Where The Wild Things Are [Continuation]

4| THE NEWBIE

4| THE NEWBIE

“QUICK! Someone get him in the medical tent now!” Merlin ordered as sternly, but as quietly as she could. Two people rushed inside to get the makeshift gurney. Merlin kneeled down as she handed Gretchen back the torch.

            His wrists and ankles were bound together, and a gag was wrapped around his head. Blood stained his tattered clothes, and bruises and cuts decorated his dark skin. Merlin found his face and carefully placed a hand on his cheek. His eyes were wild with fear. He looked around twelve. This was easily the oldest child they’ve ever received.

            “You’re going to be okay,” she whispered, sympathy surging through her body. This happened every time they got a newbie. Their eyes locked. “It’s going to be okay,” she said, shifting herself closer to him, in fear of being too loud. “You’re going to be alright.”

            Suddenly she heard a faint growl a couple feet away from her. She looked up from the kid and out toward the noise. She cautiously rose to her feet, her knife at the ready. Tension eating at her stomach, “Merlin!" she heard Gretchen hiss, "What are you doing?” But she ignored her friend’s question and slowly crept forward toward the tree line.

            She was about ten feet into the thick of the trees when she stumbled across a figure. Carol, she quickly realized. He was easily fifteen feet tall. His striped fur smeared with mud and leaves. His back turned to her. Even from this angle he was terrifying. She gulped, her confidence that was once there swirling down the drain. Merlin began to step back, when a branch snapped underneath her boot. She saw Carol’s ears perk up. Without a second to spare he turned, his claws lashing out.

            The swing came so fast that she had no time to react. The claws ripped across her side, the momentum causing her to slam against the ground, dropping her knife. She cried out. She glanced at him, fear contorted her features. Carol began to advance forward slowly, taunting his prey.

            In a desperate attempt Merlin flipped on her back and dug her elbow in the dirt; one of her hands putting pressure on her wounded side. Sluggishly moving backward she panted, tears stinging her eyes. Her heart was pounding against her chest, her hair standing on end.

            Their eyes met. Pure fury twisted his features. Trembling in fear, she shut her eyes tightly, knowing there was no way out of this one. She could sense that he was about to pounce, she whimpered.          

            Carol slashed again, this time at her thigh. She cried out, pressing her back against the ground, wishing that she could sink in it and disappear.

            Then an distant howl broke the tension. She could sense that the attitude of the atmosphere changed. She slit her eyes open to find Carol frozen in place, seeming like he was calculating what he should do. Then the howl came again, sounding more urgent. Defeated, Carol rose from his threating stance and scatted back in the woods, she could’ve sworn he heard him grumble, “You’re lucky this time.”

            She was shaking, from the cold or from fear she had no idea. Gradually her breathing regulated, tears still slipping down her face. Pulling herself up against a tree she took a moment to process what just happened. Her body trembling, she turned her hand upward, her hand catching the moonlight. It was a dark red.

            Taking a deep breath she attempted to sit up but the pain was too much to bear, she hissed. Knowing it was risky, but not caring at the moment she flopped on her stomach and began army crawling toward the wooden fence. “Help!” she yelled, grunting at the pain rippling through her torso and leg. After crawling a few feet the pain got worse. “Someone . . . help . . . me!” her words turning into wails of agony.

            Suddenly she could hear murmurs from the inside of the fence. Her breathing hitched, urgent. “Please!” She heard the wooden slab creaked open hesitantly. Then she heard her companions’ shoes crunch under the dried leaves, surrounding her. Her breathing became heavy, her eyesight beginning to blur.

            She could hear Gretchen speaking, but not what the words meant. As if a wave of fatigue swept through her body, her eyelids began to close. Then darkness.

She blinked. It felt like she had slept a lifetime. She craned her neck to find that she was in the medical tent. She attempted to sit up but a sharp pain stabbed at her side. She winced but ignored it the best she could and propped her elbow on the table, shoving herself upward.

            “Oh no you don’t,” she heard a voice say. Her head whipped around to find Gretchen giving her the stank eye. Gretchen walked over and laid Merlin back down on the table.

            “How long was I asleep?” Merlin asked, anxious. “A couple hours. It’s almost dawn.” Gretchen answered, lifting Merlin’s shirt and checking the bandages that wrapped around her torso and left thigh.

            Merlin, hesitant to ask, said, “How bad are the slashes?” Gretchen grimaced, “Bad, but with the healing mixes I put on your cuts you should be healed in a couple weeks or so.”

            Merlin nodded, seeing this as a good to go she pushed herself up again. But Gretchen was determined to not let Merlin leave. “You’re not going anywhere,” she said, gently pushing her back down, “you need rest.” Merlin protested that she was fine but Gretchen was having none of it.

            “You do know that you got mauled by Carol, right?” Merlin sighed in defeat, and slowly slid down on her back.

            Eager to change the subject she asked: “How’s the newbie doing?” Gretchen shrugged and looked over at the next makeshift cot. Merlin followed her gaze to find the boy next to her sleeping. The gag and ropes that bounded his joints were gone. His hand was bandaged, and dark bruises were underneath his eyes. The small cuts on his face were scabbing up.

            “Have you got a name yet?” Merlin asked, breaking the momentary silence. She saw Gretchen from the corner of her eye, she shook her head, “No. Right after we cleaned him up he just passed out.”

            Merlin nodded. “That’s understandable.” Gretchen agreed. “Now get some rest, Merlin.” Gretchen said, “And that’s an order.” Merlin reluctantly agreed and turned on her uninjured side. Facing the new sleeping arrival.

            Then sleep slowly captured her, giving her dreams of the bliss before she was sent to her room.

           

A/N: Just to clarify: this particular newbie is not, I repeat, not Max. 

P.S. I'm sorry that I haven't updated in about a thousand years!