In the depths of the jungle

Chapter sixteen: Friend or foe

Kira

I was holding myself up on a tree while taking a break. My wounds hurt, but I concentrated on my sight not to get blurry. Around my leg and my left arm was a bondage and some red leaves I found at my last sleeping place. They will help the wound regenerate faster. I had made it back without being discovered but sadly without finding help too. I was too far away from the normal paths.

My head was pounding, when suddenly someone stumbled into the clearing.

To my huge astonishment it was a human! I could not only tell from the looks also by the smell. He first looked at me surprised, he probably didn't expect anyone here either but than his gaze changed into rage. He drew a saber, I grabbed my short dagger from my back. I found it at my last hiding place where I hid it.

I hissed at him but he didn't even flinch. I walked in ducked position, easing my right leg a little. He dragged his left foot slightly what was an advantage for me. He also had a bandage around his right shoulder. The rest of his body seemed to be intact. Only several steps were separating us now. He lunged out with his saber but I ducked away and took a few steps back. He didn't give up. He tried to hit me again and again with his sword but I even with being hurt I managed to escape his strikes. I soon realized that I had no chance of getting close with my dager and I could not beat him on solid ground. I ran towards him, holding up my dager to keep his sword from cutting me in a half. With all my power I had in my half numb arm I clutched my sharp finger nails into his bandaged shoulder. He cried out in pain and while he was distracted I tackled him to the ground.

Before he could cut my back with his saber I sat on his hand and ripped it out of his fingers. Needing to much space for an attack with it I threw it away. My dagger almost touched his throat but he was holding my wrist as far away as possible. I felt his strong hands tremble. He got his knee beneath me and suddenly pushed me away. Having his left arm free now he took a swing and landed it in my face. Black spots swam in my sight. He pushed me from him and sat on my shoulders, ripping the dagger from my hands. A painful flash went through my left arm. I looked him straight into his face and saw from side of my eye that he got a grip of his sword again.

"Go one, you coward. Strike!" He sat his sword on my chest but looked confused for half a second because I spoke his tongue. My chest was lifting up and down fast and I could feel the cold metal on my skin. I crunched my teeth together and stared at him. He looked furious and grabbed his sword tighter, he slightly moved his weight and I hissed because of my hurting shoulder. When I thought he would crush his blade through my throat he suddenly got, up not moving his sword an inch.

JAMES

Something was holding me back, was it reason or something else? I did not know. I was surprised when I saw that the cat creature was female. Did I really want to kill a woman? The question answered itself when she wrestled me to the ground. I had to make a decision! And I did.

I changed my mind. I had to get out of this jungle somehow and since my navigator had no longer a head, I had to find someone else. I had a part of the map so she can't lead me in a trap. Besides if I wanted to come out of here alive I need someone who was a local, who could help me with the other wilds. Help me to survive in this jungle. I really wished I had another choice because to let me help from someone like her was the last thing I wanted. I moved my legs and she hissed at me. Only now I saw a bondage around her arm. Good, she was wounded that will make it easier to tame her. I pointed my saber against her throat while getting up. I needed to tie her up. Only because I didn't kill her, doesn't mean I trust her. What if some of her tribes men were still around?

"Are you alone here?" I asked her while looking around, careful to not let her out of sight. She just nodded.

"Do you even understand me?" I asked like talking to a child

"Of course I do human!" She answered rolling her eyes. Her voice surprised me. I didnt pay attention before when she half snarled at me. It was nothing I've ever heard before. It was deeper, rougher than the high pitched voices from the girls I've met. There was also this strange accent she had. It sounded sort of Spanish but not that smooth.

KIRA

Why did he not just kill me?! He had the chance. I knew enough to know that he did not do it because of pity or a sudden change of heart, the question was just what he wanted from me. "What do you want from me? You didn't kill me! Why not?" My head hurt what made it hard to concentrate to speak his tongue. He took a deep breath and answered then: "I need someone who will help me to get out of this jungle.

I laughed at him "Why do you have the absurd idea that I would help you? A human! I'm not going to help you. You can rot here"

Suddenly I saw it sparkle in his eyes. A raging flash as I knew it myself, if I am at the end of my patience. He pressed his sword harder against my throat. "Well stupid wild listen very closely, I spared your life when I could have taken it. You owe me." he hissed angrily.

"I havent asked for it" I said surprised and breathless. The pressure on my throat grew and I felt the cold metal cut in my skin, and how blood dropped down.

"Oh yes? Well if that is so, you sure don't mind if I take back what I have graciously given you" he said cold.

My courage left me, even though I was raging furious with anger and would have liked to cut out his tongue for such arrogant words, if I not had experienced death so closely, I would probably prefer to die in honor than give up my pride. But because I knew how it was to lose everything and to feel how life slowly drains from one, I said quickly:

"No, wait, I will help you" but the blade did not vanish. Such a bastard, he wanted that I say it out loud out because he wanted to punish me for not agreeing immediately and thanking him. I hissed with hate filled voice "Only let me my life" He took his sword from my neck. When he noticed I was not trying to get up again he started to idly grin above me.

Wait until you see with whom you have to deal, as soon I get better you will see who is the mighty one here.