Unbroken

Chapter 16

There was the sound of little feet scratching and climbing. I felt the softness of the mattress beneath me and I knew that I was safe in bed. I wasn't in that horrible cave with the rats anymore. I was safe in bed. 

I tried to sink deeper into sleep but I heard the faint sound again and I knew that sleep wouldn't be an option until I knew what it was. I groaned as I was pulled from the relaxation of a deep sleep. 

Slowly I rolled to my side and opened my eyes. I saw large incisors just inches from my face on my pillow. Thenose above the large teeth twitched and the whiskers quivered. Red eyes bulged.I pushed away and felt myself falling off of the bed. I was expecting to landon the hard floor but instead I landed on hundreds of soft little bodies. Several of the rats squeaked in pain and anger as they clawed at the ground and my skin to get away and I shot to my feet. I danced around as I tried to get a clear space on the ground that wasn't covered by a rat body. I shook my arms out and swatted at all of the rats that were still clinging to my clothes. Before I could slap the one that was on my shoulder it took a chunk out of my ear. They were climbing my legs. They were clinging to my dress. Tiny claws scratched at my skin. I flung my arms around and tried to throw them off with my hands. I turned around and the bed became an enormous hissing rat baring its huge teeth. The rats on my clothes instantly disappeared and I was too terrified to move. The huge tail with scales the size of my thumbnail coiled around me like a boa constrictor. It bared its teeth at me as the tail pulled me closer and the massive teeth latched onto my shoulder. The large claws tore at my body and I screamed in pain and terror.

I jerked upright in bed with my heart pounding in my chest. 

Tarra, who was sitting on the edge of my bed, recoiled in shock. I could see that my sudden awakening had startled her. As I tried to calm my rapidly beating heart and convince myself that it was all just a dream I noticed that she had been crying. She reached up and wiped tears off of her cheeks with the back of her hand. 

"I can't believe that this horrible thing has happened to you," she whispered. She reached up to wipe more tears off of her face. "We'll get you patched up though, then you can get back to training." 

Slowly my breathing and heart rate returned to normal and she wiped more tears off of her cheeks. I tried to push that horrible dream out of my mind. I didn't talk to her as I looked past her to see my feet. One was wrapped up in a thick bandage and there was the smell of pungent ointment. Tarra met my eyes then followed my line of sight to look at my feet. She shook her head sadly then reached down to pat my hand. 

"I'm going to personally lock those guards in that wretched place. I will fillet the flesh off of their bones and use it to catch every single rat that hurt you." She gave me a large smile as she waited for her words to sink in. "If you'd like to come and watch I'm going to go visit Ruben first then I'll come get you afterwards to see if you're feeling any better." 

i watched as she jumped up to walk over to the mirror. She twisted and turned as she arranged her outfit and admired her hair from every angle. I waited until I couldn't hear her footsteps and I slowly stood up on the stone floor. Whatever she had put on my foot seemed to be working. It didn't hurt nearly as much as I had expected it to. Slowly I made my way to the mouth of the cave. 

To my surprise there weren't any guards outside. I slowly made my way towards the camp. I looked around hoping that I would see grand somewhere. I wasn't noticed as I stood on the edge of the camp. There was a slight covering of trees that kept me hidden from view. I could see that a few women were starting a meal as they poured water into a pot that was suspended over a fire. My rumbling stomach reminded me that it had been quite a while since I had eaten last. I wondered if she would give me something to eat. Tarra would probably have something later for the two of us. Just as I was about to step out from behind the trees someone grabbed me from behind. A hand clapped down over my mouth and I was spun around to face my captor. My eyes locked with a familiar pair of blue eyes and I gasped.