by Angie T.
The sun shone down on the stream where the deer paused to drink. His ears pricked up as he heard something large crashing throught he underbrush. As the noise got closer to the clearing, the deer raced off in the opposite direction.
The quiet of the clearing was broken by a man carrying an odd burden. He was tall and muscular. His jeans and flannel shirt were torn and dirty with mud, sweat and streaks of dried blood. The young man he carried on his back was similarly attired, but the blood was obviously his. His head lolled on the other man's shoulder.
"Come on, Sandburg, hang in there." The big man panted as he eased himself to the ground. He carefully untied the belts that held his burden on his back and let it ease to the ground. "Hey, Chief, come on, stay with me here. We're gonna be fine. Just gotta get my breath."
He pulled a bandana out of his pocket and dipped it into the stream. He ran the wet cloth over his companion's face and let a little trickle into his mouth. When Sandburg opened his eyes for a brief moment the larger man sighed with relief.
"Blair? Talk to me, Chief!"
"Jim?" The word was a breathy whisper, no more.
"I'm right here. We're gonna be fine! You're gonna be fine. Soon as we get back to the road. Just gotta get back to the truck and we'll get you to a hospital. Hey, we've been through worse, right? What can happen on a little camping trip, anyway?" Jim kept talking as he ran the wet cloth over his friend's face. His voice held a hint of desperation and his eyes were wild.
"I can hear the highway, Blair. Not much traffic on it. And we still have a few miles to walk till we reach the campgrounds. "
"Jim... " the whisper was barely audible but Jim reacted to it immediately. "Jim... not gonna make it."
"Don't talk like that Blair! Dammit, I'll get us back!" his voice betrayed his panic.
"No, Jim. I know. Not enough time. Not your fault. Should have been more careful." Blair's quiet words were punctuated by frequent pauses for breath. "Jim, promise me. "
"Promise you what?" Jim was truly worried now. He had seen men die before, knew his friend was right. He could smell death hovering over his Guide and fought back tears as he answered, tuning his hearing to focus on every word.
"Tape in my room. In box on shelf. Promise you will listen to it. "
"A tape, Blair? All right, what ever you want, I promise!"
"Listen to it, soon. Don't wait! Important. Promise?"
"I promise, Blair."
The smaller man seemed to focus on something over Jim's shoulder.
"They're waiting. " The pauses between words were longer now and talking seemed to take more effort.
"Who is waiting?" The tall man's voice strained as he tried to control his emotions.
"Panther. Wolf. " A low moan and a shudder through the battered body. "Will see you again."
Jim lifted Blair gently and slid his legs under his friend. He cradled the injured man and encouraged him to speak more. "What do you mean?"
"Not good-bye. See you again."
"Blair... "
"Jim... hurts... it's time. Sorry, Jim."
"It's okay, buddy. If you need to go, I'll be okay."
As if the Guide had waited for his Sentinel's permission, a look of peace passed over Blair's face. He closed his eyes and murmured with his last breath.
"Love you, Jim."
"I love you , too, Blair." Jim whispered as the body in his arms relaxed and went limp. He sat there for some time, cradling the shell that once held his best friend and rocking it back and forth as the sobs racked his body.
Hours later, a driver on the nearby highway cursed as his lit cigarette dropped from his gaping mouth into his lap. He slowed and pulled off the road onto the shoulder.
A tall, filthy man, tears running down his face, trudged along the road, carrying the body of a smaller man in his arms. All attempts to make him stop and explain himself failed. The driver sighed and used his cell phone to call the state troopers. He then turned the car around and followed the pair, creeping slowly behind, as the Sentinel bore the body of his Guide down the road.
End