The guardian and his last chance. Realization

VI

Something made me wake up. An uneasy feeling of problem. Slowly I rose to sitting. I looked at the clock, it´s still night. Just barely 3 o´clock. To heighten my hearing more, I shut my eyes. Even if I concentrated, I couldn´t find why I woke up. In frustration I shook my head. With a sigh, laying back down. Turning to my side. “Whatever it was, it is gone.” I thought. Tired I curled together under the covers. As my eyelids got heavy again, I heard it. A scream, in the distant. One filled with pain. My instincts crackling and burning like an inferno. A great need to protect and defend. Within ten seconds I had pulled on my clothes on and started to head out with the axe in hand. I followed the scream, with long and fast steps. My feet barely hitting the floor. I crouch down a bit. All my senses on alert. I open a door, and finds that I am inside a residential building. It is together built with the B&B. A fast glance at a few photos, and I knew it is Clarice and her husband´s home. I smell the air. And what I get make me more uneasy. It is the irony scent of blood, but not the kind of spilled blood. It is filled with hormones, more precisely that of a female. There is just one reason for it. She is in labor. I stand still and concentrate on my hearing. Someone is pacing. And I hear a fast breathing. Then a male voice says scared. “Brother, I can´t get in touch with our doctor.” His voice fills with pain as I hear Clarice gasp in pain. “Something has turned bad.”

I sorted out what happened in the room. Clarice pregnancy is at its end. But something has gone for the worse, it seems. I filter out her husband. My concentration on the young woman. Two heart beats echo in my mind. One is fast, and the lungs are working fast but shallow. The second is slow and weak. I hate to show myself, but if it can save the child and the mother, I will not regret it. I bolted back to my room, as fast as I can. I throw my axe, with a bang on the floor. It is acute. I empty my rucksack. Fast I take the small cloth-bag, that contains my herbs. I put it in the big mortar of oak and its matching pestle. Bolting once more back. I know that Clarice husband will hear me. But I couldn´t care less. Fast I found the kitchen. I found my way in their kitchen quickly. I put a kettle on the stove. Then I started to work fast. In to the mortar, I put herbs that will drench out pain. Some with great antibacterial properties. And the last of the ones that boost regeneration of blood and healing. As the water started to boil, I hear a deep growl behind me. Without hesitation I turned around and smashed the wolf to the wall. He hasn´t shifted, but his eyes are black as night sky. I have my underarm pressed against his neck. “I am no threat to you or your wife.” I said low. He is pissed. “I want to help, her.”

His eyes and lips twitched. Then he spat. “U don´t touch what is mine!”

I shook my head. Wolfs and their overprotectiveness of their mates. Heck even my kin was like that. More even. I knew what I had to do, and I hate it. I leaned my head closer. “I know what u are, little wolf.” He growled. “I know that u knows about the four rouge skins that your brother paid for today.” That had some effect. His eyes filled with what I could feel as fear and unease. “Don´t mind link the rest of the pack!” I ordered. He started to calm down some. I felt that it was safe enough. Fast I took a step back.

He took a deep breath. “How? What? Who?”

“We can say this, I am a friend.” I sighed. Turning back to the kettle. “I will help your wife.” I poured five deciliters of the water in the mortar. “I don´t kill without a reason.” I worked the medicine as a master. Still working as, I looked at him over my shoulder. “I heard her scream, and u talking to Jackson that u can´t get hold of the doctor.” I found a mug. I filtered the water out of the paste, with my hand. The water in the mug. “I am older than u think, little wolf.”

“If you knew, why are you not afraid?” he asked with anger, sadness, fear and pain in the voice.

I chuckle. “Why should I be afraid of something that can´t hurt me.” I got everything ready. “I know the way to your bedroom.” I said, he growled at me. And I glared back at him. “Can u get clean towels and sheets.” He nodded still not sure what I am.

He went away. And I gathered everything. I poured the last of the water in a steel jug. Then headed upstairs. I knew what needed to be done. Outside the door to their bedroom, I stopped and stood still. Just standing there and listening. And it seems that when he heard me, he busted the door open, right of its hinges. I took one big breath, and walked in. Clarice has thrown of the covers. Her skin pale, with a sick yellowish tone to it. It gleamed of sweat. Her white pajamas, drenched. It had gone worser than I thought. Fast I put everything on top of the drawers. I put the backside of my hand against her forehead. She gasped in delight, by my colder hand. She was burning. Her child needs to get out, now. And it´s for both of them. As I turned to the medicine, her husband came in. In his arms are fresh towels and sheets. The look he gave his wife, was heartbreaking. He is scared for her life. I took some of the towels spread them on the floor.  Four layers thick. For what I have to do, the bed is no good.

“Help me.” I said as I stretched out my arms to lift her. He glared at me. “It´s for your wife and child.” My voice was a bit hard. He nodded slowly then helped me. Together we put her on the towels. “I will check on her body.” I said to ease him some. He nodded. “Clean the bed in the meantime.” I looked at him, I knew he needed something to do. I hear him bed with new bedding. In one motion I pulled of her pjs pants and underwear. Her pjs top I pulled up just so her tummy is exposed. I press my fingers softly against her tummy. Slowly making my way down to her privates. That motion got a growl to echo in the room. I sigh. “She is not ready.” I locked eye with her husband. His eyes were dark again. “I need to act fast.” he I still growling low. “You need to trust me, I just want to save both their lives.”

I saw how he was fighting with himself. He got a hold of himself again. “Are they in danger?” his voice filled with pain and sadness.

“Yes.” I said low, almost a whisper. He got on his knees near her head. “On the drawers are a mug with medicine.” I rose up. “I need her to drink it.” He flew up and got it. I was as fast to get the mortar and the steel jug. I sat down on my knees, on her right-side. “She needs it.” I said as she spat out some of it. The action he then did, made me glad. He took a sip of the medicine, then force fed her it. He continued to do it until the mug was empty. Then he looked at me waiting. “Sit with her head in your lap and her hands in yours.” He did. “And I am sorry, for what I have to do.” He glared at me, another growl. I smirked. “We need to act fast, now.” (Don´t f*****g try this at home. Go to your hospital!!!)

On my right I have the mortar and the boiling hot water. To the left fine thread and needle, already threaded. I have one more knife, one I don´t use as often. It is a smaller blade. Made to debone, game and open stomachs to get out the guts. This one I drop in the hot water. Once again, I feel her stomach. “Don´t watch what I will do, if you can´t control yourself.” I took some of the paste. It was two fingers worth. I put it inside her privates. Knowing that the effect will be instant, with the contact of her membrane. Fast I took my knife. One incision after the other. I worked fast. Soon I pulled out their baby. Gently I put the child on a pile of towels. I cleaned so could see. Steady and fast I closed the cut I made in to her womb. More paste, just a small amount to help her. Then I stitched her stomach. I washed her stomach of and wiped it good. Just to smear more of the paste. I stretched out a hand. Putting my forefinger on the side of her neck. The pulse is steadier and stronger now. Then put my fingers on her fore-head. The heat has fallen drastic. A good sign. I threw one glance at him, his eyes were glued to her stomach. And I can see him fighting the instinct that tells him to kill me. “You did good, lift her gently back on the bed.” I said as I now switched target for my concentration. I took up the small baby in one hand. it´s heart beat is weak. I can´t feed it the paste. Gently I rub it´s back with soft and clean towel. To my surprise it takes a deep breath, then wail like a banshee. I turn the body around slowly, trying not to hurt it. I glance over its body to check for deformities. But it is healthy. A healthy little girl. I held the girl gently as I walked over to her parents. Her father had stuffed pillows behind Clarice back. “Can you expose Clarice chest?” I asked. He looked at me, not happy. I just looked down at the small being in my arms. “It´s for your daughter.” My words hit him like thunder. He exposed his sleeping wife´s breasts. Careful I put the baby-girl down. With a smile I saw how she found the tit, and I could hear her heart beat stabilize. Then it hit me how I could get the medicine in the baby. I fetched the mortar from the ground. Walked over to him. And gave it to him. He looked confused. “Take a fingertip worth of the paste, put on the breast she is suckling.” He did as I said. He whispered “Thanks.”

I gathered everything that was bloody and the dishes. Then walked out of the room, but not before looking at the newly founded family of three with a warm smile on my lips. I found my way to the laundry room. I threw the bloody cloths, in the washer, loaded it with softener and detergent. Then hit start, on cotton. Fast I take care of the dishes. I know it is rude, but I don´t care now. I go over to the fridge, and looks inside. My eyes directly lay on some beer bottles. Directly I grab one. In silence I crash on the sofa. Broke it open, with my knife. I swept it all in one go. Then darkness got me, as I fell to my side in sleep.