Spirit Wolves: The Lost Alpha & Beta

6. Licking Wounds

***Nate***

I sped out of town as fast as I could with Luca badly injured beside me in the jeep.  My mind was racing on what I should do next because he was normally the one to make these decisions.  I always agreed, but I was still more comfortable following because that is what I have always done.  This time though, I had to figure this out on my own because our lives may depend on it.  I knew that word would spread back to their pack really fast and we would be hunted.  I decided to take a long detour in an attempt to lead them in the wrong direction.  I pulled off on the next road and started to head east and only after about 20 miles did I turn back south again.  

Luckily, these were not highways and I was able to go as fast as the jeep and the road would allow it.  There were a few sharp corners in which I almost lost control only making my heart race even faster in my chest but I just kept telling myself that we will be fine and I will find someone to help us.  We still had enough cash for food and gas, but it did not leave much extra for health visits.  I kept trying to mind link Luca.  I knew he was unconscious, but I was hoping he could hear me telling him that I would figure this out and he will be okay.  I looked over at him and decided to pull the jeep over, hoping that we were far enough away by now so that I could properly assess his wounds.  

I noticed a run down path leading away from the road and it looked like we would fit through and into a clearing just fine, so I turned off the road and made my way down a long, overgrown lane.  I could tell that it was not accessed much because the tree branches kept hitting the front windshield and side panels as well as the ruts beneath the overgrown weeds and grass.  I took my time moving through and after we rounded a bend, where I could no longer see the road, I stopped.  Jumped out, reached into the back to where I packed the proper first aid kit and ran around to his side to open the door.

He moaned as I pulled him out and laid him down on the ground.  I pulled the shirt away from the wound and could see that it had started to heal, but it would take a long time.  As wolves, we healed faster than humans, but when the damage was severe, we could still die from infection or other complications.  I opened the first aid kit and lined up the things I would need.  Luca was still groaning from the pain and had begun to sweat.  From my training that told me he was fighting an infection.  I opened and poured a whole bottle of peroxide over his wounds.  The wind picked up and my nose smelt just a hint of ginseng in the air.  Perfect! I thought as I took off as quickly as I could, following the scent.  Ginseng root was an amazing healing agent and would help Luca a great deal.

I followed my nose and found the plant in the dark shade of the forest, ripping some out of the ground and running full speed back to Luca.  I didn;’t know how long we would be able to stop for so I wanted to be as quick as possible.  When I returned however, I came to an abrupt stop as I observed what looked like a young woman with modern tattered clothes leaning over Luca observing him.  She heard me and instantly stuck her hand palm out in my direction before she even looked at me.  Her head and eyes followed soon after.  I went to take a slow step towards her, but I was frozen in place.  Panic began to fill me.  I had heard of witches before, but being so far away from people, I had never met one.  

“Please, I am sorry if we scared you, I just wanted to help my friend and get back on the road.  We mean you no harm, we just need to keep moving!.”  I pleaded with her in the calmest voice I could muster, trying my best not to seem aggressive.  I realized I could move my upper body, just not my legs so I raised my hands, palms out in a show of good faith.

  “I smell the pack of the land on him, with a nasty wound indeed.” She began to reply, still holding her one hand up towards me like she was holding the forcefield that prevented me from moving.  She turned back to Luca and leaned in for a better look at his wound.  I am not entirely sure why she felt like she could trust me, but I was more than grateful in that moment.  She lowered her hand and I was able to move again, but this time, I did not rush.  I slowly made my way to her, keeping my hands out the whole time.

“I smelt ginseng and though if I ground it up, it would help with healing him.”  I explained as I approached her and knelt down beside them.

“Very well, I can speed up his healing and I will help you...if you take me with you.”  She offered as she sat back on her legs to look at me.  She made it very clear that she would not help unless I agreed to take her with us.

“Fine, we will figure it out, ?Here is the ginseng, please help him.  I will rearrange things in the jeep to make room for you.  But we can’t stay long.  I can sense them getting closer.”  I replied in a bit of a panic.

The young woman worked on Luca while I moved bags and suitcases around in the tiny back seat of the jeep, wishing every second that passed that we had a bit larger of a vehicle so I would have to figure out this jig-saw puzzle.  With the last bag shoved into place, I managed to clear a little bit of space in the back.  When I returned to the woman, she had already bandaged Luca’s side and was packing the first aid kit back up.  I leaned down and scooped him up, getting ready to throw him back into the passenger seat when the woman interrupted me.

“He would be better in the back.  He will be sleeping for a long time and by the looks of it, you may need my help again.”  She suggested almost knowingly.

I paused to consider what she meant, and before I could fully decide, my ears perked as I heard a vehicle pull off the side of the road near where I did.  I shoved Luca into the back of the jeep and turned around to tell the woman that they had found us and to be as quiet as she could be.  What I saw however confused and amazed my eyes.  She stood as straight as a tree, chin up, eyes closed and arms stretched as far up as they would go. Her lips were moving with no sound escaping them in what looked like a silent chant.  I stood as still as I could putting all of my faith in this strange woman, wondering why on earth she would ever help us.  There was still so much I had to talk to Luca about, and the list was getting longer and longer by the minute.  Hopefully soon, he would wake up and not kill me for bringing along a stray…

After what seemed like forever, I heard the pack talking by the road faintly, but I still heard it.  “I have no clue where they went.  Their scent was so strong here.  It led up that abandoned lane and then just disappeared.”  followed by a long pause before the voice continued again “understood sir, we will come back to the pack house right away.”  I heard 4 doors close on a vehicle and then the tearing of gravel from spinning tires.  I continued to listen until I could no longer hear the engine any more.  I turned back to the woman who was lowering her arms and gave her a nod before saying 

“I don’t know what you did or how you did it, but thank you!  Hop in and let’s go.  I want to get as far away as I can!”  I spoke as I turned back to face the jeen, placing a towel over the seat where Luca had been bleeding all over.  The woman climbed in while I ran around to the other side, hopped in and we made quick work to get back on the road and moving again in the right direction.

    After a few moments, she broke the silence between us.  “Thank you for bringing me with you.  Can I ask where you are going?”  Now, without the fear and threat of other wolves nearby, I noticed she had a rather soft voice, almost like she sang her words as she spoke.  

    “I think we are helping each other at this point.  My name is Nate.  That” (pointing my thumb to the back seat) is Luca.  We are heading to Clearwater.”

    “Oh my gosh!  I am heading that way too!  My name is Aria and I need to get back to my coven to warn them as soon as I can!  These wolves kidnapped me a few days ago and were taking me someplace to perform a binding spell.  They kept saying if I didn’t do it, they would come back and kill everyone in my coven.  Please, I have to warn them!”  She explained in a bit of a panic.  

    I was not about to disclose any more information to her than I had to.  Not before talking to Luca about it that is, but I could say that it would be nice to have some company along the way.  “Well, I will take you as far as I can.  We do not have a lot of money and I still don’t know how long or how much gas it will take to get there.  Then there is food on top of that.  I just want to warn you, we will only stop for gas and bathroom then back on the road and hopefully, we will make it there with what little money we have left.”  I tried my best to explain, but also stumbled over my words at the same time.  It was very strange, but I felt close to her as though I could trust her even though I had only just met her on a chance encounter.