Clouds

Part 2-27 Cubs

Chapter 27

            As my eyes gently open, the warm sunlight streams threw the leaves and twigs and onto my face.  My first thoughts?

            Where am I?

            No, I’m here.

            I’m safe.

            I made it.

            I had done it.

            I had really, truly, done it.

            I had fooled the guards and escaped into the Hedges, and thanks to Daya I am safe.

            But I lost someone near and dear in the process.

            One thing I do happen to know is that Jason will find me.  He’s going to be alright, and one day he’ll find me and we’ll continue on our journey.  But, for now, I’ll need to collect the ingredients and build the solution that can be rid of the walls.  And then, I will truly be free, with Jason by my side.  I will show him the Coastline, and together we will travel to Rainbow Valley and finally to Cloud.

            Yes, yes, that is exactly what will happen, I just know it.  And then we can live in one place in harmony forever.

            Daya looks at me and gives me a warm bear smile.  The sunlight reflects off of her dark brown fur as she looks at her cubs, snuggled up against me.  I return her smile and yawn.

            “Good morning Daya,” I tell her, gently patting her fur.  She growls a gentle growl and rests her head back down.  “Aja, Aran.”

            I watch as the cubs lift their little heads up and meet my warm gaze and smile.  They quietly pant and look around.

            Aja rises to her little bear paws and, walking a safe distance away from Daya, sticks her butt in the air to signal for a desperate craving to play. 

            Daya rolls her eyes as I laugh and watches as the cubs tussle around and play, stirring up leaves and such.

            “Thank you so much, Daya,” I say.  “For everything you’ve done.”  I pause and meet her bear eyes.  The cubs stop playing and look at me.  “But I can’t stay here forever and I need to get food-“  I rise to my feet.  As soon as I put pressure on my foot, I instantly remember what had happened and come crashing back to the ground.  “Oh,” I say.  “Yeah, I forgot.”

            Daya opens her mouth and snickers.  She rises to her paws and waltzes towards the entrance she had created to her den in the hedges, and then turns around to stare at the cubs and me.

            Stay with Aja and Aran, her eyes say.  I’m going to hunt.  I’ll bring back some food for you too, Emedee.  Don’t hurt that leg of yours, alright?

            Okay, Daya, I reply.  She walks out of the hedge and begins to walk towards wherever she is going.

            I look at the pups as they continue to play.  Then, I look at my leg.

            I wince at what I see.

            Just because the plastic bullets are gone doesn’t mean my leg looks any better.  I’ll need to stitch it up-the bandage worked for the night but I really need to disinfect it.  But it is nasty, with dried blood covering the cloth, puss staining my leg, and it hurts like hell.