The Prince's Guard

Chris’ feet pounded the cobbles. When his brother had bolted out of the room with the single word of ‘Jaxson’ he knew he had to follow. He wound his way through the streets. Not really sure where he was. Marc had sprinted off before he’d really managed to think to ask where. “Jax?” he linked. Hoping he’d answer.

No answer.

As he neared the centre he could hear the commotion. He followed his ears before he saw a crowd. He surged forward. “Out of the way!” he demanded, the crowd parting as soon as they saw who had demanded.

He hurried through. Guards were keeping citizens back. He could see someone lying on the floor, doctors over him. A guard saw him and let him go past the line only for Marc to catch him, slamming the wind from his lungs. “No. Wait.”

Over his brother’s shoulder, he watched in horror as the doctor’s hand was in the chest of…

“JAXSON!” he bellowed, shoving Marc off him.

“Stop!” Marc commanded. Chris found his feet glued to the floor. Bastard used his command.

He watched, unable to do anything as the doc’s hand retracted from Jaxson’s open chest. Pressing his flesh back together. “Strips. He’s not healing fast enough.”

“I won’t get in the way. He needs me,” Chris muttered out breathlessly.

Marc waited what felt like an aeon before he nodded. Chris rushed to his side. He was almost unrecognisable. Part of his face was caved in. His nose flat. “Oh baby,” he whispered, his eyes misting.

“My Prince, we have to get him to the infirmary,” James announced as he finished attaching adhesive bandages over the incision he’d made.

“I’ll help,” he insisted, leaning over to lay a gentle kiss to a bruise on his cheek. Someone ran past with a wooden stretcher. “I’ll roll him to you, yes? Nice and gentle.” Chris nodded, waiting for Jaxson’s shoulder to be in his easy reach. He grasped him, keeping him up while the board was put in place. He lowered him gently. “We’re going to do a four lift. We need to keep him steady until I can determine his injuries.” Chris gripped the handle by Jaxson’s head. They lifted together before slowly making their way to the town infirmary which was closer than the palace.

“My Prince, maybe you should wait outside,” one of the healers, Conney stated when they entered the wood and stone building.

He shook his head stubbornly, he wasn’t leaving.

“My Prince, we’re going to induce his transformation. A forced transform isn’t pretty. There are risks.”

“I’m staying.” To make his point, Chris plonked into a rickety wooden chair by the bed and gently grasped Jaxson’s hand, running his thumb along the bloody, but almost healed knuckles.

“Chris?” Jaxson croaked.

Chris sat up, getting himself into Jaxson’s view as he tried to turn his head. “I’m here,” he reassured. “I’m going nowhere.” He tightened his grip around his hand.

“Sorry.” His breathing rattled through his words.

“I’ve got to sedate him,” the doctor stated.

Chris nodded in acceptance. “I’m here, Jax. Close your eyes.” He reached over and gently trailed his finger along his neck, down to his shoulder while James plunged a needle into his arm. “When you wake I’m marking you. Got it?”

Jaxson gave a lopsided smile. “Got i…” his voice trailed off as the sedative took effect.

“His bones have already begun fusing, they need to rebreak,” James calmly stated, Chris was certain it was for his benefit. “Chris, you sure you wanna see this?” Marc asked, warning for what was to come.

“I need to be here for him.”

He felt a body move behind him, knowing it was his brother.

Doctor James drew a large metal syringe from his bag and a vial. Drawing the liquid within. He nodded to those in the room, who moved around and turned Jaxson a little. He plunged the needle into the base of his skull. Chris stiffened, his eyebrows flying up. “Have to hit the brain stem, jump start the nervous system,” Doctor James explained calmly as he depressed the plunger.

Chris swallowed, swearing he could feel it going in. He knew he couldn’t, just seeing it made him feel a little ill.

Jaxson’s skin heated under Chris’ hand. “Maybe speak to him,” Doctor James suggested.

Chris opened his mouth. Closed it. Nodded before just saying. “You can do it. I need you here, we can’t give those the satisfaction of you not healing. Just.. erm… let your wolf take over.” Chris paused, trying to think of more words when Jaxson rose on the bed, his back arching up. It looked as if someone had placed a rope around his belly and was tugging. Bones snapped, at first Chris couldn’t tell which bones but then he realised his neck was elongating.

While usually when they transformed it was instantaneous. As young pups, it was as natural as breathing, but as your body grew, it became harder. It was just something that needed to be practised to get the speed and ease back. This though. This was something else.

This was a transformation happening painfully slowly. Each break was singular. His auburn fur was a mere dusting over his body as his legs broke in the perfect place to form their hind legs. “Keep talking,” Marc encouraged.

“Err, right. You’re doing good, Jax. Just keep going. You know we were talking about finding a place out of the palace? Maybe we could build one, the two of us. I think Marc would let us. Maybe it could be in the woods? You love the woods. I could try build a seat for outside. We can sit and watch the stars through the trees. I think you’ll like that. I think a pond would be nice… I’m not sure what we’d put in it, but I like water.”

Snapping and popping made him falter for just a moment. His stomach feeling a little queasy.

“A trip might be nice. The humans have big lakes, I’ve seen them in a film.” Jaxson’s arms broke, making Chris stutter at the grotesque angles his body was at. “I meant like.. a cabin and we can dip our feet in. I hope the giant squid wouldn’t get us… I’m sure there’s a lake without a giant squid. Or a monster in it. Although… I’m sure you’d want to jump on its back and ride it.” He had to stop as Jaxson flipped onto his broken arms and legs. Chris winced. He wanted to look away from him, but he couldn’t as fur spouted a little more. He was mid transfer, his face had elongated, a snout with a fluff of fur. One side was still a little squished, but Chris watched as it popped out like a balloon was being inflated, before morphing into a more canine appearance. Jaxson groaned, half between a wolf and a human. “I… erm. Yeah, we’d need to be careful around the humans but I’m sure Marc would let us, just for a trip. I think that’ll be nice. You’re nearly there, baby, you’re getting there.” He really didn’t know if he was helping. He reached forward and ran his hand down his short furred back. “You’re doing really well. It’s nearly over. Just keep going.”

Chris kept up the encouragement, and slowly. So slowly, the transformation was completed. Jaxson whined before flopping back into the bed, belly down. Chris rubbed from his shoulder blade to rump. He’d never believed any transformation could have ever looked as bad as he’d just witnessed. “You awake?” he whispered, not able to tell. As if in answer, Jaxson let out a snoring huff.

“He’ll be out for a few hours. His wolf is busy healing, we’ve just brought the wolf body forward without the wolf. He’ll be fine.” Doctor James stated while he quickly inspected Jaxson’s furry head, running his fingertips along his ribcage and spine, “Yeah, all the breaks have healed with the transformation.”

“So It’s over? He’ll be fine. Normal?”

“Yeah. He’ll be tired and sore for a few days, but after some good rest. He’ll be back to normal.”

“Can I stay with him?” He looked back to Marc for confirmation, who nodded.

“We’ll leave you to it for a bit,” Marc stated, shifting from his spot behind Chris and gesturing to the doctor and healers.

As soon as the small medical room was empty. Chris stripped and transformed, careful not to knock anything over. He padded his large frame over the bed, careful not to put too much weight on Jaxson, he nestled his head on top of his. Rumbling his chest in contentment. He was glad he was going to be OK, seeing him sprawled on the pavement, a hole in his chest and his face resembling something from the butchers. Had scared him. He wasn’t sure what he’d have done if Jaxson hadn’t made it. He closed his eyes, content to have Jaxson’s warm fur against his own.