Outcasts

Chapter Four

Sudden light flooded into my eyelids. I groaned and went to roll over, but pain ripped up my arm-or wing. I opened my eyes tenderly, seeing Cassie looking over me.

"Oh thank goodness," She said. "You're alive."

"Barely," I moaned.

"I took the bullet out and put some herbs on it, to see if that will help. Do you feel okay?"

I couldn't do anything but moan again.

"Cass?" Ryan called.

"Shh!" Cassie shushed. "She's awake!"

"Really?" Ryan asked.

Cassie nodded.

"Hey guys," I muttered. "Can I have some water?"

"Oh, yeah. You must be thirsty."

I didn't realize that I was a person until I tried to sit up. "Wait," I said, gritting my teeth through the pain. "How am I human again?"

"I don't know," Cassie said. "I think you just automatically shifted before you blacked out."

She brought me a woven cup with water in it. I guzzled it down.

"Sorry, I forgot that you needed water," Cassie said, awkwardly.

"How long was I out?" I asked.

"Not long," Ryan assured me, But his tone sounded falsely exaggerated.

"I'm serious." I insisted.

"It really doesn't matter," Cassie jumped in.

"Yes, it does!" I started to get angry.

"You're okay, and that's all that matters," Ryan said.

"Apparently me feeling included doesn't matter much, then."

"Bree-" Cassie started.

"Tell me!" I cut her off. "Stop trying to sugar-coat everything!"

"We can't," Ryan insisted.

"Why not?! I think you can."

"I'm sorry, Bree." Cassie said. Then there was something pushed into my mouth that tasted salty and sour and dry and sweet and bitter all at the same time. I tried to spit it out, but everything got foggy and I slipped into sleep.

They had to stop sedating me.

I thrashed through the drug-leaf and finally was able to wake up. I was alone, and my arm felt much better. It still looked like raw meat, but the pain was subsiding.

I stood up, a sudden wave of nausea rushing over me. I stumbled for the railing but felt myself slipping. I could barely perceive the drop off the trees. Right as my foot slipped and I felt wind rush over me, A hand grabbed my arm.

"Bree!" It was Ryan.

I tried to look up, but everything was still spinning.

He eased me to what I thought was the floor. "You almost died! What on earth are you doing?!"

"I... uh-erm..." I tried to speak but my mouth felt like warm jello.

"Oh nevermind. Lay down."

I gladly obliged.

"Cassie is still gathering food, so we'll just have to sit tight and wait."

I kinda wanted him to sit by me so I could have something to lean on, but I pushed the feeling away.

"How did you wake up?"

I shrugged. The drug started to reduce. "Wh..what happ-happened to you down there?" I asked, mumbling over the simple words.