Power pet (Chapter 3)
#3 of Power pet
Chapter three, not a long one, I only wrote it a few days ago.
*About two hours later, nightfall*
I have been running for so long, I think I am going to pass out. Nothing feels safe, not just the woods, but the entire world. Never will I be far enough away from Karson and that place. Thinking back on my little cage I feel homesick, it was safe! I was happy in a way, so happy... But I was still in danger of being purchased, so it isn't perfect! I... I want... I want to find the real place. Wherever the cage is based on. I want the actual expanse of land to roam freely on! I suddenly collapsed and began flailing in agony, my arm felt like someone was pulling on it violently. This isn't going to heal, I need a doctor... Maybe one of the wild creatures can help! We... they have all sorts of powers, maybe one can heal me!
?"Let's see here..." It was difficult to smell through the thick forest and my copious blood. "No, no, you'd eat me, maybe you..." Sniffing around, I caught a few scents, but it felt useless.
?What do I say? Woof woof? No wild creature is going to be able to speak English anyway! Damn you humans, you even took communicating from me! My stomach is killing me as well, but I know that is hunger and not a wound. Each moment of earlier played over again in my mind, how can I be thinking about food? God I'm hungry though... I collapsed again, into a tall mound of leaves. Where do I go? How am I going to survive? Why does everyone want to hurt me?
These woods are so loose that I am finding freeways and off-ramps occasionally. Quite a few humans showed concern, when I met the few faces I did, but I refused to say a word. As far as I was concerned, nothing about that world mattered... I was dead already and I simply wanted to live, however long, alone. Soon I came across a river and cleaned myself up as best I could. Using the leash and collar, I fashioned a type of crude sling, to keep my arm pushed upward and minimize the pain walking caused. This made traversing the light wilderness easier. The gradually rolling hills were good, for at my height any type of slope became a challenge. Along the way, I found some type of berry and disregarded possible poisons. Luckily, I found them to be raspberries and decided it was alright to eat them. Being a canine, I hate fruit and vegetables, but I cannot hunt anything out here... If I happen upon a young rabbit or groundhog perhaps, but nature has armed us all with something special... Well, except this one...
?Another river now blocked my path and I was pinned in by two thick trees, which stood like a gateway to the water. Clear cool liquid ran through my fur, causing tiny specks and thin streams of blood to flow with it. It felt good to be wet and cleaned in a way, but I could barely shake dry, it hurt far to much... I continued on for what felt like miles. Endless steps and limitless energy to travel toward nothing. Then it happened... As if this one last step hit a switch, everything shut off. Though my eyes remained open, I completely fell to nothing under the weight of my own gravity. Motionless, I just breathed and thought about my life. What I did wrong and what I did right... What had happened... What would... happen...
?I must have passed out because I awoke sometime later, to a vulture landing atop me. Instinct led me to flip over and strike at the bird, but I barely managed to harm it. A small howl of agony escaped me, but it seemed pointless to even pretend I would survive. Nature is going to claim me, which is a much more settling death than rotting in a cage or being dispersed into nothing. Rolling to a sitting position, I realized my arm was now essentially dead weight... I couldn't move it and I knew that it would become infected soon. I will need a humans help, one more time...
Continuing through the woods, my lack of energy and pain made it hard to keep going. Small bursts of stamina were all I could achieve, yet the drive was still there. My fire was going, but no heat was being produced... It was becoming difficult to think, stand, breath... Fuck I'm in pain... If I can just find someone, my power level will make them pamper me! Oh god listen to me... Ugh...
"Why hello there." A voice said and I fell over myself with fright. "Are you alright?" It was an owl, she had a small sash around her, beneath both wings.
?"No, I was attacked... by a human..." I forced myself to sit up, just in time to see her swoop from the tree to the ground.
?"My word, what happened? Did you lose a fight? Was he upset with you?" She asked hopping a bit, before extending a wing to touch my shoulder.?
"I... always lose..." My voice wavered under pain and shame.
?"Relax honey, my owner is an animal ranger! See!" She referenced her sash, but I could care less... humans are evil... "Claire can fix you right up, I bet!"
?"...Do you... think so?" I asked, but the mountain colored owl nodded far before that.
"I'm not very strong, but I think I can carry you. If you can't walk." She offered spreading her wings and smiling.
"How far is it?" I asked and she looked around a bit, then nodded.
?"About half a mile. How did you make it out here my friend?" She asked after confirming I could walk.
"I was... running for my life..." It was hard to admit this, but I knew it would be better not to lie.
?"Relax honey. I promise, you'll be just fine!" She began hopping toward the denser portion of woods and I felt compelled to struggle on.
?"Thank you... I don't think I would survive much longer to be honest..." My frail voice made her shake her head, almost entirely around.
"Not on my watch!" She hopped up, flapping madly, but still falling to earth. "I've only been a ranger for about a month now, but I love helping!" Her enthusiasm was inspiring, but no... think not, want not...?
"Thank you..." A small sigh followed this and I battled a surge of pain.
?We proceeded through the thicker woods and I struggled greatly. Occasionally the kind owl would hoist me upward, using a small amount of flight. This was used to cross a tall fallen log, a pit of muck, and a thorny overgrowth. It was incredibly kind, but that is what the animal rangers are for essentially. For training animals to protect, prevent, and preserve all life. Where the fuck were they yesterday? We entered into a clearing and I collapsed. It didn't take long to continue, as being in the company of another being drove my instincts into high gear. Across another few yards, we reached another clearing, this one dotted with a single tall oak tree. Perched in the tree was a quaint little cottage, built around the sturdy branches.
"Claire! Can you come here?" She flew up a few feet before shouting this toward the tree.
?"Mathia? Didn't you leave a while ago?" A grown woman appeared at the window. "What's going on? Oh my god!" She exclaimed upon seeing me.?
In a flash this woman was sliding down a rope ladder, a bag on her shoulder. She rushed over and scraped to a stop, kneeling and gently touching me. The whining and whimpering made me feel weak, but I was in so much pain... I just wanted to go to sleep and know I would be alright. Forget it actually... I just want to go to sleep... I can die for all I care... She was beautiful however... Dimpled cheeks held a scattering of light freckles, that complimented her slim jawline. The trim ears were invisible behind a long flowing mass of auburn colored hair, no I am not color blind! Her gorgeous ocean water eyes sparkled with compassion, longing, and empathy. I nuzzled her soft hands as they reached for me, unable to hold callousness against someone so fair and understanding.
"What happened lil fellah?" She asked using a nickname I have come to despise.??"His owner attacked him." The owl, Mathia, responded over my light groan.
?"My god, why? What a sick bastard!" Claire declared and I was happy we agreed. "Don't you worry boy, I'm going to patch you up!" She gave me a gentle pet on the nose.
She softly lifted me and headed to the base of her tree. A small table, chairs, and a trailer were organized at the trunk. Setting me on the table, I howled with pain, hoping the surges of agony would end soon. She proceeded to clean out my wounds with alcohol and other antibiotics. This was even greater pain then even being stabbed... Kicking, biting, and thrashing in horrific agony, I tried my best to be freed and attack. She held me down gently and dabbed away the blood. Humming softly she tried to soothe my torturous experience. It was like boiling water, like she was pouring searing oil into my wound!
"Alright, now that it's clean, I can sew you up, but that'll hurt if you thrash around." Her words were like something out of a pagan ritual!
?"What? Please no, doesn't one of your pets know how to heal wounds?" I asked her desperately, seeing her unwrap a long needle from the package.
?"No, I'm so sorry pup. Try to stay calm alright, this will be over quick. I promise." Claire spoke gently as she approached with the needle.
She fucking lied, that bitch made this painfully slow. Each tiny prick, would be slowly elongated into a tearing, continual pierce of torture. Every single inch of that thread was shredded through my tender hide to form an agony far different then being stabbed. It faded after the first seven or eight passes, but the pain never truly died. Sometimes it would dull momentarily, but other times it amplified to an extreme I could only pray to avoid. My tiny jaws almost bit her too, but she was too fast... Each time I glanced at my wounded shoulder it seemed like less had been repaired! This is a nightmare, oh god let me pass out! Please make this stop...
After finishing my torment, Claire gave me some medication and said it would help me rest. Fuck it... I could be taking poison right now, who cares... This was morbid and it proved humans only want to hurt me! She piled up the bloodied bandages and the bottles of medicines, still humming a soft tune to try an keep me calm. Still kicking and scratching to run away, I quickly succumbed to the chemically induced sleep.