A True Soul

I supposed the horrified look displayed on my father’s face should have been expected when he saw Faux enter the house with me.

“She knows now?” He stammered.

“Yes, it is imperative now more than ever that she be protected,” Faux instructed my father.

“Can she still stay here? Or is it no longer safe?” The exhaustion that my father had felt over the years was clearly displayed on his face. His body seemed to almost go limp in the chair he’d halfway fallen into.

“As far as I know she should still be safe here. Her body has only begun to change. The stag still has protection over her until her first shift.”

“What happens to me afterwards?” I asked. I interruptive them, but it was my life they were talking about and I would have a say in it.

“After you make the change…” Faux turned to face me, “We have to find others who will protect you or we’ll take you to some place safer.”

“I see…” The feeling of being trapped overcame me again. My vision swirled around me. My father and Faux continued to converse about their opinions on my wellbeing. I stood quietly, and hastily left the room.

I did believe Faux was on my side and would do whatever she could to protect me. But I couldn’t just listen to decisions being made about my life without any regard to my personal choice.

There were so many things I needed at that moment, but what I wanted more than anything was my mother reassurance. But I’d never be able to get that. This home was all I had left of my mother; her presence still lingered here somewhere within these walls. I had needed her more than ever, but I’d have to find a way to live with that impossibility.

My body was changing but it wasn’t like normal human changes. Where girls had their periods and guys figured out what their extra member was for. It was… something completely different. I felt completely lost. I didn’t know how to find my way in the world that spun around me.. This wasn’t the place where I grew up or a place that made any logical sense. And the one person who could make it all better was gone. Taken from me because of who I am.

I may not have all the details, but I had come to the conclusion that she gave her own life in order to protect mine. Did she know what I was when she carried me? When she gave birth, did she know the creature that she had given life to? Did she know that having me would only lead to her death?

I laid on my bed, and stared at the ceiling. Frustratingly, my eyes found the glowing light of the clock which read 11 p.m. My whole body felt uncomfortable and itched. I went into the bathroom. It was tightly lodged in between my father’s bedroom and my own. I barely noticed the slight trembling in my hand. I swung open the door to the medicine cabinet. Maybe if the throbbing in my wrist went away I’d feel a little better. Maybe all I needed was to sleep.

I forced my eyes shut as I swallowed the pills. What I needed was to stay focus. The more anxious my body got, the worse I felt. Deep breathes…

Calmly, I walked to my room and laid back on the bed. Surprisingly sleep was easier to attain than I had thought it would be.

There were flashes of light everywhere. I was petrified. It was getting hotter in the room by the second; smoke was crawling in from behind the door. I heard myself whimper for my parents. I crawled into the corner. I couldn’t get out of here by myself, I was too young. Where were my parents? Why was I here? There was a creaking sound on the ceiling as the fire’s hunger consumed it. The tiles began to sag as the flames engulfed the room. I screamed. Tears and ash covered my face. I didn’t want to be alone. The ripping sound coming through the ceiling had gotten louder.

I opened my eyes and saw the ceiling caving in. My face turn away automatically and I covered my head with my arms. My whole body trembled. With a crack the ceiling started to fall on top of me. My head pounded with pain and I screamed even louder, but I was too little to get away. There was another loud crash. Paws landed beside me, but they weren’t my mothers, they were too small.

“Angie?”

“Help me,” I begged the familiar voice. “Where’s mommy?” I whimpered.

“I got you.” He dragged my body with his teeth and heaved me to the broken window. “I need you to hold on to my back.” He laid his body next to me and I crawled on him and held on to his fur. My body was shaking and my head hurt. All I wanted was my parents. He leapt forward and I felt cold fresh air surround me.

I woke in cold sweat, but my skin felt like it was on fire. I threw off the covers and checked the time. It was 3 in the morning.

I stayed in bed letting the events from the past weeks roll over me. Waves of emotion hitting me over and over until I could not cry anymore and all the feeling from my body had vanish. The only thing this emptiness was comparable to was the death of my mother. This didn’t make any sense to me, because I have no real memories of her, just bits and piece of what it felt like to be held by her and her face as it smiled over me, but even that was blurry. I didn’t remember her funeral, her voice, or her laugh. All I remember was the feelings I had after she’d gone.

Everything that had happened made me feel more alone than ever.

I took some deep breaths, and forced myself to stop crying. Nothing ever gets accomplished with tears. So, I made myself a promise. I would cry no more tears over the situation I’d found myself in. There was nothing I could do. This was the person I’d become. And I would somehow accept it.

There was no point in going back to sleep when the clock flash eight in the morning, so I threw the covers off and trudged out of bed. I walked to the bathroom to wash my face. My eyes were still puffy from the night before and my hair, horridly thick, was a tangled mess. My skin itched even more.

I turned on the hot water in the shower. The scorching water turn my skin red, but it felt good. Some of the tension in my muscles had left me. Steam cleared my sinuses, making it easier to breath.

As I got out of the shower I heard voices downstairs, it was my father and Faux. I couldn’t make out what they were saying, but it hadn’t really matter at that point. I got dressed in a sliver tang top that oddly matched my eyes, and put a black sweater on top of it. After throwing on a pair of dark jeans and socks I made my way towards the kitchen.

“Maybe we over did it last night.” I slowed and listened to them speak, without being noticing.

Faux paused, “You’re probably right…” Her voice seemed to trail off.

“We can talk to her about it more today. If that’s a good idea? I don’t know if she’s ready.” He sounded unsure of himself. There was a hint of confusion in his voice. My father was never unsure of himself.

“It’d be best to get her opinion; find out what she thinks about all this.”

By that point I could not stall reaching the bottom of the stairs any longer and stepped into the kitchen.

“Oh, good morning dear!” My father jumped when I entered the room.

“Morning dad.” I turned to Faux, who was wearing an antique colored dress that poofed out at the bottom, like it was a tutu. She paired the dress with white stockings and the same boots and jacket she wore yesterday. “Um… I’m sorry if you had to sleep on the coach. I should have offered you my room. We have a guest room I could’ve fixed for you as well.” I did feel bad about being kind of rude towards her yesterday before I’d stomped off to my room.

She smiled at me worriedly. “No, no. That’s fine. I’ll take the coach any day over a pile of leaves outside.”

I nodded. “So, what’s the plan for today?” This felt like a forced and awkward conversation.

“Well, I have some paper work to do at Green Acers. If you’re concerned about what the animals… might do, you can always stay here.” My father tried to hide his worried expression.

“Your father’s right Angela, you don’t have to leave the house if you don’t want to,” Faux said.

I knew they were trying to help, but I had made my decision last night to make to most of this. “I’d rather come with.” Their worried stares were making me nervous.

“You’re sure Angie?”

“Yeah, I am dad.” I smiled at them and tried to ease their doubts. “I have to get used to this eventually, and if animals are going to be talking to me, I’d rather it be ones I know.”

They smiled back, but my father still looked unsure, this time Faux was the one to comfort him. “Julian, I promised I’d stay and help her with whatever she needs. I’ll be there. No need to get anxious.” With that we left for Green Acres.

“I am sorry if I upset you last night. That wasn’t my intention at all,” Faux had said once we inside the room designated for large dogs. So far there had been no talking animals. We were in the process of feeding the dogs their morning meals. I had the right side and she took the left.

“I get what you’re saying… At least on some level.” I tried to put some kind of smile on my face, but it turned into more of a grimace.

“I just wanted you to know that. Again, I’m here to help, but if you want me to leave…. I can do that too.”

Suddenly I knew that was exactly what I did not want. Even if I felt severely annoyed with the conversation yesterday, no one seemed to know what was going on besides her. “No! Please stay. We have a guest room and I’m sure my father won’t mind….” Oh great, now I sound like a child!

But she hadn’t seemed to mind. “Well Angela, considering I live a little ways from here, we might be able to work something out.” Her face reflected a kind smile back at mine.

I paused a moment. I wanted to ask a question, but I was hesitant. “… So, do you know when the ‘change’ will happen to me?”

“I can’t give you a guaranteed answer.” She stopped what she was doing and looked at me. “I believe anytime.” Faux felt my forehead. “You’re a little warm, but I bet you’ve always run a little high because of your blood. Since your time has accelerated a bit, I’d say sooner rather than later.”

I just nodded; that hadn’t exactly been what I wanted to hear. A tingling sensation shot through my body, and I had to resist the urge to itch.

“It won’t be horrible. It just feels…different… the first time. But I promise you’ll be fine Angela.”

“Just call me Angie.”

“Ok, Angie.”

After we finished all the dog kennels Faux said she need to speak with my father. So, I made my way to the cat kennels on my own. Bo had been at my side the entire time, but so far there had been no words from him. Maybe he wasn’t comfortable speaking like that around me, which was fine. If I was being honest with myself I wasn’t exactly comfortable with it either.

I fed the new entries first like always. As I worked my way from one kennel to the next, Bo tagged behind, wagging his tail excitedly.

I heard a noise. I turned around and the food bucket dropped from my hands, spilling its content all over the floor. A huge white and black cat was hissing and snarling at me. It jumped head first towards the door of the cage. The cat slammed its face into the metal bars.

“You! It’s you! You’re gonna die!” It hissed. “They’re gonna kill you, you know. They’re out there, waiting. You’re times almost up!”

Bo growled at the cat but didn’t leave my side. I should get out of here. My father or Faux will know what to do. But as I got to the door, Dax flew in. His growl was darker and fiercer than Bo’s. It made my hair stand on end.

“Get out now,” He growled. Fear tore through my body.

I turned to leave again but not before I saw Dax had grabbed a hold of the cat’s arm that was sticking out from the cage. He sunk his teeth in and pulled, ripping the cat’s arm off. What the hell!? That was the only thought that I could process before I ran out of the room, as all chaos broke out.

I could still hear the cats screaming and hissing from across the building as I ran tore through the hall looking for my father and Faux.

I saw him first as he came running out of one of the vet offices, followed by Faux. I was breathing heavily when I finally stopped. “Dad…In the cat kennel… the creature freaked out, saying that someone was after me.”

“What?” But he had already ran towards the kennel. Faux stayed close to my side.

“I don’t know what it meant, or who it was talking about…” I paused and did a double take. The seen in front me made me stop in my tracks.

Dax was being held in a catch pole that they use to take in stray dogs. He was fighting to get out while two other people were trying to get a hold of him. He let out a menacing growl and tried to bite them.

“GET HIM IN A KENNEL NOW!”

“WE HAVE TO EUTHANIZE HIM! HE JUST KILLED ONE OF THE CATS!” The employees were screaming at each other and Dax. I could see in his eyes that he was both terrified and irate.

“Stop! All of you!” My father grabbed the lead from the guy that held it. “Now, I will deal with the dog. You clean that mess!” He pointed to the cat kennel. The floor was covered in blood and I could see part of the cat’s body still hanging from its cage.

A little girl screamed over and over again. I turned and saw the horrified looks on her parents’ faces as they tried to rush out to their car. I’m sure there had to be other onlookers, but I didn’t notice them. For a second all I thought about was how scarred the child would be, she’d probably be afraid of dogs for the rest of her life. I turned to look at Dax. He looked directly at me. His eyes reflected all the sorrow I felt the night before, but underneath I saw so much anger it left chills down my spine.

I glanced at Faux. Her eyes were wet, like there were tears that she couldn’t shed and her hand covered her mouth. She was still; I could barely see her breathing.

My father made a motion to follow him with a jerk of his head. We made our way through the building, running past the crowd that had gathered during the confusion. He unlocked a door at the end of the hall that said ‘Authorized Personnel Only’.

It wasn’t an office. It used to be an old storage room. Some of the filing cabinets were still there, shoved against the walls. There was a desk on the right side of the room, but nothing was on it but a small lamp. On the left side was a couch that folded out into a bed, which was undone and a little messy. Shoved in the back corner was a makeshift closet with a few shirts and pairs of jeans. Next to that was a small end table with the door open, which had books spilling out all over.

Before I had a chance to say anything, rage exploded in my father’s eyes as he ripped into Dax, “Now, what the hell just happened?” His face cringed, and he put his hand in the air towards Dax. “And don’t even consider changing in front of my daughter… She does not need to see you uncovered. Faux, you translate for him.”

Dax shook his head and cursed something I could quite make out. It didn’t sound pleasant. He sighed grumpily. “First off, the cat was working as a spy. It had to be killed.” Faux translated to my dad; however, as bazar as it was, I could comprehend everything clearly. His voice was not what I expected at all.

My father pinched the bridge of his nose and his face cringed. “But did you really have to rip it to pieces, Dax? Couldn’t you have thought of another way to get rid of it? That was a huge seen you caused! Think of that little girl for Christ’s sake!”

“Think of your daughter! They’re here somehow. They are watching her.” He pointed his nose at me. “I thought I would get the point across.”

“But what am I going to do with you now?” Dad glared at the ceiling. “The clerks and vet techs are going to demand I have you euthanized.”

“Well, you’re not going to,” Dax said bluntly. Faux’s shoulders slumped a little as she repeated it for my father. She looked annoyed. It was probably at his arrogant attitude.

“Of course not, even if you get a kick out of pissing me off.” He sat on the edge of the couch/bed. “But I’m going to tell them I will. I’ll stay after hours today and tell them that’s when it’ll happen.” Dax just collapsed to the floor as if he could care less.

Faux pulled back a dark curtain and opened the two windows in the room. She stood next to my father, but didn’t sit. I felt awkward again being here, so I thought it might be better if I gave them space. “So, I’m just gonna step out… I’ll take Bo out, is that ok?”

My father turned towards me, “That’s fine dear, Bo will keep a look out I’m sure.”

I just nodded as I left the room. I grabbed a leash and went to go look for Bo. The halls were empty now. My footsteps were the only sound echoing off the walls. I walked past the cat kennel and could smell the bleach they were using to get the blood cleaned from the floors. That time I closed my eyes and turned my head as I walked past.

I found Bo lying in front of the entrance doors. His happy-go-lucky mood was gone. He seemed sullen; his tone more serious, I’d guessed it was because of what happened earlier. But how could I blame him? I wasn’t my normal carefree self either.

“Come on old man; let’s go out for a bit.” His face perked when he saw me. Bo was already panting by time we got outside, even though it was cool out.

I took him around to the back of the building were the dog ‘playgrounds’ were. There were three fairly good-sized fenced in areas. One was specifically for the dogs that were kept here. I let Bo in; it was the farthest one on the end. I sighed and sat on a bench while Bo looked for a good spot to pee. At least I could clear my mind out here. No one would take out any of the dogs until the smell of blood was gone, but that wouldn’t take long.

From where I sat I could see the room my father, Faux and Dax were in. I saw a figure move that I hadn’t recognized. He was dressed in dark colors, so it had been hard to really see how he looked. I turned to watch Bo. So Dax was a Natural Born too? What else were they keeping from me? Had he been watching over me too? It wasn’t fair to any of them. I felt like such a burden.

Bo whined and came running to me. “Miss Angie.” Oh great now Bo too. “Miss Angie, there’s something funny out here, I can smell it in the air. It is best if we…” But Dax come flying through the open window, back to the form I knew him by. He bolted a crossed the field, but not towards us, towards the woods that were next to Green Acres.

I stood, terrified of what was happening. Was this what the dead cat was talking about? My whole body shook. “Bo, what’s out there?”

“Something dangerous Miss. We should go.” I wasn’t used to the deep human voice he had. It seemed rough, but gentle as it urged me to listen. I heard something scream.

As I turned around I saw Dax’s body thrown back out of the woods. There was a gash on his side that I had been able see from where I stood. He stood and shook himself off. “Come and get me, kitty, kitty, kitty.” He paced back and forth as he taunted something. A cat? But how was he so hurt?

A roaring sound ripped through the woods. “Bo, that’s not a cat.”

“Miss, now would be a good time to go,” he pleaded as he nudged me with his head. But I couldn’t go. I couldn’t leave while that thing was after Dax, when it really wanted me.

I heard it growl again, before I saw it run and pounce out from where Dax had been

thrown from. The ‘kitty’ was a cougar, and not an under fed one either. It was the largest cougar I had ever seen. From the looks of it Dax had torn a piece from him too. A piece of flesh from the cougar’s cheek dangled off as blood ran down its face.

“Long time no see Makeal. What brings you here?” Dax growled at him. They paced back and forth in front of each other.

“Oh, just taking care of something that should have been fixed a long time ago,” The cougar growled back as he jumped at Dax. There was no way a normal husky could take on a full size cougar. But nothing about this situation was normal. Dax was quicker and more agile than any other dog I’d seen before. He dodged out of the way and his body curved to the side it an almost half circle, but he hastily was on his feet again. Just as soon as he was on the ground he jumped backward and launched himself over the cougar called Makeal. He rotated his body upside down and dragged his claws into his back, slicing his shoulder blades open.

Makeal let out a horrid screeching sound and his body became tense. “You’re going to pay for that!”

“I just thought I’d pay you back for a few marks you left on me.” I pictured the smile on Dax’s face. It was like he had been enjoying the fight.

“I’ll kill you for this too!” Makeal snarled with laughter. “I might get in a little trouble by Cain, he wanted to do you in himself, but it’s one less thing he has to worry about.”

“Hate to break this to you, but I don’t plan on doing Cain any favors.”

“Isn’t he the only family you got left, mamma’s boy? I’ll be quicker than he will about it.” Makeal pulled his face into an eerie grin.

“You’re pathetic and worthless, like you’ve always been,” Dax sneered back. Bo whined at my side, as I watched Makeal shoot at Dax, his claws stretched out ready for an attack. Dax tried to move out of the way again, but this time he movements were too slow. The cougar’s claws entered in his right shoulder and tore across his chest. Painful howls blasted through the air.

Dax took a couple steps back and fell.

“Looks like I got you,” Makeal spat at him.

“NO!” I screamed, but I realized too late that I’d put myself in danger.

Makeal turned towards me, he with eyes gleamed like a kid’s on Christmas. “But first, I have other matters to deal with.” He walked towards me as if he was savoring every step he took. “You, this time I got you. I thought for sure you would have died in that car accident, but no matter, you can’t even defend yourself. Say goodbye True Soul.” His voice was thick with venom as he approached me.

Bo had stepped in front of me, barking and growling at Makeal, with all the power he could muster. I was petrified with fear and really wished I had listened to Bo in the first place, I had put his life in danger as well.

Makeal leapt at me, but Dax, who had somehow managed push himself off the ground, pounced on him in mid leap. They both fell to the ground. Dax’s body rolled a couple times, but he shook it off again and charged at Makeal, blood was dripping from his body.

Makeal jumped and spun around to meet him. He tried to smack Dax’s face with his paws, but Dax grabbed it with his teeth. He tried to recoil his paw, but Dax’s teeth were lodged in tight, and he only managed to rip more of his own flesh. Dax let go and the cougar limped back a couple paces. Blood dripped from Dax’s lips. His fur was stained crimson.

I began to feel a little dizzy. This shouldn’t be happening.

Dax made one last leaped at Makeal. I heard the sound before what happened fully registered. There was a boned crushing sound that came from Makeal as Dax got a hold of his jaw with his teeth and ripped it off.

Makeal fell backwards. He had been bleeding so profusely that he was dead in less than a minute. Before that happened, Dax moved on top of him and ripped his throat open.

He turned and looked at me, and growled. “You stupid girl! You should have Ran!”

I jumped back, from where I stood it looked as if he was going to come after me now too. Instead he pivoted, and limped off into the woods.

I heard a change from paws to human footsteps right before I heard him collapse.

“I’m sorry Bo.” I looked at him before I sprinted into the forest. I didn’t even hear him try to follow. How much trouble would I be in for taking off?

I heard heavy breathing. I kept running towards the sound, and came to a quick stop. “Dax?” I said halfway hiding behind a tree. I wanted to be sure he was still alive, but I wasn’t about to look at him without his clothes.

“What the hell are you doing here?” He spat at me.

I had no answer to that. I wasn’t even sure myself; I wanted to make sure he was alive.

“Tell me what to do!” My body trembled as I saw the blood flowing from him.

“Get away from me, you can start with that.”

I looked at him bewildered. Why he was being so hostile? “What can I do? You need help…”

“Listen, girly, you can’t even help yourself, how in the hell do you expect to help me?”

I shifted my gaze away, he was right.

“God damn it,” He scowled. “Just go get Faux.”

Running the way I’d came in, I felt hot with embarrassment. I was insane for following him. This was all my fault…

I collided straight into Faux. I fell backwards, but she caught herself and grabbed me before I landed in the dirt. “I’m sorry,” I mumbled at her. I felt warm tears swelling behind my eyelids.

“It’s fine.” She sighed. I realized she was carrying large bandage wraps and gauze, some creams and a water bottle. “I got to get to Dax.” She walked forward, but turned back to me. “I’ll need help; he won’t be very helpful himself.” With that I followed her back to the spot were Dax was slumped against a tree.

Faux marched straight towards him, while I stood back a little, trying not to look directly at him. “You’re too modest, girly.” He laughed harshly and started to coughed. “Why’d you bring her back with you? She can’t even look at me without clothes, what the hell use is she?”

Faux smacked the open claw wound. It was worse than I thought. It went from his shoulder all the way a crossed and down his chest. He flinched and gasped.

“Knock it off, and hold still.” Faux said as she laid a towel over his exposed parts. “Angela, I need you to help him to sit up.” I kneeled beside him, still feeling a little awkward. I placed on hand on his back and the other on his arm. He made an attempt to sit upright, but I had to push him the rest of the way so Faux could exam his wounds properly.

I notice how scarred up he really was. For the first I could actually see how mulled his hands were. It was the same scars as on his paws, but more noticeable. The palms of his hands looked like they had had skin grafts, with some scarring left. But the top of his hands looked a worse. They had not replaced the skin there. Some parts of the skin on the top of his hand looked normal, other parts looked almost melted. His feet looked similar, but not as bad.

I saw the scar on his face clearer than before. It was old as well. Just a little off colored from the rest of skin, but still there. He was even missing his left ear lobe. I guess whatever scars someone has aren’t masked no matter what form they were in.

Dax caught me looking at his face. “What? I thought you’d be used to these scars.” He winced as Faux cleaned the wounds.

“They just looked different, that’s all.” I focused on watching Faux applying the gauze.

“Guess I never noticed. Faux puts me back together and I’m on my way again.”

“Oh, you’re leaving?” I asked. Faux showed no emotion as she continued her worked. Dax’s face was pinched in an unpleasant way.

“Depends if I have a choice or not.” Dax got a menacing glare from Faux. “I guess that means I don’t have a choice.”

“You have to stop running sometime. Lift your arms so I can wrap you.” She had erased all emotions from her face.

“Oh, so I should just surrender and be killed? How did you think I’ve survived so long?”

“Why’d you come back? If you wanted to keep running?” She hissed at him. Did they have a thing between them? She sounded upset with him. I didn’t feel I should interrupt them, so I just kept quiet.

“I thought I’d hide in plain sight for a while. I didn’t think they’d look for me here.” He winced a little as she tightened the wrap. “But I guess my cover’s blown now.”

“You know that’s not why you came back,” she stated.

“Whatever. You almost done?” Dax growled.

“You have a towel covering you. You can’t exactly go anywhere like this.” She crossed her arms. I couldn’t tell if she was studying her patchwork or glaring at him. Maybe it was a bit of both.

“So? I’ll walk to my room and grab clothes…” He snarled, but Faux interrupted.

“No, you’re not going to move yet. Angela will stay here and watch you, while I get you some clothes. You need stitches. Those wraps won’t hold for long. The more you move the more bleeding you’ll cause.” She stood to walk away.

“I don’t need a babysitter!” He yelled at her.

“Oh, somehow after all these years I don’t believe you,” Faux spat at him.

“Bitch…” He mumbled at her, but she ignored it. However, it pissed me off.

“Why would you treat her like that?! She’s trying to help you! You are so ungrateful.” I

wanted to smack him.

“Whoa… Hold it, girly. You should not get involved into something you know nothing about.”

“So why don’t you just leave if that’s what you want to do. We both know I can’t stop you.”

He just laughed. “It’s not that simple this time.”

“It doesn’t seem like you had a problem doing that before, from what you said anyways.”

“You have no idea what you’re talking about, girly.”

I glared at him. “Why’d you even come here, since it’s obvious you hate it so much? Why spend the past five years at Green Acres? You act like you hate me most of the time!”

“I don’t hate you. Don’t put words in my mouth, girly. I just find you really annoying. And miss–know-it-all weren’t you listening? I was hiding in plain sight. No one should have found me here. Obviously I underestimate them.”

“I don’t believe you.” Something just didn’t ring true about what he was saying.

“Fine, don’t believe me. I couldn’t care less, girly.” He sighed and closed his eyes. His face had pulled into something painful.

“Do you want me to get you something for the pain?”

“No, I’ll live.”

“You’re not proving anything by acting like you’re not in pain.”

“And you’re not helping by talking.”

I shut my mouth. Maybe I was that annoying or maybe it was just him.

Faux came back carrying a pair pants. “Here, put these on. I hope you haven’t made too much of an ass out of yourself.”

“It’s too late for that.” I sent him a glare and looked away.

“Come on, we have to get you to a hospital.”

“No. Don’t you dare take me to one of those human hospitals,” He snapped as Faux help him stand so he could dress himself. I continued to look in the opposite direction.

“And why the hell not?” I could tell Faux had lost all patience with him.

“Because they can find me in the hospital’s medical records. You can stitch me together yourself. Julian said we could stay at his place until other arrangements could be work out.”

Oh, Great! Faux was going to be angry because of Dax, and I would have to deal with his attitude in my house. I was going to stay as far away from Dax as I could if he kept this demeanor. He was completely rude! Why did I run to help him in the first place?...And why had he stopped the cougar from attacking me? That was the real question.

Faux saw the look on my face. “Don’t worry. If the pain doesn’t knock him out, the sedatives will do it for us. Either way I’d say he’ll be out for a day or two.”

“That’s what you think,” he growled.

She ignored his remark and responded politely. “That’s what I know, after all these years of fixing your battle wounds.”

We made our way to my dad’s Ford Explore; he was already in the driver’s seat. We helped Dax into the back seat. I took a blanket from the back of the SUV and laid it over top of him. I could see sweat pouring off him now, but he felt cold.

Faux got in the front seat. I took a deep breath and climbed in beside Dax. His eyes were closed again. What made him so angry towards people, even Faux, who had been nothing but nice to him?

When we got to the house my father and Faux turned the kitchen in to a makeshift hospital room. Faux sterilized some needles and my father had Dax take some of my painkillers that were left from the accident. After that my father left the room. He avoided needles whenever he could, which wasn’t as often as he’d like.

Faux was right, the medicine knocked him out. As soon as he was out, Faux stuck the needle in him.

“So, you’ve had to do this before?” I asked.

“I’ve done this so many times I’ve lost count. He actually hates it when I stitch him. But I guess he’s really opposed to going to the doctor’s this time.”

“Do you really think it’s because they can track him there?”

“Possibly. But with Dax you never know.”

We sat for a while in complete silence, but after a couple of minutes Faux began to speak. “You know, I should probably warn you,” she paused as she finished stitching one of the gashes.

“Warn me about what?”

“Not everyone carries around a bag of clothing with them. Or has hidden stashes around in places.”

“I’m not following you.”

She laughed at me. “You’ll have to get used to people being naked. It’s just something that comes with being a Natural Born, or in your case a True Soul.”

I could feel myself blushing. “That might take some getting used too, not sure I’ll be able to get over that.”