Just Like Magic

Chapter 22 Find Water

Randalyn's POV

We zing and zip through the air before we drop.. But I think, with both of us being overwhelmingly exhausted from everything we have just endured, that we just don't have the energy to be able to make sure that we stop properly. We land on the ground together, but apparently we are on a hill because right as we hit the ground we instantly start to roll. Cassius pulls me into his chest as his hand wraps around my back, but the other cups my head. I think trying to protect me from getting further hurt than I already have been.

We roll so many times that I have lost count, just begging myself to not get sick on him, but the overwhelming waves of nausea might not give me a choice. We finally came to an abrupt stop with a loud thump that reverberated through Cassius' body to alert me. I instantly felt this, not knowing what made that sound, but the most noticeable part was that he instantly went limp. No more comforting grip that was protecting me in his strong arms. It was as if he let go without actually removing his arms, making me think he hit something. I slowly breathe, trying to get myself under control before I investigate what just happened.

I do a couple of deep breaths to myself before I feel good enough to move on my own, hoping that I won't get sick with those sudden movements. I sit up from his arms as they slapped the ground beside us from being completely limp. I instantly looked to see his eyes closed and mouth partly open. I lean down, turning my ear to his lips, right next to his mouth, just anticipating to feel a breath on my skin or at least hear him breathing to reassure my heart that he is not gone. But sadly enough for my anxiety, there is nothing that came from that action. So my heart's rate picks up, but I'm not giving up on him yet. I shake my head trying to be positive by shaking away the negative thoughts filling my head about him and trying to keep telling myself that he is actually ok.

So I sit up before I reach down, putting my fingers to the side of his neck, trying to feel for a heartbeat. I hold my breath just hoping for that thump to my fingers as I inch closer, looking at him as nothing moves at all, not showing me any signs that he is alive. I wait for what seems like forever, as if time has stopped, until I finally feel the light thump under my fingers and then instantly another one reassuring me that I wasn't just making it up in my head trying to be positive. I let out a relieved sigh, just so happy to know he is still alive. I feel my body calm only slightly at that thought. Causing me to instinctively lean forward, putting my forehead to his chest, just happy he is ok.

I nod to myself as I take a moment, trying to enjoy this positive thought amongst all the negative ones. I suck in a sharp breath that fills my nostrils and lungs with his calming pine scent before I sit up and look around.. My eyes keep trailing back to the lifeless looking body, so I have to keep reassuring myself that he is alright no matter how bad this look... so everything will be ok. right? I pry my gaze from him as I look around to finally notice a huge boulder that's directly beside us. I don't know how I didn't notice that right away, probably just distracted. But it's safe to assume that is what he hit. I look around us to make sure there are no immediate threats and, luckily for us, there are not, because I don't have anymore weapons to help us out if there were.

So, now that I have investigated the area, I can figure out exactly what has happened to him. I crawled around his body and directly to his head to inspect him, slowly moving his face from side to side, looking at all the wounds he has accumulated in all of this. It's hard to tell where he hit the boulder, since his whole face is bloodied, but there is some new blood at the top, so I would assume by this big bleeding cut, when the rest is pretty dried up, that this must be the new wound that was just created.

I need to help him get cleaned up so I can try to see if I can stitch this gaping wound back together.. but I need to get him somewhere safe.. I just don't know where that would be... I look around as I see that behind us is a wide opening of land between the low hanging trees, but the wide open like this is something that I do know that's not safe for him. I look to the side and see more trees because they seem neverending with their ominous tone making me not want to stay here. But over to the other side of me is a noticeably big bush that I could try to hide him under... I think that will be my best option out of the loads of bad options out here. I nod to myself huffing out, not liking the ideas of what to do next running through my head.. But I know I have to do this because I care for him.. Plus, I know he would do it for me.

Before I can try to get him feeling better, first I have to get this loss of blood under control before he looses anymore. I flip my backpack off of me to the ground beside me, as I strip off my shirt. I have a spaghetti strap under this thick fuzzy shirt, so it's not like I'm naked or anything, and this shirt has been ruined already, so it doesn't matter what happens to it at this point. I grab another shirt out of my bag to slip on before I start shredding the shirt I originally took off.

I put the end of the shirt into my mouth as I tear at it for a second until it's slightly frayed. I take that torn ends between my hands and rip it apart. I do this over and over again until I have multiple wads of cloth to help. I fold up one before putting it straight on the wound and gently applying pressure. This causes the first piece of cloth to be instantly covered in blood, so I throw it to the side as I put another one on there and, think this one is working for the moment since its not instantly filled. So I put the rest of that cloth on his chest for later, before I stand up.

I walk around him and straight to his head, I pull his arms above his head as I try to pull him over to the bush that will protect him as I try to find some water to get him cleaned up. His hands slip out of mine as I try to grab his forearms next, but that doesn't work either.. This doesn't seem to be working at all and I know all too well how much it hurts to get my arm pulled out of it's socket, so I don't want to hurt him. So I change to the other end and grabbing his ankles to pull. I can get a better grip anyway, so hopefully that will help this transition into this hiding spot.

He is heavy, since he is twice the size of me. But I won't let those negative thoughts deter me. I tug and pull, only gaining inches at a time. I grunt and whine with every pull, just begging for this to get easier, but it is honestly getting tougher because I feel so weak from all the fights I have forced myself through. I feel all of my muscles burning, feeling as if they will just give up at any moment. But I shake my head trying not to let these feelings win. I keep pulling and feeling my shoulder pop just hoping it won't come out of the socket. I would hate to have to pop it back in like I have had to do multiple times after my stepfather would throw me around by my arm pulling it out so I have to pop it back in with no one to help.

My arms start to shake but I don't stop. I tug with all my might just trying not to break down.. but.. All of these feelings taking over my brain are getting so overwhelming that the tears begin to pour down my face with every pull. This has all been so much that I don't know how much more I can handle.. But all I do know is that as long as he is there, then I will be more than willing to try to handle anything.. But by the looks of things at the moment, I don't know if he will even last today.

I glance behind me as I continue to pull, noticing that I'm getting closer to my destination. I nod feeling a strength inside of me to get him to this bushy bubble, just hoping it will protect him until I can get back. I'm trying to do everything in me to protect him like he has done for me... but... I can't help but feel like I am not doing enough. I shake my head trying to believe in myself before the nagging negativity pulls me down.

I tug his legs continuously, with the straight motivation of knowing when I get him into there he will be safe even if its just for a little bit. I grunt and pull, just hoping I don't hurt him worse than he already is, until I am finally able to pull him to the bush. I'm so exhausted after this feat that I have to take a breather for a moment. I hunch over, breathing deeply to try to catch my breath, but it's not working as well as I had hoped. After taking minutes to myself, I roll him under the bush, putting my bag under his head for comfort and to make sure he knows I'm not completely gone... That I do plan on coming back just in case if he wakes up before I get back.

I need to find some water to get him cleaned up and hopefully on the right path for healing. I lean down next to his ear. I know he probably can't hear me, but I'm just hoping with every inch of me that he can. I don't want him to think I have abandoned him. I wish I could make sure that he knows that I plan on coming back to him soon enough.. I will do everything in me to make sure I'm not gone for long. But there is no way to positively make sure he knows this.

I start breathing heavily, as my emotions hit me hard, staring down at his seemingly lifeless body. I lightly brush the hair out of his face as I touch his cheek, trailing my fingertips over the strong jawline and to his chin. I know what I need to do, no matter how insane it makes me feel. My breath is shaky, so my words will probably be too. But I have to explain to him what I plan to do, whether he can hear me or not.. it's probably more for my sake, than his, but either way I need to do it. "Cass... I need you to hear me... it's me... Randy." I say groaning at that.. I sound so stupid. I pinch the bridge of my nose thinking about how to restart this.

I shake my head before starting again. "You're going to be ok, I promise. I have to go and get some water to help clean you up and I swear I will be back for you.. I need to try to help you.. please don't be mad... and know I'm coming back." I say this softly but showing the obvious stress by the squeaks between each word. I lean down and kiss his cheek before forcing myself to get up and leave him there.

I break some branches and leaving them around the bush, indicating where he is at for me, while making sure to cover him up from prying eyes. I walk away leaving a trail of branches behind me to make sure I can find my way back. Pulling a page out of the Hansel and Gretel book I have read as a child. I keep searching as I stop to hear the sounds around me. I hear the wind through the trees, the rustling of the leaves, but not a sound of water. I groan out in frustration. This is so hard to do and I wish I would've been taught more about taking care of myself out in the wild on my own.. I have read tons of books about it so I have ideas.. Let's just hope those ideas are enough to keep me and Cassius alive.

It might help if I knew where in the forest we are at.. I don't know which end he took us too.. because if I had any inkling about where he apparated us too, I would hope that it would be close to his mother... Then I would do everything in my power to get her help for him.. But this forest seems endless and I keep finding myself getting turned around not knowing which way to go, let alone how to get out.. But the biggest issue is that I don't know what I can or cannot do because there is so much out here that could hurt me. I wander, looking around the trees, seeing some bright beautiful flowers, but I turn away from those. I see some small insects and critters but they all have bright colors on them and that is something I remember that Cassius had taught me.. So I leave those, making sure to not come in contact as I keep looking all around.

Everything of course, is dark, so at this point in this adventure, I can honestly say that I'm not surprised, just intimidated and a little annoyed.. It's times like this that I hate the darkness. I don't know this place at all and being able to see the details around me further than a couple of feet, would bring down the annoyance almost completely. But of course I can't. This just adds onto the fact that I have never liked the darkness, so this place is really making me hate this area the longer I'm here... wishing I could have just stayed with Cass at his mother's place, where I was happy as a clam.

I tromp through the trees, pushing past all the low hanging branches as I break one piece after the next to make sure I leave a clear way back. I keep going before stopping once again to listen to my surroundings. I don't hear water, but what I do hear is a thundering of hooves as if an army is headed this way.. And by everything I have been through lately, I wouldn't doubt it... but if it's an army I can only bet who they are coming after, because the teams they have sent for me just keep getting bigger and bigger every time I get away.

I quickly run out of the main path, to hide behind this tree. I slowly back away keeping my eyes on the little bit of open area to see if I can see any of the strangers making all that noise, while I get myself more into the darkness. I see a herd of centaurs running by as I continue to back away, just hoping they won't see me. I keep backing up until I feel something on my arm. I tug my arm but it instantly gets pulled back as if there is a rubber band attached.

I try to turn around and realize I'm stuck. It's not just my arm, it's now my back and other arm as well... I look around as best as I can, pulling at whatever it is, just struggling before I realize, it's a web. That makes my heart jump because I'm not stupid and know how webs work.. The struggling is what let's the spider know that the web has done its job and where to go. I freeze in place, with my heart beating so loudly, it's almost all I can hear. I feel eyes on me making my heart now skip a beat, the feeling you get when being looked at makes me completely uncomfortable. This skyrockets my anxiety.

So, it takes me a moment, but I finally get the courage to move. But before I can, I freeze, feeling the web now moving from behind me. I slowly look up to see if I can see anything. I don't just see anything, I see multiple spiders coming my way and they look big.. bigger than any spiders I have ever seen. It's absolutely petrifying to see these things that are the size of animals, if not the size of me. This sight takes the air from my lungs. I shake my head, knowing I need to get out of here and just hoping I can.

I feel drips on my head as I look again, realizing that's the drool from the beasts getting closer. I don't have time to think about this, I just need to react, no matter how much this terrifies me... I pull my arms and legs realizing how attached I really am. I scream out within the struggle, as I tug and pull trying to get myself out of this trap. The spiders are not even remotely alarmed or scared and seem to be speeding up their pace, I think they see that I'm trying to get out and want to make sure I don't. I mean who wants to lose their lunch when it's right there for the picking. I struggle faster pulling each strand of web I can get hold of, but all that does is stick to me more. I feel my heart racing not being able to take my eyes off of the fast moving threats that have bigger numbers than I do apparently.

I rip away each strand, feeling the hold loosen on me, letting the strands stick to my hand as long as it's not to my body.. I finally have enough gone to be able to hopefully run away. I run straight out with the web that is still attached trying to pull me back or at least keep me there. I struggle as I pull using every bit of strength. My shoes dig into the ground as I pull and pull, I can't die tonight. I wont die. I keep telling myself this with every running step I take.

I keep running and pulling leaning forward, hoping my weight can help get me out. I keep pulling seeing the spiders almost here as the web instantly breaks, sending me to the ground. My arms hit first trying to block my face as I roll across the ground. I see the spiders still coming as I look around and see some broken branches on the ground. I stretch out and reach just to grab a branch from the ground. I turn to see where they are at but in that same moment, the spider is on top of me in a second. I scream out while holding the stick to my body, which ends up stabbing into his body by default. His heavy hairy body goes limp on mine as I groan out, struggling to get it off of me.

The scream that leaves this beast is something I never expected, sounding like nails on a chalkboard to my ears, I never want to hear that sound again. I shove the spider off of me as another jumps right in it's place. I use my arms to hold its face away from me. It's fangs chomp over and over throwing spit around with its endless tries to eat my face. I cry out using all the strength to hold it back, just to get surprised by it being shot in the head by an arrow. I shove that spider off of me as I squeal out, covering myself in protection. I can hear the zips of more arrows flying past as I peak through my arms to see every spider making its way towards me while being killed off by whoever these people are. I unwrap my face from my arms as I start to back away, trying to get away from the chaos before I get added to the pile of dead around me.