Bright light filtered through the canopy of the trees, dancing on my bare skin with a warm touch. Smiling, I dig my fingers into the dirt at my sides...only to find I'm not laying on the ground? It feels like coarse fur. My lids flutter open, I see that I'm not laying under trees, but that I'm in a white canvas tent? Looking around my breath catches as excruciating pain shoots through my entire body at the small movement. A whimper escapes my lips as I'm forced to lay still, panting from the unwelcome experience, I try to breathe through the flashes of white hot pain.
Memories come flooding back, wolves, Nero, Fire, voices. I squeeze my eyes shut at the overwhelming stupidity of my desicions. I'm now injured, surrounded by multiple strangers, with nothing but scraps of fabric over my choice bits, and I have no idea where I'm at. An incredulous laugh escapes me, brought up short with stabbing pain shooting through my ribs. Tears gather in my eyes as I try to breathe through it, but even the slightest movement is followed with what feels like knives stabbing me throughout my entire body.
"You're awake" My eyes fly open and I jump at the sudden deep voice coming from the right of me, and immediately wish that I hadn't moved as I'm reminded of my injuries.
"Where am I? Where are my clothes?" I ask the man while staring at the white canvas above me. Shuffling, followed by footsteps are my only answer as the unknown man comes closer. I glance over to find a tired looking Nero staring back at me and wince at the pain it causes. Concern flashes across his features and disappears just as quickly.
"We are at the main camp, your dress however is destroyed, I've brought you some clothes for when you're ready to join the rest of us...How are you feeling?" Tenderness seeps into his words as he lookes me over.
"It's hard to move, everything hurts." My voice betrays me as it trembles, tears threaten to spill over my swollen lids. "How bad is it?" I ask hesitantly, not convinced I want to know the extent of my wounds.
"You have a few broken ribs, and your back is raw from being dragged. Your legs however took the most work. We had to stitch them up and wrap them, but we dont think there is any infection which is a miracle in itself. Ryans poultice seems to have worked on that account. As long as we keep the wounds cleaned and covered you should be fine." It seemed as if he wanted to say something else as he looked over my wounds. I silently watched him as he warred with himself. Sweat glistened off his well toned forearms in the summer heat. His muscles flexed as if he were about to fight some unseen foe.
"Sage..." I lazily dragged my eyes back up to his. His eyes like storm clouds, bored into mine searching for something...answers maybe? Dread began to build in my gut as he stared at me intensely. I knew where this was going and it wasn't going to end well. Breaking away from the hold his gaze held on me I looked around and spotted the clothes folded neatly in the corner of the tent. I needed to get out of here. Now.
"I think I might like to get dressed now." Pain reared its ugly head in protest to my sudden movement, so strongly, that my vision began to blacken around the edges.
"Woah! Just hold on a minute! Let me help you before you rip your stitches!" Nero's rough voice rose an octave as he rushed to help me sit up while I kept a grip on my sparse coverings. Frustration welled within me at my weakness. His strong arms around me hurt more than helped and I couldn't stop the hiss of pain that escaped, as his strong arms wrapped around my broken ribs.
I was on a small wooden bench of sorts covered in furs for comfort. The tent was quite large and able to hold a few people for a nights rest. Just then a younger man came through the flap in the tent carrying a bowl and some cloth, stopping abruptly when he saw me sitting up.
"Oh, your awake!" The man stood there, shock written across his face. Stubble darkened his sharp jaw, eyes like rays of sunshine sparked with curiosity stared back at me. His light brown hair was to his slim shoulders and straight as a needle. Seeming to realize that I was still fairly naked he turned away quickly and held the bowl and cloths out to Nero.
"I, uh, brought the clean water and cloths like you asked Nero. Would the lady like me to grab some food for her now that she is awake?"
Nero's questioning gaze bored into mine waiting for me to answer, ignoring the supplies being held out to him in order to help me stay sitting up. My tongue suddenly felt like sandpaper in my mouth at the mention of food and water.
"I would kill for a drink of water, and..do you happen to have any vegetables or fruits....?" I glanced over at the young man not sure what his name was.
"Darren," Nero's deep voice answered for me.
"Ah yes, Darren. If not I can forage for my own food."
"I-I'm sorry, but I don't think your capable of foraging for your own meals, miss. Not yet, anyways. My brother James and I will gather food for you." Sounding quite uncomfortable with the way the conversation was being had, Darren hurridly sat the bowl and clean cloths on top of the pile of clothes for me and darted out of the tent.
"You can release me now, your hurting my ribs" I snapped at the overly cautious Nero. A wounded look crossed his face in a flash before it returned to the emotionless mask I was growing so used to seeing. I didn't have time to apologize for my rudeness before Nero started again.
"Sage," his rough voice brought me back to the reason I was getting dressed in the first place. To get far away from here, from people, back to the safety of my little cottage in the forest.
"What were you really doing by the river? Why are you out here all alone?" I could feel his gaze upon me but couldn't bring myself to look up at him.
Gods at the mistakes I was making, it's like history repeating itself right before my eyes! What could I possibly tell him, how will I make him understand? A defeated sigh escapes me and I hold out my hand for help to stand. He reaches out for me and I hesitate. That strong hand could very well end my life if I'm not careful. If I say or do the wrong thing, how foolish I was to think I could be free. Safe. I look at him one last time, at his slate gray eyes swirling with emotion that doesn't touch his features. How will he react? What will he say? I have no way of knowing until I show him who I really am. One thing is certain...He will never look at me the same again.
Glancing back down at his outreached hand I take a deep breath and take his much larger hand in my own. Whatever happens I cannot be weak in the face of adversity. I must be strong enough to take whatever comes my way. I've fought my way to freedom once before, I can do so again.
"Help me get dressed and I'll answer your questions." I say as I hold my head up and stare straight into the tumultuous depths of his gray eyes.