Fight By My Side

Quiet days at the Sanctuary were rare, but today was a gem. We had sorted out that Alan would say here for a while until he could figure out what to do with his family, Austin would visit almost every day until then, and the rest of us would just continue on our normal routine!

Jack had been out for a few hours, saying he was going to get supplies. Mike was scouting and Vic was asleep on a bean bag. An hour ago, I was teaching Alan about Shifting and so he was dead asleep on his bed in the guest room. The boy had caught on pretty quick and he only got stuck a couple of times. The little cat had panicked until we got him to Shift back. The changing back and forth wore him out, like all new Shifters.

Austin and I curled up on the couch together. His arms were loosely draped around my waist. I curled my head under his chin, taking the time to take a nap. It was surprising that it was this quiet. It’s the middle of summer, so we should be having a lot more Shifters coming in! I mean, it’s always good that Shadows Sanctuary was quiet because that means not as many Shifters needed our help, they could fend for themselves.

“Your hair smells good.” Aus mumbled. I restrained laughing. He often murmured out random compliments.

“Maybe because I took a shower late yesterday?” I told him. He grumbled his agreement. I could feel him inhale and let out a content sigh. Austin was so adorable sometimes.

Steps thudded down the stairs. They were rushed like the beating of a war drum. I looked up suddenly. It was either Mike or Jack, the rest were sleeping downstairs. Vic was slightly aroused and blinked his eyes open as the door opened up.

I smelled two things before I saw the people. One was the musty, woodsy smell of a mountain lion who had just Shifted, the other was a metallic Guardian.

I leaped up right as the door was unlocked. Was it a Guardian that had gotten Jack? The two boys that entered through the door was Jack and a half conscious boy with an arm looped around Jack’s neck.

I took two seconds to look at the boy as both froze at the doorway. The newcomer had Guardian attire on, a green jacket with the logo emblazoned over the heart, his hood pulled over his head, the belt that holstered a variety of weapons, and a chain with a silver key that hung off it. The key was the sign of a high ranking officer. The boy’s face was pale and a wound in his side showed where the blood was dripping down onto his leg.

Why would Jack dare to bring a Guardian into our Sanctuary?!?! We were supposed to HIDE Shifters from the Guardians, not just let them waltz in here!

Jack attempted to take a step forward but I barred him from entering. Vic stood by my side, frowning at Jack. Mike came tromping down the stairs behind Jack.

“Jack, are you hell-bent on our destruction?! Why’d you bring a Guardian in here! You should’ve finished him off!” I rumbled, the darkness clouding my eyes. Okay, if Jack wasn’t going to put the murderer out of his misery, I would gladly put the dog down!

“Wynter, he’s injured. He needs to rest for a few days here!” Jack snapped back. I was surprised by his sudden forcefulness. Jack was usually pretty mild mannered.

“Jack, take him out back. He is a Guardian in case you didn’t know!” I growled to him. The entire room was silent, the injured intruder started to wake up and glanced around the room.

“No.” He stated firmly. Time froze for the moment.

“Jack, he’s a Guardian, he will report us and we will be hunted!” I glanced over to the boy, who groaned in pain. Jack stood firm, helping to support him.

“Alex is a Shifter, just like us.” Jack growled back.

“He might be a Shifter, but he could still report us. Alex might be a Rogue! You’ve seen the Rogues go and report innocent Shifters, he could still harm us! Alex could still be loyal to the Guardians!” I snapped back. My rage was burning. Jack wasn’t the one to question orders. I had no clue what got into him. Vic and Mike refused to get into the conversation. Austin watched from the sidelines.

Alex passed out again in Jack’s arms. Jack slipped the boy to Mike who glanced at me nervously, before supporting him. I took a threatening step towards Jack, hoping to get him to back off.

“Stand back, Barakat. Once a Guardian, always a Guardian. Did you actually see him Shift?” I snarled, eyes trained on ripping out Alex’s throat. I had no quims taking out murderers.

“No, but Alex told me. He said he Shifted and was being hunted down by his own squad, he needed to go explain himself. They would let him live. Alex said he wouldn’t turn me in if I helped him.” Jack snarled back. Why was he being so protective over this boy? Normally Jack was the one who happily would’ve clawed out his heart. It was obvious that this boy would backstab us, so why didn’t he see it?

“Jack, have you gone clouded over? Where are your senses! He’s going to turn us in as soon as he’s healed!” I thundered. Jack didn’t back down from his position. Alex moaned in pain from his blacked out corner. I started walking down to where Alex was, but was pushed aside by Jack.

“Stop, Wynter.” He commanded. We all stared at him incredulously.

“I’m going to tear out this boy’s throat. I’m sick and tired of having this chaos!” I roared and Shifted. The anger boiled out of me as I suddenly was facing a mountain lion with blonde, black tufts of hair.

We stood, staring each other down, five feet apart. If Jack had a chance to back down, it was now. Otherwise, this would now be a challenge.

I snarled once again and took a step forward. Jack responded in a low hiss and held his ground. It wasn’t just about the boy anymore, it was a challenge! Jack positioned himself between the boy and my barred fangs.

I lunged at him, snapping at his leg. We bit and tore at each other, full on attacks. I managed to rip at his back, but howl in pain as Jack took my neck and threw me off.

“Stand back!” Vic commanded Austin as he jumped away from where I threw the mountain lion. If I backed down now, I would be the coward, the weak. You only backed down from a challenge when you were ready to accept defeat. I never was ready.

I snarled as blood ran down from my neck and legs. I tore at Jack, ripping trails down his side. He bawled in pain and lunged back at me, taking my leg in his jaws and throwing me across the room. I yipped as the bone in my paw splintered. That would be another two days to heal.

Limping back, I thunder a bark towards Jack. He snarled again and stood next to Alex, daring me for more. I wouldn’t back down easily. As he ran at me, I leapt over him and kept running towards Alex. Jack caught me, but I sent him tumbled with a quick spin. He landed hard against the couch.

My ears were flattened against my back as I stood inches away from Alex. At some point, he had managed to wake up in the hustle. His wide eyes were locked right on mine as I barred my teeth, ready to spill blood. A familiar smell hit my nose, one of the musty and forest type.

Did he really Shift into a mountain lion? It was distinct, not Jack’s scent, but familiar in the way that it heralded the Shift of a mountain lion. I was taken aback by the smell and backed away.

It all made sense to me. It all made sense why Jack was so over protective of the newcomer, why he wished him to stay, why he wanted to help him.

Jack slammed into me, causing me to land on my injured paw with a yip. Getting up, I backed away from Alex and faced Jack. He leapt at me again as I was regaining my balance. I took one last shot, dragging my claws against his back and earning a howl for my actions.

Leaping back of him, I backed off again. I wanted to be done. I held up my left leg, the one that was injured. Instead of letting me get away, Jack leapt back on me.

At that moment, I hated Alex for getting between me and Jack.

The mountain lion took hold of the scruff of my neck, biting down hard. I barked in pain, knowing I would have many bruises and deep wounds in that one area. He let me drop back to the floor and I quickly Shifted back to a human, laying spread eagle on the floor. But it was to late, Jack had already bitten into my shoulder, leaving large drops of blood dripping through my shirt.

Jacks claws dug hard into my side as he gripped my flesh and snarled. I cried out in pain, wincing a little. Jack’s eyes were clouded over with the anger until he looked at my face, filled with the scream of agony.

The faces of Alan, Mike, Vic, and Austin told me they wanted to help, but I was far from it. If they intervened, they might get hurt and might be forced to retaliate. It would also show another sign of weakness on my part if I required help. Vic and Mike had to hold back Alan and Austin from rushing to my side. Alex just watched from the sidelines.

Jack looked into my eyes, now rimmed with the ghosts of tears of pain. He released and backed up. The challenge was over. Jack had won the right to keep Alex for a few days.

I lay on the floor in pain for a few minutes, cringing as I tried to move. Jack’s face had a scratch from where I scraped him up, but otherwise there wasn’t anything too bad. A few deep scratches here, a few there. He didn’t have anything broken, and I didn’t want to snap any of his bones.

I, on the other hand, had muscles torn, bones broken, and blood running down my legs and arms. Getting up, I cringed through the fire on my limbs, hobbling off to the infirmary and shutting the door.

This was going to be a long few days.

Notes

O.O Jalex alert....