“Jasper! Help me!” Jane’s voice cut off as the man standing in front of her slapped her across the face.
Jasper smashed his fists against the window, trying to break into the room she was being held in. He watched as the man struck her again and she fell to the ground.
“Shift, Jane! Shift!” He pounded the window again. Jane scrambled backwards until she was pressed against the wall. The man in the room started toward her, a hungry look on his face. Jasper growled and ran around the cabin, trying to find the door that led in. Where was the door? How had the man gotten Jane inside? He stopped at the window once again. The man had managed to get Jane’s hands tied behind her back. Jasper’s heart raced and a growl exploded from his chest as he watched the Maj slip his dagger over his sister’s arms. Small drops of blood ran along her skin.
“Jasper!” Jane struggled as the man laid her on the bed.
Jasper looked around wildly and ran to grab the large rock he found. He hurled it at the window with all of his might and dove through the window after it. Jane screamed as the man pressed the dagger to her throat. Jasper launched himself at the man, making sure to grab the hand that held the blade. He grunted as they landed on the ground in a heap. A quick glance at the bed showed Jane pressing her throat against a pillow, trying to put pressure on the cut.
He slammed his forehead against the man’s nose and heard a rewarding crunch. He had to get to Jane. She was still alive. If he could stop the bleeding… His breath left his lungs in a rush as the man, who had been lying on the ground, kicked him in the chest. He staggered back, just managing to stop the dagger that was aimed at his heart. He pushed the Maj back but tripped and fell just a few feet from Jane. Her light blue eyes met his briefly before he was forced to dodge another attempt to skewer him. He rolled onto his back, brought his feet up, and managed to kick the man back. The Maj tripped over Jane and lost his dagger. Jasper reached back behind his head and grabbed the handle of the knife, mustered up all the energy he had, and swung his arm around in an arc, plunging the blade into the man’s abdomen.
“By the moons, Jasper! What are you doing?” Luke’s shout jerked him awake. He opened his eyes, slowly, scared to see what he’d done. He stared, speechless, at the dagger he held in his hand which was sunk to the hilt into the dirt only inches from Luke’s face. He let go of the knife and sat up.
“I’m so sorry. I was dreaming.” He rubbed his hands over his face. “Are you alright?”
Luke nodded, his eyes still wide at the fact he’d almost been stabbed by his brother. He pulled the blade from the ground.
“Are you hungry?”
Jasper shook his head. “You?”
“No.”
Without a word, the brothers packed their things, using the time to settle their nerves, and resumed their hunt.