Secrets of a Hybrid

Emalynn POV

Rory’s head laid on my lap as she fell asleep. Her body was covered in bear blood and some of her own. The smell of blood wafted through the air making my stomach turn. I should have helped her fight the bear. There were plenty of shots I could have taken, but instead I just sat and waited for one of them to tell me to do something. Rory just charged right in. This was the difference in our skill and experience level. Myrra was right about me not being ready to be an S rank. I have a lot of training to do to catch up to Rory before I ‘graduate’ from the academy.

Leah came over to pick up Rory from me. “We need to move. Emalynn, help Elias with the bounty.”

I nodded. Picking up my bow, I stored it on my back with my quiver. Elias started dragging the bear on the ground trailing after Leah. Quickly, I joined him and pulled along the beast. Just taking down one saber bear has nearly wiped out Rory, and we need two more… Leah had already asked Elias not to make any more plans, but we have a job to finish. This beast is heavier than I thought.

“Leah, where are we headed?” I asked, huffing as we started going uphill.

“We will make camp on top of the cliffs away from the bears and bandits. Then, we will make plans for finishing the job.” Leah explained. She is trying to keep everything together even though she is holding her hurt niece.

Whoosh. My balance was lost as I fell over a large root laying across the forest floor. Leaves and dirt filled my mouth as I crashed to the ground. This reminded me of how Rory had cursed the willow tree earlier. I need to remember to check her stomach later.

“Ema, are you alright?” Elias questioned as he held his hand for me.

“Yeah. I am good.” I took his hand and pulled myself up.

“Keep your focus on what’s in front of you. We have a ways to go.” He gave me a smile, and he started on the trail again.

I walked alongside Elias as we made our way to the cliff side. The forest was thick blocking the on and off rain showers above us. Most of the morning was behind us by the time we made it to the merchant route from the bear trap. We needed to cross the muddy road to reach the cliffs. Leah had wanted us to camp on top of the cliffs, however, we had two major problems with climbing the cliff side. I could feel the strength in my legs drain from pulling this eight foot bear across the forest floor. The rain stopped as we neared the bottom of the cliffs.

“Elias, watch over them while I give it a quick once around.” Leah commanded as she laid an unconscious Rory in the grass.

I let the iron laced net drop from my hands behind me. My hands ached and bled from scrapes left behind by the iron. My legs wobbled beneath me causing me to fall as I tried to make it over to Rory. I pulled out my cantine to pour water over my hands. The water felt cool over my wounded hands. I tore the sleeves from my brown tunic. Bandaging each hand, I watched Elias look over Rory. He checked her pulse and studied her breathing pattern.

"Is she going to be okay?" I asked, watching Elias’s serious expression.

"She is breathing steadily and her pulse is strong. She has three broken ribs on her right side and two on her left from the bear crushing her. Sprained wrist on the left and two broken fingers it feels like." Elias rolled Rory to her side to look at her back. "Most likely, a headache from hitting the ground and two gashes on her back from the bear’s claws. We are going to need some herbs to heal the gashes." He said, finishing his examination. He tore away the bottom of her black shirt, exposing her wounded back and purple bruising on her sides. What's left of her shirt barely covered her chest, exposing the wrap she used to keep her chest bound. Her black pants had tears and blood stains from her battle. Splatters of bear blood made her brown boots appear red. Elias pulled the daggers from her hands, wiping them down and placing them in the sheaths on her hips. Her black curls were tied back in a mess of a bun. Rory was no longer the thin, short, awkward girl that I grew up with.

The wind is picking up making the trees bend and leaves batter the cliff side. The dead bear smell began to consume the air alerting birds of our presence. Thunder boomed over the forest. Our need for shelter was increasing by the minute. Elias beckoned me to sit with Rory while he dragged the bear closer to the cliffs.

I could hear steps approaching behind me as I grabbed a knife from Rory’s bag. Spinning around, I found Leah approaching us. Leah had found a cave not far from us, so Elias began dragging the bear towards us. I placed the knife back in Rory’s bag and scooped her into my arms. Rory was heavy for her small body, but I have a strength boost being a beast woman although I wonder how Leah carries Rory so easily. We followed Leah to the cave as the rain began to pour. The rain drenched us as we entered the cave, and it washed away most of the blood covering Rory.

Leah disappeared while I settled Rory on the cave floor. I searched in my bag for the cloak I had worn this morning. "Elias, I am going to remove her clothes, so she gets warm and dry," I said, pulling out my long, forest green cloak. He nodded to me and turned around.

I pulled off what was left of her shirt leaving the bandage that secured her busty chest. Readjusting her arms, her chest bounced in my face as Rory let out a deep breath. A little jealousy filled my mind as I gently laid her head back on the ground. Rory has more curves than I will ever have. I moved down to her feet removing her brown boots and black stockings. Pulling off her pants is more like a game because each time I tug on her pants, she moves toward me. I can't help but chuckle as her body scouts along the ground while I try to shimmy off her wet pants. Tug, thump, tug, thump echoes in the cave as Rory and I move around. Stupid pants!

Elias chimes in asking if everything is alright as I give one last good tug freeing her legs and sending me into the cave wall. I break out into laughter as I try to get up. Elias called out again wondering if I needed any help. "It's fine," I huff. I slipped a few times on the wet pants trying to stand up, making my laughter louder. With a deep breath, I cover Rory’s almost naked body with the cloak. I was through trying to remove her clothes.

"OK, Elias. You can look." I say, pick up Rory’s garments to lay them out to dry.

"What happened, Ema?" He questioned looking at how far Rory had moved across the cave.

"She played tug of war with me in her sleep. Luckily, I won." I giggled replaying what happened in my head.

"Well, at least she's out of her wet clothes." Leah cut in while entering the cave. "Let’s see if we can warm her up." Leah put down all the wood in her arms, and her sack which carried more wood, leaves, and herbs. I wondered where she got the sack to begin with. Within minutes, Leah has a fire warming our little hideout.

“So, what's next?” I ask, breaking the silence.

“Next, we survive until the cart returns tomorrow.” Leah states matter-of-factly.

“What about the job? We only got one saber bear.” I wanted to turn this job around since things took an unsuspected turn.

Elias stoked the fire as Leah mixed her herbs into what looked like a salve. Elias sighed, “The bears are not the priority. Surviving is. This was a higher ranked job for a reason, plus the bandits will find us eventually if we go back in the forest.”

My ears dropped at his words. I had never heard Elias sound so defeated. This is the first job we have done together in two years. We have always completed the job despite any complications. There has to be a way. Think Emalynn, think. Wait. “Could one of you take down a saber bear on your own?”

“Perhaps, but we can’t risk it. Saber bears are aggressive. Even if I or Elias could take it down, we would need help retrieving it, and leave you two unprotected.” Leah finished making her salve for Rory’s wounds. Gently turning Rory over, Leah cleaned the wounds, applied the medicine and bandaged the gashes. She laid Rory down and covered her back up with the cloak.

“Then, let me help with the bear so that way Rory will be safe.” I suggested. “I know I can do this. I just need a chance.”

“She is a good shot, Leah. It might be worth a try.” Elias looked up at us with optimism.

Leah scrunched up her face considering the possibility. “Okay. We will give it a try. Elias will guard Rory while Emalynn and I catch some bears. Load up Ema, we’re going on a bear hunt.”

Elias POV

Leah and Emalynn left the cave a few hours ago. I know Leah is mad at me since Rory got hurt in our struggle with the bear. I admit my plan failed miserably due to the bear's sudden appearance, but Rory made a good kill. When we get back, Myrra can use healing magic that will have Rory up and moving in a few days. Still, Emalynn mentioned the bear sneaking up on them by the river bank. Why did the bear suddenly move down the river? Why would it leave its plentiful fishing spot?

"Emmm…" Rory groaned as stirred from her sleep.

I let out a sigh of relief. Her stirring means her head is okay after hitting the ground. In my head, I know she will be fine because her wolf beast side makes her more durable. Still, I know her mother is turning over in her grave with worry since her daughter is injured. Sorry, Astrid.

The fire crackles in front of me, reminding me that we are getting low on wood. Looking out of the cave, all I see is rain with no sign of stopping. This is the worst weather for bear hunting. I thought this would be an easy job with Leah and I here, but I guess I need to accept that I am getting up there in years. Hell, my 63rd birthday is in a few months. Maybe, I should consider slowing down a bit. I am supposed to retire in ten years anyway. Ugh. I took out my flask and took a swig. Retirement will be so boring! I am sure the Guild Association is counting the days until I resign from my S rank status. Another swig flowed down my throat. The liquid burned my throat, but my mind eased from the negative thoughts. Axel and Leah still need me. My nephew needs more training. Myrra is waiting for me to come annoy her everyday. Rory and Emalynn still need more fine tuning. There's still much to do. I am not done yet.

"Uhh…mmm…" Rory mumbles as she shifts under the cloak.

I take one more swig before restoring my flask in its secret pocket. Rising from my seated position, I hear my joints pop. In my head, I can hear Myrra giggling calling me an old timer as if she’s one to talk. Myrra is 589 years old herself. Little dwarf gets to live 800 years while I only get 120 years if I am lucky.

“Jaaa….le...nnn,” Rory mutters as her eyes try to flutter open.

I sit down next to her and take her hand. Between Astrid, Leah, Rory, Emalynn and all my other students, my life has been full even if it’s short compared to other races. Although, ogres only live about 50 years and humans about 70 years, so at least I have them beat. I wonder what that means for Rory. Will she only be around for 70 years or will she make it to 120 like most wolf beasts. She has so many unanswered questions about her life. “I am here, Rory. Uncle Elias is here. Now, hurry up and wake up. I am bored sitting in this cave babysitting your sleepy ass.”

Her eyes popped open, glaring at me. "Shut...up...old...man," She grumbled.

That's the Rory I know. Just the right amount of spunk like Leah. "Don't move. You have a few broken ribs thanks to your bear killing skills." I mocked. She stops trying to sit up and just rests.

Suddenly, Rory's eyes grow wide while readjusting the cloak. "What happened to my clothes?" She asks.

"Well, they were wet, you needed your wounds cleaned and treated, and you started shivering causing Ema to decide to strip you. Although you didn't seem to like the idea, you unconsciously played tug of war with your pants according to Ema." I laughed remembering Emalynn's grunts and the thump of Rory’s body. The girls were full of awkward and hilarious moments. Rory’s cheeks blushed at my response. "Don't worry. It was nowhere near as bad as the night Emalynn and you found my flask on the last training camp before the tournament a few years ago."

"Uncle, you promised never to- Uhh!" Rory fell back to the cave floor after trying to sit up again.

"Easy, Rory. Leah and Myrra are going to make me work double if you get banged up anymore. Just rest, kid." I pleaded.

"Uncle Elias, why did you and Aunt Leah struggle with the bear? I thought two wolf beasts could easily pin a bear." She questioned. I could tell that she wants to understand why my plan didn't work like it usually does.

"Well, Rory, it should have worked. The bear seemed stronger than normal although I am an old man, and I am not as strong. Perhaps, the constant magic use has hindered me." I allowed my words to trail off. I don't like admitting that my age was slowing me down, but something was different about that bear. "Tell me, again, how you came across the saber bear by the river." Something was off with this bear hunting job.

"We were putting the fish in the basket when I smelt wet bear fur. The bear was not in sight yet, so I told Emalynn to head into the trees with her bow. Next thing I knew, the bear was after the fish in my basket. I had a dispute with a willow tree that I want to chop down now. The bear got a lucky swing and took my basket with it. I made a decision to have the bear follow me by stealing back the stinky fish. That's when we reached you and Leah."

"Something is off with this whole thing. First, the bear leaves it's fishing spot. Then, it comes after you for your basket and chases you for stealing. Bears are territorial, but they are lazy and keep to themselves. Let me go look at that bear again." I got up and walked over to the bear. I began searching for any abnormalities. Looking all over the body, things appear normal. On a hunch, I decided to check the mouth. The tongue is green which is a common side effect of a potion. "Someone messed with the bear. It had some sort of potion. If I had to guess, it was an aggression potion. It temporarily doubles a person's aggression and strength. Why would someone give a bear the potion?"

"The easy answer is to distract and weaken us." Rory said matter-of-factly.

"The only people in the forest are us and the bandits, which means the bandits know we are here. Why haven’t they come after us then?" I walked away from the bear and sat by the fire. The bandits are coming for us, and the girls are out bear hunting. We could be playing right into the bandits' hands. "They will be coming for us soon. You need to rest, Rory. If they come, you need to try to escape."

"Uncle Elias, I’m not leaving you. I may be injured, but you taught me to fight through the pain. You and I both know the world will not wait for me to heal." She huffed.

"Perhaps, I taught you too well." I mocked her. Rory would never leave her team in danger. I shook my head. "Then rest so you might stand a chance to help me." She nodded and closed her eyes. Such a stubborn little girl.