How to save a life

Chapter song: How to save a life by The Fray

Harper

With my hair stuck to my face and the rain drenching my entire outfit and making my boots squelch, I walk along the deserted lane. It’s dark and wet, but I find myself with my head turned to face the downpour. The rain, refreshing my skin and giving me a new lease of life.

It’s quiet apart from the rain hitting the ground. My mind clears, and I think back to my childhood, where dancing in the rain was the best feeling in the world. My dad used to spin me in circles as I giggled and screamed. I miss my father, I always will. For the longest time, it was just he and I. It was us against the world. Tomorrow will be the anniversary of his passing.

Oh dad, one day I’ll see you again but as much as I miss you, it will be a long time away. But we’ll dance in the rain again.

Tomorrow, I’ll spend the day with him, though. I'll sit and speak to him, watch the birds fly around and hum his favourite song. The Emerald Pack warrior cemetery is such a beautiful place for those who are no longer with us.

Still looking up to the sky, I open my mouth and let the rain pour in, laughing as I do.

OK, I may be 22 in human years (220 in wolf years) and have responsibilities, but come on.....It’s fun to let go sometimes!

Responsibilities.......reality hits home. I need to get home. It’s almost midnight. The forest I’m walking near is Wiccan territory. Midnight is their time, and we wolves respect their power and stay clear of them to allow them to practise without fear.

It wasn’t like this a few decades ago. Wiccans and wolves were at war. All supernatural creatures were at war. There were casualties on every side. Innocent supernatural women and children suffered at the hands of their enemies. The ground seemed to always be covered in blood.

I think back to one night with pain filling my heart mixed with a newfound hope.

(past event)

The Emerald Pack warriors were patrolling the perimeter of their land. After the vampire attack the night before, we gathered our forces to make sure no wolves were left stranded and hurt, or worse.

Our main tracker was with us, sniffing the surroundings, trying to get a scent on the blood sucking leeches. My blood boils at the thought of them.

Suddenly, our tracker stops, the warriors stop dead in their tracks *something is here* she mind-links the warrior leader. *What is it, Meg?* I ask as I make my way through the rest of my warriors. They bow slightly as I walk. *I smell blood, Wiccan, close by* Meg almost panics and I cock my head to one side looking at her *It’s a child Harper*. I mind link the wolves to my left to spread out within a 30 feet radius and the wolves to my right to keep patrolling the border.

I’m on Meg's flank as she follows the scent of the blood. This war started so long ago, and I was honestly sick of it. Life was nothing but training, fighting and blood. It left no time for actual life.

Megs comes to a stop and bows down. I see the sight in front of me and even in my wolf form, I heave. This child, this poor innocent child, Wiccan or not, did not deserve this fate. I hear Meg whimper. Meg is a mother. To see any child this way would affect anyone, but a parent…..I can't begin to imagine how that feels. I bow my head in respect for the beautiful girl before us. She couldn’t be more than 5 years old. Her lips blue and her skin so pale. I see bite marks on her arms and legs. Fang marks. My blood boils. These filthy Vampires will bathe in sunlight.

I vow to end this war and all Vampires in the process.

Megs ears prick up. *Harper, calm down. Listen!* I slow my mind and my heart and listen. Thinking that Meg has heard something in the distance. Dum………Dum……..Dum Dum……….. it's weak, so weak I missed it, but it's there. The delicate faint beating of this little girl’s heart.

I phase back into human form as naked as the day I was born. I didn’t care. I carefully picked the Wiccan child up and held her against me to warm her.

*Harper* *Dad* I turn to find my father behind me with a blanket on his back and some clothes. He looks at me with his bright blue eyes and I take the items from him. Meg phases into human form too to take the child from me so I can clothe myself and wrap the child in the blanket. Once I have the child again, Meg phases back. “Meg, I need you to mind link the infirmary and tell them I’m on my way. Dad, where is the Wiccan base?” Meg does as I ask and nods before sprinting off back to the mansion.

*Harper, I have no idea. I can put the word out and find them* “Do that and let me know as soon as you hear” My dad, Goddess love him, bounds off after bowing his head. “Wolves! With me now” I yell, and I sprint, in human form, to the infirmary in the attic of the pack mansion.

Just as we are entering my property line again, I freeze *VAMPIRES!!!* I yell in my warriors' heads. Due to the training that my pack has, they knew exactly what to do in order for me to safely get this child to where she needs to go. Each of the warriors phases into their wolves and surrounds me as I hold the child in my arms for dear life. As I move, they move with me, forming a barrier around me.

The snarls are loud as one by one, vampires emerge from the surrounding forest ready to attack. My wolves take formation, ready for battle. Running as fast as I could in human form, I leap and plant my feet firmly on a warrior's back. As I do this, he jumps, launching me into the air and out of the vampire's grasp. Landing on my feet over 100 yards away from the impending bloodshed, I run, full tilt to the infirmary.

I can hear the snarls and growls as I run. *All are dust Alpha, we had minimal injuries and all healed. I will sort the report for you when we arrive back to the mansion*

*Thank you Colin* I link back as I turn the corner to the infirmary.

The child in my arms was alive. Just, but alive nonetheless and I will, with my life, make sure she lives a long happy life back with her family.

I reach the infirmary, and the wolf nurses quickly get drips and all manner of machines hooked up to the child in my arms. She looked so small. I stood as they worked. Breathing machines, tubes, blood transfusions…..so much going on but I refused to let this child die.

I stayed in the infirmary for days. Could have been weeks. I lost track of time. Meg bought me food and changes of clothes. She would watch over her so I could shower. Then I would be right beside her again. This child was strong. Her heartbeat grew stronger each day. The constant bleeps of the machine, telling me she was stable.

With the rhythmic beeping, I could feel myself slipping into slumber holding her tiny hand in mine. I had no dreams, as always. Just a deep sleep. I woke abruptly to screaming. I could smell the fear as I opened my eyes. She was awake. Screaming and scared. “Shhhh sweetie, it's ok, you’re safe. I promise” the nurses came rushing in to give her a sedative. I stop them immediately “NO! She is scared, not insane. Leave her be. NOW!” The nurses try to argue with me. I growl….deep and so the air vibrates with the warning I intend to give. I sit back down as they scatter from the room and take a deep breath. This child has been through so much already.

“Sweetie, my name is Harper. You are safe with me, I promise. We are not going to hurt you. I won’t let anyone hurt you” I take her hand, and she looks me in the eyes. Like she knows I’m being truthful, her breathing calms and she holds her chin high to show me she isn’t scared. A burst of pride hits me. What a brave little warrior she is. “You’re a brave girl sweetie. Can you tell me your name?” I ask softly. “I…..I….My name i..is Lottie” she sniffs, a single tear rolls down her cheek. “Such a pretty name Lottie. Do you know where I can find your Mummy? I am sure she misses you so much and we need to tell her you’re safe” I look at the brave little Wiccan girl laying there and remember the vow I made. This war will end!

“W..w…we live deep in the forest…n…near the Emerald b….b…border” I mind link my dad to tell him. I ask him to watch Lottie. He agrees and is soon with me. I hugged him before turning to Lottie “Lottie, sweetie, this is my father Caden, he’s a big old softie and the best dad in the world. He’s great at reading stories and he would like to tell you one if that’s ok?” she looks at me and smiles, nodding, she sits up in her bed and smiles at my dad. I can tell what he’s thinking without Mind linking. He’s smitten with the child as much as I am. “Lottie, before I go, what is your mom's name?”

“Roma….my mum's name is Roma” she looks at me with those big brown eyes and I nod “Thank you sweetie. I won’t be long”

*Meg! Meet me in the garage. 5 minutes*

She doesn’t answer. She doesn’t need to. I quickly grab a bottle of water from the fridge and head to the garage. Meg already has the car started and the door open. I get in the car, and she heads off.

“How is she, Harper?” I smile “She’s doing great, Meg. She’s a brave little thing. She says she lives in the forest at the border. We need to let them know we won't harm them, Meg. This war has got to end. We need to locate Roma, Lottie's mum”

We could have run to the forest. But that may have shown a threat. Turning up to a Wiccan camp in wolf form would have been bad. At least by turning up in human form and by road, the Wiccans will be warned as we approach without us having to go into the woods.

After about 10 minutes, we reach an opening just at the edge. Meg stops the engine, and we slowly get out. “I am Harper Knight of the Emerald Pack. I am looking for Roma. We are not here to harm you” I half shout at the opening, knowing that the trees will carry my voice to someone in there. We wait. After about 5 minutes, I hear leaves crunching “What do you want, wolf?” I can just make out a figure in the trees. “Are you Roma?”

“Yes I am. Again, wolf, what. Do. You. Want!?”

"A few weeks ago, my troops were patrolling our borders when we came across a small child. A Wiccan Child. Lottie"

I hear her gasp, and the leaves crunch faster, and she runs to the opening.

“My Lottie! WHAT DID YOU DO!!??”

“I….no….I thought she had crossed over when we found her. My best tracker here, heard her heartbeat. Lottie is in our infirmary. She’s safe and recovering very well. Our nurses have taken great care of her.”

Roma eyes me and then grabs my hand and stares into my eyes “tell me again! NOW!

I repeated myself, not taking my eyes off hers. She released the breath she was holding and slumped to the ground in tears “oh my Lottie, my beautiful baby, she’s ok….she’s ok”

I kneel down and place my hand on the mother’s shoulder. “Your daughter is a warrior Roma. She is brave and proud and a credit to you. Would you like to see her and bring her home?”

“Nicholas!! With me, now!” she says. Leaves start to crunch again as this tall, very handsome man comes into view.

“Yes High Priestess”

Oh my Goddess, Lucy is Wiccan Royalty. “Please forgive me, I didn’t know of your station High Priestess”

"Nor I yours Harper Knight. A female Alpha is truly a remarkable thing” We both bow to each other.