Life Catcher

Chapter Four: Edumacation

4.

   The only thing I hate more than a really ugly Nome is Samuel Williams. Still pointing toward the rustling bushes Sam hides behind me almost knocking me over. I'm not much of a cover though because he is about the same size as me, maybe two or three centimeters smaller, but that's about it. And my frame is thin and tall so that defeats the purpose of cover.

   "W-what is it?" Sam stammers in a worrisome tone. His hands lightly grip my shoulders.

   "What? You don't know what a Nome is?" I tease still regaining my balance.

   "An Egyptian province?" he says in sudden confusion.

   "What? Ugh, never mind. Just be silent."

   "Whatever you say miss."

   The bushes begin to rustle violently, and I know it must be a pretty big Nome. Then it suddenly silences which isn't a good sign.

   "It might come from behind" I wisper to Sam.

   "Wait, what exactly are we talking about here? A wolf or something? Maybe a fox, I mean, it can't be that ba-"

   "Yes, it is" I emphasize.

   "Then what is it Mrs. I-don't-talk-a lot?" He asks annoyingly.

   "Ugh, it's a Nome Mr. I-like-to-bug-people."

   "What's a Nome?"

   "You'll see..."

   I point my bow at the bush and turn my instinct on to sence if it comes from behind. A click in my brain signals me to turn by body. Obeying it I turn and point my bow at a 4 feet tall Nome. Now Nomes are usually 1 to 2 feet tall. Two is even a stretch. But four? Never four.

   It breaths gaseous steam from its nostrils, and the steam swirls behind Sam's head. He gulps down a scream.

   "Uh, lady. What exactly does a Nome look like?"

   "Don't. Move. A muscle." I say slowly so I don't get the Nome's attention.

   "What ever you say." He squeaks.

   I slowly move my bow toward the Nome's face, and circle around it from a distance. It follows my movement with its eyes, and turns his body away from Sam, which is an unusual relief. Then the Nome moves slowly toward me and I pull my bow back to shoot it, but it leaps for me and before I can react, it knocks the bow out of my hands. I dodge its other hand and roll left to a one-knee stance. It bares its teeth and growls. I quickly stand up, and by now, Sam is hiding behind some bushes looking frightfully at the Nome that is now huffing and puffing at me.

   I have to do something, I think to myself. I creep to where Sam is hiding but big and ugly quickly blocks my path. I have no weapons, and no plan. I look at Sam and then the Nome, and back at Sam. Why should I help Sam? I need to save my own butt. But if I leave him, the Nome might kill him, or worse, eat him. Why should I care? It's not as if he matters to me. He's surely not my friend. However, he being eaten is something I do not want to watch. Or hear.

   I spread my wings out my back, Sam turns his attention to me, and his eyes widen, his pupils dilated. I can even hear his teeth clatter from here. The Nome's eyes widen also and it takes a few steps back in fear. I spread them out to its full span (15 feet roughly) and slowly walk toward the Nome. It takes bigger steps back then sprints into the bushes squeaking in fear.

   "Glad that's over," I say to myself.

   Sam is still crouched down in the bushes looking at my wings wide-eyed. By now his bright brown irises are acutely thinned by his dilated pupils. His teeth clattering subside, but he is still frozen in fear. So I fold my wings in my back. And since Sam is still frozen, I walk to where my bow is and put it across my back.

   "Well, good luck finding your way back home", I say casually walking in the direction of my LQ.

   He stumbles out of the bushes after me.

   "W-wait! Aren't your going to help me find my way home?" He stammers. I spread out my wings and he squeaks and stumbles to the ground, teeth clattering in fear.

   "Do you really want me to?" I say coolly.

   "Um, y-yes I d-do", he stumbles. But I just keep walking wanting him to beg me.

   "P-please. I really need to find my home. I've been out here for 3 days. Three days!"

   Days? What are days? Why can't he speak English? I pause, and turn around to look at him. He is still on the ground huddling, ang rocking back and forth, with his teeth still clattering. His eyes are now almost entirely black, which frighten me a little. I bite back my fear.

   "Aren't you afraid of me", I say glaring at him and drawing my wings out wider. He rocks back and forth vehemently, and clatters his teeth harder.

   "Stop. Please." he almost wispers as if he will shatter if he speaks any louder. It scares me, the way he is acting. It not like I can kill him from this distance. I quickly retract my wings and soften my glare. His rocking subsides to a twitch, and his teeth lightly grind each other.

   "Thank you", he says so low it is barely audible.

   "Why are you so afraid of me", I say clearly but calmly.

   "Your. Wings." he whimpers.

   I want to say sorry, but that would only show weakness. But being harsh only makes me feal worse. So we both stay silent, and I just look down at him and something wet rolls down my cheek. I put my hands to my face and find the wetness is coming from my eyes. Sam looks at me sympathetically, and stands up. We lock eyes for a while, the only sound coming from the forest critters.

   "What are you?" are the words that break the silence, but I am too dazed to find out where it came from.

   "Did you hear me?" Sam says softly.

   "What..." my voice trails off. Even more liquid comes from my eyes but I do not know why.

   "Please don't cry", he wispers.