legs off the bed. Just from that simple action, soreness shot through my body. Holding my breath, I griped onto the blood rack and stood up. My left leg buckled and I got down on a knee. "Baby steps, June." I reassured myself and steadily got back up. I took smalls steps forward, concentrating purely on just walking. Finally, my head bumped against the wardrobe. I looked up at it and pulled open the doors.

  Inside was nothing I've ever seen in the Wolf tribe before. There were books from classics like To Kill a Mockingbird, to comics like Bone. There was also some spare clothes like sweaters and boots. After everything I've been through, I think I could use a change of clothes. Though, I have no clue on how I'll get them on. So I just grabbed the first two books of Bone and shuffled back to the bed. 

  I must of fallen back to sleep because I woke up to the sound of a door closing. I looked around but there was nothing. My books were on the nightstand where the plate and milk was gone. I picked up the second book and flipped it open. Marking my page was a little daisy. Phoenix's daisy. The one I gave him. I wasn't sure what I should feel about it being there. He did come visit and kept it, but did he really think this was the end of our friendship? That I'd hate him for something that was already happening to me. If anything, I should be mad at Omega. Even though she barely knew what was going on then.

  I twirled the flower in my fingers before placing it back in the book and felt the fire marble resting against my shirt. I felt as a tear rolled down my cheek and the saltiness pricked my lips. I may of been the one dying, but all I could think about was Phoenix dying. If he dies, I'm going to kill him.