Chapter 7

Anya woke up well rested. She gently moved away from Derek before stretching. Though sore, ever muscle welcomed the stretch. This made her smile as she got up to start breakfast. Derek, pretending to be asleep, wanted to protest her leaving his side. She fit there so well and made the not so comfortable ground comfortable. He didn’t do anything though, he didn’t know if he could. She was so broken, he could feel it.

Alaska happily bounced after her mom. Picking up small sticks in her mouth and bringing them to her. Anya happily accepted them as she started to build the fire once more. Alaska happily bounced around Anya till her ears caught movement. She froze before bounding off into the long grass.

“Stay close Alaska.” Anya gently called as she gathered some eggs. She was going to make another scrambled for them this morning before organizing there stuff. The two wagons where not working out like she though. She hopped she could still keep the two but knew it was most likely she would have to desert the little red wagon. 

Alaska whimpered a short distance away causing Anya to jump to her feet. What shocked her was how well she was able to. She figured her knees would cripple but they didn’t. She pushed it to the back of her mind as she looked around for her fluff ball. Alaska had caught sound of a fox, whom in turned though she was breakfast. The fox got her good in the Pat causing Alaska to yelp and get her mommies attention.

“Alaska.” Anya cried gently as she raced towards her puppies sound. Her heart breaking knowing exactly what was wrong. She should have followed, she should have been there. Now her puppy was hurt and it hurt her more. She was her mother, the one that was suppose to protect her. The grass tangling her feet as she tried to move quickly. When her eyes finally set eyes on her baby she also saw the threat. Pushing the fear away she lunged for her baby and scooped Alaska to her chest. The puppy yelped in fear as the threat also jumped. Both missed each other by a hair.

Anya quickly got on her feet, but stayed crouched, as she began to scan her surroundings. The creature after them didn’t land as graceful as it should have for a cat. Took itself a moment to collect itself before jumping to its feet and getting ready to pounce once again. A human girl was nothing for this creature to take down, it actually welcomed it. More food for its family. Something it needed bad.

“Its okay baby, mommy got you.” Anya gently sang to the pup whom was whimpering and trying to become one with her. Anya held her firmly as her focus stayed on the grass that surrounded them. Any movement had her flinching. She didn’t know what to do if it did attack, though she knew to stay away from the paws. Even a small mark could be killer for her. The medical supplies where needed for Derek. She couldn’t spare any for her.

The threat took it’s time before I pounced but Anya was ready. She dropped to her right shoulder and rolled. The cool grass cushioned her fall, giving her the slight bounce she needed to get to her feet. Didn’t help as she had to get away once more.

‘Rawr.” The threat screamed in frustration as Anya kept dodging it.  She was very glad her knees didn’t hurt or this would have worsened them. Her distracted mind caused her to trip, she tried to rise quickly buy the creature was on her quickly. Its claws digging deep into her shoulders as she screamed. Alaska got out of her mommies arms and bit its tail hard. Unfortunately, her little teeth did not phase the creature.

“Anya,” Derek screamed. He had managed to use her gifts enough to get him in a position to see what was going on. As he began to rise, he watched her eyes slowly close. The cougar was huge and feared he got her with his paws in an artery or vein. He had to work fast, his gift coming to life as he worked them quickly. He didn’t care if his wounds opened. All he cared about was the women in danger, her puppy doing all it can to get the large cat off her.

Anya's fear and pain triggered something her mind to come forward. She didn’t know what it was causing her to feel dizzy. At a small moment she thought she might through up but darkness took her very quickly. Though it didn’t last long, her eyes opened to a blue sky. Slowly rising, she looked around the large field, much like the one she was in but bigger. The sun was on the horizon but the heat proved it was setting. She was confused, where was she. Her tent was gone, her puppy and most of all Derek.

Thundering of hooves caused her to rise quickly and begin to look around once again. She was so confused what was going on. Two hands grabbed her arms and forced her to walk into the forest. They where large, coming to the conclusion it had to be a male. She had no fear rising in her, she knew he had to be someone she knew.

“They are getting to close to our kingdom.” Her voice shocked her as I came out of her mouth. She felt anger rising in her as she tried to look around once more but was restricted to looking ahead. The person behind them snuggled closer as his cheek rested up and over her shoulder and laid on the side of her face. It was clean shaven and warm, his breaths coming in heavy.

“They will never find it. We will keep them safe.” The voice was husky and came out quickly. She could tell it was a guys voice however, he also felt ripped from where his body played on her back. ‘He had to have been running for a while if he is out of breath.’ She thought. What she didn’t understand was this man sounded familiar, but it wasn’t her ex lovers voice. She also didn’t understand who’s kingdom they where protecting. There was no such thing in this world.

“We still better warn them. I will not lose anymore of our people to those scientist.” Her voice sounded angry. Like something happened to someone she loved. This confused Anya, what was actually going on. This person was talking for her. She didn’t have people, that’s what queens and kings say to the people of there kingdom. She was only a memory loss reject from somewhere.

“Anya.” His voice caused the image to disappear. The small amount of darkness disappeared to the light trying to shine through her eyelids. She was sore, like she had been lying in a position for to long. Her moan rang out causing him to sigh from where he collapsed. “Anya.”

“Derek.” She gently said before everything came flooding back to her. She tried to rise but that just caused her head to spin.

“Easy Anya.” He struggled to say. His voice so raspy, he had used to much magic to quickly. He could feel some of his wounds bleeding once more but he didn’t care, she was safe.

“Please say your Alright.” Anya gently cried as she slowly rose this time. Her muscles all screaming as she moved them. She got as far as a seated position before Alaska jumped in her lap. She was so happy her mommy was okay. She didn’t know what to do other then lay beside her whimpering. This broke Derek who couldn’t move to comfort either one of them.

“I’m okay.” He struggled. She knew he wasn’t but just that bit of reassurance was all she wanted. She went to get to her feet but her head began to spin once more. Her hand going to her forehead was an indication she was not okay. “Anya.”

“I’m okay I promise. Just everything that went on has my head spinning.” She spoke as truthfully as she could. That caused her to remember the cougars claws. When she looked there was nothing but holes in her shirt.

“Anya, just rest there. Don’t move to much.” Derek spoke up as he tried to rise. She saw it and forgetting everything jumped to her feet. Her mind began to pound as her body was thrown this way and that. She didn’t care, he couldn’t move. Not in the state he was in. His wounds would reopen and he could bleed to death. He has already lost enough. “Anya.”

“Don’t move.” The words came out as staggered as she was. Alaska barked at her worried before she whimpered. Anya began to fall as her word became dark again. The memory playing again. Derek reached out for her but this time the forest caught her. They gently laid her beside Derek who cradled her to him. The animals of the forest became alive, all coming to there aid. Each of them lending a paw as they changed his bandages. The bird found the plant needed to stop the bleeding, the raccoons unwrapped and wrapped the wounds, the Becerra taking the dirty tensors and washing them and the trees helped hold the gauze in place.

“Thank you.” Derek spoke as he held Anya whom was sleeping peacefully. Her mind however was going a mile a minute as she tried to make sense of the scene. She didn’t understand it, it felt so familiar but yet so distant. Alaska snuggled between the two, worried more for her mommy. Her gentle whimpers pulled at the heart strings as Derek placed a gentle hand on her back. “Mommy will be okay. She just needs some rest Alaska.”

“Rrrrwarf.” Alaska barked before she snuggled her head into her moms cheek. She was scared her mommy was going to leave her. She was a good girl though, and would wait for her mommy to wake.

As the sun hit mid sky, its warm Ray’s woke Anya. She smiled feeling them as she tried to stretch. Her hand came in contact with a wound on Derek whom let out a grunt of pain. Her eyes instantly shot open. He however allowed his eyes to slowly open so they could adjust to the brightness. His hands holding her in place as she tried to rise.

“easy, you will only pass out again.” He spoke sheepishly. Alaska barked happily to see her Mommy. She began to lick her cheek causing Anya to giggle happily.

“What happened?” She asked gently moving Alaska back from her face. Her fingers gently running through her fir. She was looking for any wounds the cougar may have left.

“You where attacked.” He spoke gently with a deep breath. “The beast was on you and you passed out.”

“I had a dream.” She confessed as she looked up at him. Slowly rolling she lifted herself to her elbows so she could look at him better. “A dream that feels so real but I’m not sure.”

“Maybe a memory?” Derek spoke gently causing her to freeze as she looked at him. She never thought of that. Didn’t help she never got one in the 6 years she had been awake. Her fingers became interesting as she looked at them. If he was right she had a life before, one of some kind of royalty. She also had a man in her life. She wondered who he might have been to her. “Anya?”

“Sorry, I’m okay.” She smiled as she slowly began to rise. He reached out for her but Anya only pushed him away. She was fine as she sat up beside him. Alaska jumped back in her lap and snuggled in. She feared her mommy would fall again is she got up. “Your wounds.”

“They have been taken care off.” Derek spoke as he quickly grabbed her hands. He knew the moment her face fell she remembered his wounds. He wished there was a way to make her lie beside him longer. He felt at peace, like his world wasn’t ruined. Almost like his Anya was there with him.

“Then you need some food.” She smiled gently rising. She held Alaska close to her as she did. She feared to let her go specially since none of them knew if the cougar actually left the area.

“You don’t need to.” Derek tried to stop her. He was to exhausted to lift his limbs, specially since some of them opened.

“You need the nutrition to heal the wounds. You have progressed greatly, being as your able to talk more now.” Anya smiled, she was happy he found his voice. It was nice to talk with someone. She wouldn’t push it though. He needed all the strength he could muster, his wounds where deep.

Freezing where she stood her eyes fell on him. The memory coming back to her as she looked at him lie there. He was confused as he watched her looking at him. When she began to sway he panicked, his hand shooting out to her forcing a gust of wind to scoop her up. It circled around and brought her limp body to his side. He held her close, cradling her, crying for her to wake.

Anya was whisked into darkness once more. This time the memory looked different. It was evening, the sunset glowing beautiful in the background. The sandy beach was warm to her feet, as the granules where between her toes. She didn’t mind, she actually enjoyed it. The lake reached out to the horizon, where the sun was starting its dip. Small clouds in the sky shown beautifully, catching the sunset in there puffs. Off to the one side a huge mountain could be seen, surrounded by lake. She knew it was important but couldn’t figure out why.

Two large arms where wrapped around her as they held her tight. A muscular body snuggled up tight to her as his head lay just over her shoulder. His clean shaven cheek tight against her own. He smelled fishy but it was something that didn’t bother her. His embrace warming her slightly cooling body. She knew it had to be fall.

“Together we will bring our people together. We will free my people.” The voice spoke. It was the same as the man from the previous memory.

“Will they like me as there queen?” her voice was shaky, almost like she was afraid of what he was going to say. He chuckled, causing her body to vibrate. Her eyes falling from the sunset to her beautifully painted toe nails. The red color reminded her of the streak in her hair.

“They will love you as much as I do.” He smiled kissing her cheek. “Even if they don’t they will learn to love you. Because we are in this together.”

“Forever.” Her words coming out strong once more. The man chuckled once more before the darkness swooped in taking the scene from her. Her heart broke knowing she loved that man, if that was actually her. If these  where her memories coming back she didn’t want them. She seemed so happy with his man. Like her world revolved around him. What would he think if he found her like this, a divorced, memory loss women whom couldn’t bare a child? She knew he would leave her instantly and she would be alone once more. Or maybe he would forgive her being as she had lost her memory.