Fight By My Side

"So I see how you met the Fuentes, but what about Jack?" Alex questioned sleepily. Maybe he would pass out and leave me alone. For now, it is story time!

"Well, I met him in a ditch, much like you..." I started out.



About Five Years Earlier...

So Vic and Mike had been living with me for about three weeks. It didn't look like they were going to be leaving anytime soon and I was perfectly okay with them staying. It was a pleasure to be in their company. I found out that that Mike Shifted to a hawk and Vic was a tiger. Mike always enjoyed being our scout, watching from the skies outside.

Vic was lazy and took naps inside unless I made him go out and run groceries, much like today.

I walked around the dirt path outside. Mike was perched upon the roof of the abandoned house, carefully watching out for any signs of Shifters or Guardians. Vic was running to get groceries from a small shop just outside the Barrier. This left me time to wander about.

A breeze rustled the green July grass and I stretched my arms to enjoy the full force of the cooling breeze. I was standing atop a hill by the edge of the road. A sweet scent mixed into the air.

The birds stopped chirping. The entire meadow fell silent. The once delicious smell of wildflowers turned sour. My instincts kicked in and I crouched down. Something was wrong. There wasn't the evil metallic scent of the Guardians, but something more....insane.

That's when I was knocked on my face.

A red eyed German Shepard came screaming down and slashing at my back. He scored a few direct hits. It was a Rogue, I knew it from the red eyes and frothy mouth. I Shifted forms immediately, jumping back and regaining my senses.

But the Rogue dog already had the advantage. He tore up my side pretty badly before I could take the scruff of his neck and throw him down the hills. We rolled into a ditch along the side of the road.

I pounced on top of him, not caring that I was alight in a fire of agony. I snapped his leg with the force of my powerful jaws. The dog yipped furiously and became more rabid.

He leaped on my back and tore at my neck before I rolled him off, tearing at his belly. His paws flailed in the air until I broke his back leg. The rule of Rogues: Break the legs(Or wings) so they can't escape and finish you off.

The dog was rolling on his side, trying to kick me off when he caught me across the face, giving a good scratch along the side of my cheek. I growled and snapped at his throat.

In a minute, he was done. I tossed the limp body away, the red eyes staring blankly to the sky. The dog's mouth was open in a gaping howl.

As much as I tried to howl for Vic or Mike, my throat was bleeding out a pool of blood onto my paws. I dropped to my side in the ditch. I had just enough time to Shift back and attempt to crawl out. My limp body slid back into the ditch. My right side was torn up badly and my neck had dozens of wounds that leaked scarlet. My face had a scratch as well.

That Rogue had caught me off guard!

Letting out a moan of pain, I realized I couldn't get up, couldn't yell for help. Would I die here, in this dirty old ditch?

Well, it had a good view of the road. So I closed my eyes and waited to see my parents again. Instead, I heard someone gasp and opened my eyes.

"Oh man, you need help." A boy with dark hair styled in a faux hawk and blonde streaks bent over my body and gently picked me up. Why would a stranger be so helpful, especially so far out on the Range?

"Hey, where do you live?" The boy asked me again and again. I slipped in and out of focus, but pointed in the direction of the Sanctuary.

He set out at a light jog. I must've blacked out because when I opened my eyes again, Mike had taken me out of the man's arms, just as I passed out once again.

Two hours later, I was returning to the land of the living with bandages on my side and something pressed against my throat. I looked up to meet the eyes of the stranger who saved me from the ditch.

Too bad it had a nice view.

"Hey, you're awake." The stranger smiled. I couldn't help but return the grin. He seemed quieter than Vic and Mike, but just as friendly.

"Thanks for taking me out of that ditch." I responded feebly. My throat hurt to speak.

"Well, I couldn't let you die!" The man chuckled. He held a cloth against my neck as I laid back on the infirmary table.

"I'm Wynter. I'm guessing Mike explained everything to you?" I asked weakly. The boy nodded, giving me a little grin.

"I'm Jack Barakat, the mountain lion, and yes, Mike gave me the low down on the Shadow's Sanctuary." Jack explained. I winced from the pain in my ribs.

"So are you planning on staying?" I questioned curiously. Jack's eyes gleamed.

"I have no other place to go. I made the excuse I was going off to the Barrier for a while to escape my parents. I had to make my quick exit soon after I Shifted." Jack chuckled lightly. I couldn't help but smile at his optimism. He seemed like a generally happy person, despite the harsh situations.

"Well you can stay as long as you want. It's just Vic, Mike, and I around here." I told him. Jack smiled and removed the cloth, pleased with his work.

"Thank you for taking me in. I can help with any injuries. I've always been pretty good with patching up wounds." Jack gave me a crooked smile and helped me up. I wobbled a little as we walked out to the couch. Mike had gone back up on watch and Vic was still out.

"Well, I can't put on a band-aide to save my soul, so we'd love to have you here!" I teased to myself. Jack laughed. I had a feeling Vic and Mike would like our newest arrival.

Four hours later, it was night and the rain started up. Despite the gloom outside, our spirits were high inside. Vic had come home, hugged me gently as he told me he should've been here to help me, and then went to go get the beer. It was his ritual of saying sorry. First the arrival, then the hug, then the guilt, and finally the beer!

We were all huddled around in the new "living room" downstairs. The trap doors, doors, locks, anything with a bolt, was all locked up tight and secured. Thunder shook the windows upstairs.

I saw Jack freeze upright during the movie we were watching.

"Jack, are you okay? It's just zombies!" I chuckled. His brown eyes went wide with fear as lightning cracked overhead.

"It's not the zombies, I'm a-afraid of thunder." He blushed deeply with a stutter. Mike chuckled but I silenced him with a look. Vic raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"Here, come sit next to me." I patted the area next to the bean bag. Jack instantly hopped up, carefully dodging the wounds I had on my body.

"T-thanks." Jack mumbled again as the thunder rumbled overhead. He ducked his head into my good shoulder under the low cannon sound. I wrapped an arm around him and silently resisted smirking. Each time the thunder boomed, Jack would shriek and I would rub his back to calm him down. It was just like what my mother used to do when I was tiny and scared of the lightning.

"Awww....I want cuddles to!" Vic whined to me. Mike pouted from the corner. Sure, we had only known each other for about three weeks, but he was already like that big brother every sister needed.

"Come here, tiger boy." I teased. He crawled over and carefully curled up next to me.

"Me to!" Mike clapped and curled up around me. I was the human pillow, despite being injured. We all watched the movie from around the one bean bag.

I must've been pretty comfortable because they all fell asleep when the last climactic action scene was happening. Vic curled his head into my lap, Jack rested his on my shoulder, and Mike used my legs as a pillow.

"Come on, boys. Lets get to bed." I cooed to them quietly. No one stirred. As I sighed, I let my eyes droop close. Maybe I could wake them up in a moment. What's the hurry?

Somewhere between the first and second blink, I passed out cold.

Notes

So please keep commenting on if you like Vic and Wyn more or Austin and Wyn more!! I enjoy reading the feedback and I need to know what you guys prefer!