AsJ kept the knife deep in the animal’s chest, its violent movements slowed, and graduallythey stopped completely. J was still holding the animal, keeping the body stillwith his legs bent over its belly and hind limbs.
Theystayed like this for what seemed like a long time.
Theanimal did not move.
Jpushed himself away in a quick movement and grabbed me by my arms, and we fellback several IPs away, his arms around me. We were both still, lying sidewayson the sand, looking at the beast. Once J was certain that it wouldn’t moveagain, he looked at me, worry on his face.
“Areyou okay?” he said.
“AmI okay? Are you okay!”
“Dora,I’m fine. But—oh, no!” His gaze fell on the bloody tooth marks on theside of my waist. “You’re bleeding!”
“I’mokay, it’s not that bad,” I said, trying to calm himdown.
“Haveyou ever been injured this badly?” he said as he effortlessly lifted me up inhis arms. “You’re in shock, Dora. The body doesn’t register an injury when it’sin shock. We need to get some help back at camp.”
Iheld onto his shoulders, but suddenly felt so weak I let my arms drop to my side.He looked at me, and his face softened as he said, “We’ll get some of the guysto fetch it. Crocodiles are quite tasty.” He winked at me and squeezed me in astronger hold. “Seems you really are a good bait.”
Ah, so that’s bait…
Ismiled weakly and then leaned my head on J’s chest.
Chapter 19
“Whathappened?”
Iheard the alarmed voices of several people shouting at once. I must have fallenasleep in his arms, because I didn’t remember the walk back to the camp.
“Acrocodile attacked her!” J said as he laid me down on a mattress of leaves. Iheard several sharp gasps, but no one said anything.
“Iwas at the mouth of the Falls River. Right near the beach. The beach!” I couldtell from his voice that he was angry, but I didn’t understand why.
“That’simpossible! A crocodile wouldn’t go that far down the river,” Frank said.
“We’veonly ever seen them farther upstream, miles before the waterfall,” Petercontinued.
“Yeah,well, this one decided to stray. Rick, could you get me some water and somebandages? Thanks,” J said. Then he turned to me and said in a much quietervoice, “Dora, how do you feel?”
“I’m…fine. A little… dizzy…”
“Iknow, honey.”
Honey? I wanted to ask him about it but I simply didn’thave the energy to voice the question.
“Perhapsit’s the loss of blood.” His voice was still low.
Someoneknelt next to me and whispered to J, “Could be just shock. Here’s someprunella. This should help with the bleeding.” I heard some rustling from a bag.“I’ll put it under the bandages.”
“Thanks,Simon,” J said.
Althoughmy eyes were closed, I realized Rick must have returned, as he loudly droppedto his knees.
“Didit hit an artery?” Rick said with a hushed voice, handing bandages and a water bottleto J.
“Ifit did, she’d be dead,” Simon responded.
Iheard J take in a heavy breath, hold it in, and then exhale again.
“Shewas lucky.” I heard Patrick’s voice as he lifted my head a bit to place a rolledup blanket underneath. There was silence for a few moments.
“Howcould I have been so stupid?” J whispered, his voice broken.
Irealized then that J was angry at himself. I wanted toopen my eyes, tell him it was okay, that he saved me, but my words stayedsilent under layers of physical shock and exhaustion.
“It’sgonna be okay, J. She didn’t lose a lot of blood. She’s just in shock.” Peterplaced his large hand on J’s shoulder.
“J,you saved her.” I could sense in Peter’s voice that he was smiling. “Asimpossible as this is, she is alive because of you.”
“Ishouldn’t have tak—”
“J,just stop it! You couldn’t have known. Now, you tell me where the animal is,and we’ll go and fetch it. I’m starving.” Peter gave a short, gurglinglaughter.
Jsaid something about a beachside and a riverbed, but I couldn’t follow. I fellasleep again.
SlowlyI opened my eyes. Pine needles high on the top of the tree were dancing with thewind, colored by orange flickering light from below, sharply contrasted againstthe black night above. I took a deep breath. Something smelled nice.
Iinhaled again.
Adelicious smell instantly made my mouth water. I turned my head toward thefire. Blinded for one moment from the light, I closed my eyes again.
Iinhaled deeper. Burned wood, smoke, and meat. Deliciously smelling meat.
Slowly,I opened my eyes again. Most of our group was gathered close to the fire,holding long wooden sticks with meat stabbed on the top and folded in a spiral.They were all talking in low voices. I didn’t understand them, but I did want to try some of that meat.
Itried to sit.
“Dora!”J was sitting next to me. He held me with both hands by my shoulders and movednext to me so I could lean on him.
“Howare you?”
“Better,”I said, looking down on the bandage. I moved my hands toward it to remove it,but J stopped me.
“No!”he shouted.
“J,it’s fine. Look.” I took the bandage off. “One of the benefits of Descendantheritage. Faster healing.”
Jkept looking at the cuts, which were already closed and appeared to be healingnicely. “Wow. Why… why would you need such… healing powers? I mean, it’s not like you go fighting wild Uni animals… do you?”
Istarted laughing but stopped, realizing that hurt. “No… nowrestling with beasts. It’s just a side effect of the rejuvenation.”
Hegave a sigh of relief and then looked into my eyes. “Are you hungry?”
“No,I’m not hungry,” I said and instantly saw his face fall. “I’m starving!” I continuedwith exaggerated enthusiasm.
Hislips spread into a brilliant white smile, and he laughed a happy, hearty laugh.I looked at his lips, momentarily distracted, and forgot what I was saying. Hehugged me even tighter to himself and kissed my forehead.
“Allright, Human, let’s eat! Looks like our predator’s very tasty.”
Hehelped me get up, and we walked slowly to the fire, though I wanted to run toget to the food sooner.
“Goodevening, sleeping beauty! Feeling better?” said Patrick loudly and moved to aside to leave space on the log for J and me.
“Muchbetter, Patrick. Thank you.” I
