Of the Wild

Joe

*Jessa

It was the sun that woke me. It streamed down through the trees and through the palms I was under. After I slowly woke up, I groaned and pushed the branches away from me.

It was hot and almost midday in this part of the jungle. I looked around at the grove. The fires had burned for awhile last night but thankfully didn't get far before the river snuffed them out. The beehive was smashed, burned, and strewn all over the place, only a few spare bees buzzed around. The Corvati's cars were either totaled or stalled in various places, bodies in those same conditions accompanying them.

I blew out a breath. Whew. Plan under the bees a success! It was evil, I know but I grinned. Top THAT Corvati! I sniggered and got to my feet. In an instant I remembered the Shifter I had with me! Oops, Forgot.

I dropped to my knees next to where he should have been and tore away at the palms. I uncovered him and pressed two fingers to his neck to check his pulse. It was steady and strong. I puffed out my cheeks in relief, I didn't want to be the one who got him killed, not after all this.

My stomach growled as I stood again. I wiped my hair away from my sweaty forehead and pondered my options. We needed to leave asap, but how? I was starving and we both needed food also asap, but what to find? I needed to get back home to Doresdale and find my father so we could rescue Cassius ASAP. No hows or what's about that.

I felt a almost crippling pang. I missed Cassius so badly it ached, he was like another half of me. He was my best friend, teacher, student, soul mate in ways and my Bond. I needed him, badly. When he was captured while saving me, he blocked our connection, sealing us away from each other. I knew it was to keep his pain from affecting me, but it felt like half of my soul was numb, dead. He was still 'there' technically, but I couldn't reach him or him me. It made me feel cold and sick inside, like I lost something.

Whoa, dude. Sanity check.

I shook my head to clear it. New plan, check the cars for possible food and way out. I took a calming breath and strode over to the nearest car. Two Corvati soldiers lay passed out on the ground, practically covered in swollen welts from the bee stings. I stepped over them and climbed onto the car. I smiled grimly, the driver, the young blonde, had been sane enough to turn the car off before he was really attacked. What a smart boy! I was so happy I could have considered kissing him.

I chuckled and checked the compartments for supplies. There was a first aid kit under the seat, some spare, filled water canteens, a small amount of survival food and another knife behind the wheel. Jack pot. What in the world do I need survival skills for? I just need to play raccoon and scavenge. I checked the other vehicles and found some spare fuel for the car along with the other already discovered things.

I felt rather satisfied, I went back to the first car with all my treasures and loaded them in. I took the water and first aid kit over to the Shifter, who I was mentally calling Joe. I knelt beside him and put a hand over his forehead, warm, almost hot. I frowned. Uh oh, he wasn't like that before... I opened the water and lifted his head so I could pour some water into his mouth. After giving him a few gulps, I set him down and searched the first aid kit for something that could help his fever.

I rifled through it until I found a small bottle of pills, the bottle said to give one to people 110 lb. and under, two to 200 lb. and three to anybody over that. I looked over at him and really took him in for the first time. His hair was reddish but dark, his face was calm at the moment. His jaw was strong and his lips were slightly puckered, he wasn't pale exactly but his skin wasn't as tanned as I had originally thought. My eyes traveled down his muscular, strong, evened out body. His hands were rough and scarred from physical work and his arms were big. Hmmm...