Chapter 16-Leaving All

                We all heard the growls from the forest as we checked for anything that we had forgotten. I reached for Cody, worried. The bearmutts would only be more driven by hunger, and after my attack, I didn’t want to face them again.

                “Get in the boat!” Cody shouted to the others. They scrambled to push the log into the water, as the bearmutt roared with the anger of our scents. I pushed the wood harder, wanting to be safely out of the range of the flesh-tearing claws. My heart pounded, the blood in my ears roared, and I screamed. I could hear it breathing now, rapid and almost a growl.

                “CAMMIE, GET IN THE BOAT!”

                Cody pushed me towards the inside, panic in his eyes. I shook my head and pushed even harder, now realizing that we wouldn’t be able to outrun it. It was a losing battle, and Cody knew it. I was his top priority, more important than his own self.

                I heard him yell, a cry of pain. He fell forward, water splashing under him. I screamed his name, but it was too late. The Beast’s claws were tearing into his back, ripping out muscle. He managed to lift his head and cry my name. I could see the blood pouring out, and I quickly grabbed a knife. The Beast turned towards me, and I threw it, aiming for its skull. When the blade hit its target, the beast fell onto Cody’s feet, dead.

                I kneeled by my love’s head. “Cody……” I whispered, crying. He looked deep in my eyes, and I knew what was running through my mind. I saw his lips, caked in blood, move, forming my name. “Cody, I’m here. I’ll stay until you’re gone.” There was no possibility of getting him to safety. His flesh was torn to the backbone, and some of that was ripped.

                He was crying blood, and I held his hand. “You gave me more hope than I’ve ever had. I love you, and I will never forget how much you love me.”

                His arm reached up. With a shaking hand covered in blood, he painted a heart on my cheek. I cried and held his other hand tighter. His mouth opened, and I heard a hoarse whisper of ‘Tell my parents I love them, and that you pulled me this far’. I nodded, and he grew still. His eyes glazed over, finally free of being a Runner.

                “Cammie!” I heard Ally shout. “Get in your boat! And tell Cody to get up!”

                Still crying, I managed to pull myself back to my feet and push the boat the rest of the way, until it was floating. Looking back at the body on the shore, I blew him a final kiss, then hauled myself into the canoe. There was a need to move away from danger, even if it meant leaving behind what we needed most. I had everything he owned, though, and a promise for his parents. The other boat, crowded with three, moved next to mine. Ivan looked over at the pelt lining the bottom, which should have been occupied.

                “Where….?” He looked at me in fear. It was the first time he had let loose his fierce expression. I looked back at the island, tears still falling. Bailey carefully slid into my boat and hugged me.

                “He was an amazing person. You were so happy with him….I was secretly jealous of you.” She let me go. “We’ll make sure you make it out safely. For Cody.”

                I fell back into sobs. The DNA rocked me gently, soothing me with soft words. She eventually had to lay me gently on the floor, tucking me under the pelt Cody had owned. It smelled of him, and I breathed in deep. The tears slowly stopped, and my eyes closed halfway. The smell of him was like a pill, numbing me of emotion. Bailey pulled the oars out and worked on getting to the Snatcher’s island. How far was it? What would they do when they found us? Would they take care of u and send us back home?

                “Go ahead and sleep, Cammie.” Bailey’s voice calm, empty of her usually spirited personality. I pulled the fur over my cheek, took in a large, deep breath, and closed my eyes. I was used to sinking into his arms, in front of a fire. Now, I was holding onto the thought of him, and on a boat.

                My dreams soon took over. They were repeats of his murder, each more fearful than the last. I would wake up, only to slip under again. For hours, this went on.  Eventually, I woke, and sleep no longer claimed me. I looked up at Bailey, whimpering. She helped me sit up, then arranged the pelt around me.

                “It’s only a little bit further, maybe an hour more.” She handed me a piece of dried meat. “Have it, I already ate.” I took it and started to eat it. I saw the other boat, with Ally and Ivan talking.

                “I just wanna know how long I’ve been gone from home. I don’t care to go home anymore.”

                Bailey looked toward the island slowly growing larger. “I don’t blame you.”