1. For the next half
hour, she removed several fragments from his body. Fortunately, the punctures
were all superficial. None of them appeared to have penetrated into his body
cavity, although an ugly bruise was starting to form almost directly above his
sternum. She noticed he had some scarring across his chest and arms, but they
were old. When she was certain she'd gotten all the bits and pieces out of him,
she applied a topical antibiotic ointment and covered his wounds with what
bandages that were in the kit, wrapping those with another one of her shirts
she'd ripped into strips. Finally done, she sat back and surveyed the results.
2. Clint sighed loudly and
rubbed the back of his neck. "This isn't like him." The others
agreed. One of the routines they continued to religiously adhere to after their
tours of duty were over was keeping in contact with each other whenever one of
them was away from the lodge. Although all five of them were seasoned and
experienced ex-military, they knew that there was never a sure guarantee when
it came to safety. Even in civilization. Add in their unique shape shifting
abilities, and they knew they had to take extra precautions.
3. "No. Smile." Resting her head in her hand, her
eyes roved over him. "I must be out of my ever-loving mind to have you
here. Oh, and if you need to pee, I'd suggest you use that empty bottle that's
also on the other side of you. You don't need to be traipsing outside in your
birthday suit in this weather. Don't expect me to hold it for you,
either."
4. Pud jerked the blanket from
around his waist and morphed. Before the third man could react, he charged him.
As he'd hoped, the man's reaction was slow from shock. Pud leaped over the
brush and knocked the rifle from the man's grasp. Rearing on his hind legs, Pud
brought his front hooves down over the guy's face and chest, cutting and
slicing into the shooter. The guy screamed in pain and brought his arms up in a
vain attempt to protect himself. Pud's hooves acted like knives, hacking his
assailant to the bone, and preventing the man from using the rifle on him or
Billie again. To be on the safe side, Pud used his hind feet to kick the rifle
into the waterway. With the most dangerous of the three out of the way, he turned
to face the man with the shotgun.
5. A warning roar came from the direction of the riverbank.
There was another volley of shots. Pud recognized the angry bellow of a bull
alligator and sighed. These men were accustomed to shooting at other men who were
shooting back. Not at wild animals charging hell bent directly at them. This
was a terror they'd never anticipated or trained for. It was one thing to hunt
and track a lone creature. It was entirely different to be in the animals'
sights.
6. "You love her. You made
love to her. Hell, even Art said you wore her smell." Yo smiled. "We
watched the both of you when you went over to tell her you were leaving. She
loves you. As much, if not more, than you love her. Yeah,
buddy. She'll come back to you. It may not be today or tomorrow, but it'll
happen. Hold on to that, because it'll be all you'll have to help you get
through this."
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