Chapter 569-Once Were Three, Now Just Two
Haiden:
The friend I had known for a year, the one I had shared a room with, meals with, laughter, stress, happy moments, victories, and defeats, stood alone on the platform today.
We were usually together. We would ride the same train, share a cabin, pass smiles after every victory.
Then we would return to our room and prepare for the next day.
But this time, everything was different. Everyone was going back, except him.
Flashback:
"You look sad sitting here." Yorick arrived as he sat with me, swinging his body in a way that he hit me with his shoulder.
We had found out now that all of us were mates with Clementine, and I was really, really hurt.
Because now there was going to be a competition, which meant there would be a high chance that she might even pick someone else over me.
"You know, it is weird how we started off bullying her, Haiden" Yorick said, pinching my bicep.
"But everything will be fine. We will get through this time too," he spoke softly.
We were sitting in our meeting spot outside our dorm room, a little far from the fence.
We always used to come and sit here, stare around, and think, and feel like we were living a normal life.
"I’m just afraid that we will start hating each other in the process," I said to him, noticing him give me a nod before he tilted his head.
"But we will always come back to each other, don’t worry. You know, we are friends too," he said, making me smile.
"Thank you for coming here and speaking with me," I said, giving him a very gentle and weak smile, because it meant everything that someone noticed you were upset and came to comfort you.
"Of course, Haiden. And you know what? Let’s not focus on anything for now. Let’s focus on surviving and maybe fixing things with her because we have bullied her a lot in the past," Yorick said as he eyed me about the way we used to bully her.
"Who do you think she will end up with? Just take a guess," I asked him, curious to know if he had someone in his mind too, like I had.
I thought she would end up with me, but I was afraid that it might be Yorick.
She had a relationship with him in the past.
"Well, let the best man win, and I hope I am it."
As he joked, I laughed.
Then the two of us just sat there talking about life before Troy arrived.
"Hey, you assholes, don’t leave me out," he grunted, coming and slapping the back of our heads, sitting down with us.
The three of us sat and talked about random bullshit, manly stuff that we thought was manly.
End Of Flashback.
But now, one of us would not sit with us to gossip about random bullshit anymore.
Then I thought of Clementine, Ian, Troy, and Leysa.
"What do you think, Fauna? Had they left the north in time?" I asked, trying to keep her awake.
Her body was growing colder. I knew they would not reach here anytime soon.
Their plan had always been to break the fence. It had no purpose anymore.
Still, knowing Ian and Clementine, how determined they were, I believed they had completed their mission.
"Hopefully," Fauna whispered faintly.
Her hands began to tremble. Her lips were turning blue.
"Fauna, look at me," I said softly, lifting her slightly and holding her by her arms.
Her neck tilted to the side, her body losing strength.
"No, Fauna, you cannot do this. There is still time. Please stay awake," I urged.
That was when I noticed how much blood had soaked into her clothes. They were drenched completely.
"I cannot do this anymore. Just let me go," Fauna said weakly, almost begging.
My heart sank in my chest at her request.
I could not do that.
"No. You cannot do this. You have to stay awake. For your sister," I said.
My heart was breaking. The thought of never seeing her again, if she gave up now or if we did not make it in time, was unbearable.
I could not accept it.
"Your sister will be waiting for you. She will come back after completing this mission, expecting to see you. Do you want her to return after all these years and find out that the one she fought for is no longer alive?"
I kept encouraging her.
She forced her eyes open after hearing that.
That was when I realized I had to keep going.
"Imagine when she comes back and you return her pack to her. Imagine how happy she will be. We have to take care of Yorick’s pack too. There is so much work ahead of us, and I will need you."
As I said that, she lifted her head and looked at me.
Life was fading from her beautiful eyes, but she was holding on. For me. For her sister. For all of us.
She was my Fauna. So innocent.
"What help can I even offer you? I am so weak. Look at me. I am the one who got hurt the most. Because of me, you had to abandon your mission," Fauna said.
As she spoke, her lips trembled, and she began to cry.
"Are you crazy? You are not weak at all. He targeted you, and you changed everything. You changed his plan, Fauna," I said.
I meant every word. I truly believed she had changed the entire course of what was happening.
As she heard the confidence in my voice, she looked at me with wide, searching eyes.
"I am telling the truth. If you had not taken that step, he would have done something between all of us. He would not have stopped until he made sure we turned against each other. Either he would have killed you, or he would have forced Mariana into it."
I kept explaining, watching her as she slowly began to agree with me.
He would have killed us all. That was his end goal.
But for now, I reminded her of the hatred in his eyes that was never-ending.
"So I am not that weak?" she asked softly, her voice innocent.
I gave her a faint smile.
"You are not weak at all," I replied.
We did not even realize how time passed, and finally, we had reached the mainland. The light there, the atmosphere, everything felt different.
Before the train could even stop, I lifted Fauna into my arms. The moment the doors opened, I rushed out with her.
As soon as I stepped outside, I placed her on the ground.
"Come on, Fauna. You have to transition now," I told her.
She nodded faintly, but I saw her body slowly giving in.
"No, no, Fauna. You cannot do this. You have to get up. Come on," I said, kneeling beside her and gently tapping her cheek again and again.
"Fauna, please. Come on," I begged.
That was when I realized the dagger was still inside her.
It was a huge risk, but we had no choice.
If I removed it, she could lose even more blood.
If I did not, she might not transition at all.
I placed my hand on the dagger and pulled it out. Blood started flowing immediately.
"Come on, Fauna. Now you have to transition," I urged her.
But her eyes closed, and her body went still. She did not move at all.
"Fauna, you cannot do this to me," I screamed, holding her head in my hands and shaking it.
"Fauna, please," I cried.
"Someone help. Please help her. We need to get her to a hospital," I shouted.
That was the only option left.
I got up and ran to look for anyone, a guard, a warrior, anyone at all. But before I could go far, I dropped to my knees.
When I touched her again, she was completely cold. There was no breath. No heartbeat.
I ran again before I fell on my knees.
"This cannot be happening. Someone help," I screamed, breaking down like a child.
"Or just kill me too," I added.
And then, suddenly, everything went silent.
My cries stopped when I heard the sound of bones breaking behind me.
"Fauna," I whispered, turning around.
I saw her body begin to shift. Her wolf was fighting to save her before it was too late.
A bright smile spread across my face. It felt as if the Moon Goddess had shown mercy on me.
As she began to transform, I watched her with relief.
"Hurry up. We still have to go back to the road and see what the situation is outside," I said.
As soon as she reached her full form, she let out a howl and rushed toward me.
She pressed her head against my body and began rubbing against me.
I let out a soft laugh.
"You know what? You scared me for a moment, you silly girl," I said, running my hand through her fur and petting her gently.