A Tail and Chains

Chapter 6: Lela

     Lela barely got Shula back to the house before Shula became to much for her to conspicuously support. As soon as they got into her house Lela slammed the door shut and rushed to take away Shula's burdens and give her complete support. Shula slumped into Lela's arms. Her fur was so soft, Lela was tempted to pet her like a normal house pet. Lela stopped herself realizing that Shula would probably take offense, if of course she was still conscious. Lela half carried half dragged Shula up the stairs and into the spare bedroom that was always kept prepared. She ran to her pantry; Lela grabbed as many antibiotics and bandages she could and rushed back up the stairs. Shula was on the brink of consciousness. Shula groaned as Lela reentered the room. Her tail was puffed out to over three time its normal size, her ears were lying flat against her skull, and she had her arm thrown over her eyes in agony. blood form some unseen wound had dripped over the clean, white sheets. Lela knelt down next to the bed preparing the antibiotics.

     A hand with sharp claws dug into Lela's wrist. "Help... me." Shula's grip tightened. "It... it burns."

     Lela wasn't sure what Shula was talking about, she hadn't started to applying the antiseptic and wounds didn't typically burn. Lela shook her head to clear her mind, she had to take care of Shula's wounds before they killed her. Lela gently pulled her hand away from Shula's grasp. Her wrist was starting to bleed but Lela didn't even notice.

     "Don't worry its going to be ok." Lela gently stroked Shula's head. "This is going to be a little cold and it might sting but I need you to hold still." Lela got a squeezed glob of medicine into her palm.

     She could see all of Shula's muscles tense as she fought to keep still. Lela gently rubbed antibiotics around the gash on Shula's knee. A deep silence settled in the room like a heavy, wool blanket. Lela took care of every scratch and cut one by one with a patience that few possessed. She gently readjusted Shula's position as needed and Shula was surprisingly helpful; although it was obvious that she was in a lot of pain. Lela studied the iron shackle that clung to Shula's ankle, she couldn't do anything to get it off for the time being so she just gently rubbed in as much antiseptic as she could around deep wound. Lela cringed every time Shula moaned, many of these wounds were obviously made by human hands. Lela glanced up at Shula's face and saw that under the pain was a fierce determination, there were tears forming at the corners of her eyes but she was clearly trying not to cry. After a few hours, Lela was confident that she had cleaned and wrapped most of Shula's which mad Shula look like some half finished mummy.

     Lela stood up and prepared to leave. Shula didn't look much better, in fact she looked worse. Her fur was damp with sweat, her breathing was shallow, and her ears kept twitching with agitation. Lela hesitated at the door and glanced back at Shula. Lela wasn't a praying person but at that moment Lela sent up a silent prayer to anyone who would listen.

     "Please, don't let Shula die."  

     Lela slowly headed back down the stairs and into her kitchen. She put away the groceries that had been thrown haphazardly to the side and then began to put together a meager dinner. She made sure to make enough for Shula although she doubted Shula would eat much. She ate her meal in her customary silence. Sometimes she would hear a group of voices passing by as they went back to their own houses. At intervals, Lela she was sure she heard someone moving around in the spare bedroom. Thumping and moaning echoed from the bedroom and down the stairs.

     Suddenly a loud crash rang throughout  the entire house. Lela sprang out of her chair and ran up the stairs taking them two steps at a time. She nearly slid past the past the bedroom door but she managed to grab the door post and whipped herself into the room. Shula was sitting on the edge of her bed.

     "What was that noise?" Lela's gaze swept around the room. "Are you ok?"

     Shula pointed towards a pile of broken lamp pieces. "I'm fine."

     Shula's entire body was shaking. Lela moved closer; cautiously Lela joined Shula on the end of the bed. Something had really shaken her up, which Lela had assumed was nearly impossible to do. She tentatively placed a hand on Shula's shoulder. Shula placed her head on Lela's shoulder, her fur tickled Lela's arm at first but soon it changed into a comfortable warmth. Then came the sobbing. Whatever was going on this was more than simple wounds. Tears ran down Shula's face and onto Lela's shoulder. The tears trickled down her arm, across her hand, between her fingers, and onto the  sheets .

     Lela hoped Shula wouldn't take offense as she reached up and rubbed her head gently. Shula wrapped her arm around Lela's  torso and gently squeezed her shoulder. "Why me."

     "I... I don't know." Lela pulled Shula closer to try and comfort her. "I really don't know. I wish I could help; to make it better."

     Shula's sobbing had died down into a quiet flow of tears. Her shoulders heaved in a continuous up and down motion.  There was a strange sad silence in the room. Lela couldn't help but wonder if Shula was just having a complete mental break down.

     Shula's voice was barely a whisper. "Help me, please."