Thirty Two

Ruarc could not get up. He laid facedown there in the mud and dirt taking painful breaths. The metallic stench of blood is so strong and Ruarc feels sick to his gut. He would have thrown up if he could. His wounds were not healing. No wound hurt more than the wound of the heart, his mother always said whenever Ruarc spots a bruise on a body part. He knew his mother was abused, is still abused, for a reason he could not understand. He did not know what to feel when Massa stopped. It meant that she was wide awake. Ruarc closed his eyes and envisioned her. She would be standing before a mirror, tracing Sia's mark with her fingers, still trying to come to terms with what happened. He heard the sound of approaching footsteps and rustling of leaves. He sniffed the air.

Humans.

"Oh Daniel look what I've found". A human female.

He heard a grunt, and he figured that was Daniel.

"A naked man Sarai. Come on now let's go".

"But we can't leave him like this".

"Of course we can".

"Danny!".

"D