What's Beyond the Trees?

Chapter 8 Waking Up

Coleman's POV

After the longest time being stuck in this never ending darkness, I have finally woke up.. That was scary on so many levels.. But the last thing I remember before passing out was this beautiful young woman coming to my rescue and protecting me with her life and body. She smelt better than anything I have ever smelt in my entire life and I have no idea why.. I bet it's because I was dying from the blood loss and becoming delusional.. maybe.. I have no idea what her true intentions were by saving me, but I can honestly tell you that I felt no threat from her whatsoever.

My eyes fly open as I hear the sounds of water around me. I look around to just see a small room.. like a storage room or something along those lines. What did she do with me? Did she capture me? Is she going to sell me like the other's wanted to do? What's going to happen to me because of the little bit of trust I put into this amazingly scented stranger?

I start to panic as my gaze bounces all around this small room until I jump up to see a figure sleeping next to me. I panic until I realize just by her sweet scent, that it's the girl that saved me. I have a wave of pain hitting me as I quickly shift into my human form. I can see stitching on the side of my stomach in two spots. I slowly touched over the thread used to help me as I look up to see this woman covered in my blood.. I can tell it's mine by the smell on her. I reach up and touching the top of my back and feeling the bandages on the wounds making them feel actually better.. I hurt still of course, but I feel better, not like I'm dying.

She saved me again? Why would this tiny woman be stupid enough to try to save a bear? I could kill her so easily with just one swipe.. Why would she do that to herself? It just seems idiotic.. Maybe it wasn't stupidity that drove her to this, maybe it was just bravery. You have to be the bravest human ever to try to take this huge being on your own to fix him up.

I let curiosity get the best of me as I inch closer and try to properly observe my protector. She is stunning in a league all on her own.. She is smaller than me and the absolute definition of beautiful. With her long dark eyelashes and porcelain skin that has a lightly heated blush upon her prominent cheek bones. She has an adorable little button nose that is right next to her thin pink lips. I push the hair out of her face and behind her ear, causing her to moan out lightly before readjusting.

I feel bad that her shirt is definitely ruined by my blood, but the best part is that her bust is bursting out from that spaghetti strap shirt. I give credit to those strong straps for being able to hold those things up without any problems. But there is a part of me that wishes they would burst under the pressure, showing me what's under that shirt.

I have to clear my throat and change my thought pattern because this is not what I should be thinking about at this moment. I should be trying to figure out where I'm at and how to get out of here just to find my home and brother.. my brother! I hope he is ok, I have no idea what has happened to him.. I have to go... I try to sit up as I realize I'm still hurt but worse yet I'm still naked and I can't let her see me like this or she might freak out, but if I get into bear form I might wake her up. I don't want to scare her, but I have to go and find my brother and before this storm hits.

I can smell the moisture in the air as the rainstorm approaches. I shift back into my bear form as I stealthily want to brush past this queen and my savior that I wish I could properly thank for all she has done.. but I have other things to worry about at the moment. I hear the thunder boom as the lightning struck, opening the flood gates to the rain. It scared the hell of not only me but her as well. She jumps up as she looks outside, not even noticing me standing up just yet. I'm about to try to burst out of the doorway past her until I hear a yelling coming from outside the shed. I lay down quickly trying to play possum just in case, because I'm not healthy enough to fight multiple beings at the moment.

"Princess Raine, you need to come inside, that storm is coming in fast." The tall man who was kissing the other man before in the forest, states to my savior. Raine, I like that actually.. you don't hear names like that often. "Ry don't call me that.. You don't know who might hear you.. We have to be careful, even out here." Her beautiful song bird voice graces my ears, making me happy that I stayed before she adds. "I'm not leaving, I won't leave this poor bear out here alone.. What if those poachers come back.. I would never forgive myself if I let something like that happen.. Or what if he wakes up and is scared because he is discombobulated?"

"Princess, you have to come in, I know we need to be careful about saying that, but no one is around to hear me call you that and there is a storm ahead, so no one is coming around any time soon.. He is just a bear and doesn't need you babying him.. You have done surgery on him by yourself, isn't that enough for your consciousness? I know you're doing this as a type of redemption for your family.. but you cannot save everyone, no matter how hard you try.. You can't keep putting your life at risk like this.. What if he wakes up and murders you just for being there? He doesn't know that you have just risked your life for him multiple times and I'm sure he can't tell the difference between you and a good meal.. I mean you're practically plating yourself up for him to take. Let's go in and if he stays then he stays.. But you can't stay out here.. I won't let you stay out here.. I will carry you in if I have to.. or do I need to remind you that with your father's last breath he told me to protect you.. and I promised him I would.. that doesn't stop today.. so come on.. NOW!" He demands of her in a tone that says there is no room for negotiation.

She huffs out in defeat, looking over at me while running her hand gently over the top of my leg, before standing up and walking with her head hanging low across the grass and into the building like a child that got caught by their parent doing something they are not supposed to.. I see them walk into the building I saw before when I was looking for the river.

Once the door closes behind them I take a look around trying to see if there is anything I might need to take with me, but there is not much in here for the taking to be honest. I peak my head out of the open door as the rain pours down on the ground and all around, which is great for myself because it will make me hard to track.. But it will be hard for me to track my brother as well. It's that doubled edged sword called life.

I find my eyes drifting from the river and the forest calling my name, to the light turning on through the window on the second floor. I watch as my savior looks upset, yelling at him as she shakes her head. I watch her yell as she strips off her shirt and walking around in just a bra, throwing her arms in the air as if she is lecturing the tall man.. He is gagging and covering his eyes as she punches him in the arm.. I don't know what's being said but looks entertaining all the same.

She walks out of view and back with a green tank top on. It looks nice on her but I prefer just the bra. With this shirt on now, I can actually see her eyes better, they are a light green and when paired with the green shirt they just light up. I can see the sadness and irritation in her eyes but they are still pulling me in. I can't stop staring and before I know it, she is standing at the window sill, matching my gaze. I can't tear my gaze away from hers and I think she feels that too.

Her mouth is slightly ajar as she stares out at me just watching what I'm doing. I watch her hand reach up and touch the glass for a long moment until the tall man just yells at her, gaining her attention as she finally breaks her spell-binding gaze from mine. I take this only opportunity to stand up slowly because I'm still in so much pain, but my brother can't wait.. his life might literally depend on me right now, making my move.

I take in a deep breath as I let it out and stepping out of the comfort of this little place at the same time. I use that as the motivation I need to keep on moving. I slip with the muddy ground all around, but I don't care as long as I can find Easton. I'll take all the bullets in the world to be able to bring my brother back to his family in one piece.

Maybe that's something little Miss Savior and I have in common is the fact that we lost our families and find the need to save others because of it.. For me, it's because I don't want anyone to feel the pain that my heart went through that day.. I don't know if that's the same for her but I would love to find out.. I wish I could have had a chance to show her who I am and properly thank her.. but right now it's curiosity over family and I will always choose family first. They have always put me first so I owe it to them.

I get the strong feeling inside of me telling me I'm being stared at.. I look around and don't see anyone until I let my gaze go to the one place I know it wants to be.. I glance back at the window to see she is staring back at me again with so much worry apparent on her face and it's all for me.. How can someone be so worried and care so much about something they don't know.. It's crazy to think there are people like that.. but so sweet at the same time.

I keep staring as I'm walking away until I see her reach back up to the window again, touching it lightly looking so adorable with her worry-filled features, so I have to force myself to tear my gaze from hers.. I can't get caught up again.. I feel the nagging feeling building up for every step I walk away from this building. Her eyes are engraving a hole into the back of my head, I just know it. I have to keep glancing back at her to see if I'm going crazy with that feeling.. but I'm not. She is still staring at me as I stare at her.. It's strange, most beings in general look scared of me when I'm in this form, but not her. I keep walking away, before I slip and skid slightly down the hill, but enough to spook me about having to pay attention when walking.. You know, instead of leaving my attention on the gorgeous queen, I would love more time with. I need to get my head in the game.. Maybe getting further away from the temptress might be just the thing I need to break her spell on me.