Protecting Tova (Iron Mountain Book 1)

by Havana Wilder

  Tilting her head to peek at me, she says, “I’m glad you feel that way now. I just hope you continue to feel that way after this week.”

  “Nothing and no one could ever change the way I feel about you. Never forget that.”

  With that, she pecks my cheek and rolls back over. Draping my arm over her waist, I pull her body closer to mine.

  We’ve been asleep a few hours when Tova sits straight up from a sound sleep. Startled, she announces, “Something’s close by. I don’t know what, but we need to warn the others.”

  Unzipping the tent, she flies outside before I can grab her. I have no idea if whatever is out there is dangerous, so I jet out of the tent after her with my gun in tow and my crossbow on my back. When I stand up outside my tent, I notice Tova and the two other Protectors standing too still as several red beady eyes stare back at us. Those eyes can only mean one thing… we’re surrounded by Lynxwolves.

  One of the Protectors has a large stick. Raising it, he swishes it at one of the animals yelling, “Yah, Get! Get on!”

  That only provokes it. The massive beast lunges at him, snarling, and pins the Protector to the ground. I raise my gun to shoot, but Tova holds out her hand, beckoning for me to stop.

  Not saying anything, she closes her eyes, and a few seconds later the beast is climbing off of the guy; it’s not growling or snapping its teeth anymore either. When Tova opens her eyes, they’re glowing catlike again. Glinting at me, then the animal, she carefully walks in front of me, approaching the creature. I hold my gun out, ready to shoot if it attacks, but Tova doesn’t seem afraid at all.

  Kneeling to a submissive position, Tova eases to her knees only three feet away from the massive black Lynxwolf. I’m about to yell for her to get away when the beast lowers itself onto its belly, crawling toward her. Now, I’m shaking, my hands are steaming hot, adrenaline-pumping, and my heart is pounding. I’m not sure what to do. Do I shoot, or do I let her do her thing?

  Opting to stand down, I ease my gun to my side. I’m still not sure what this beast is going to do. I look to the other guys and use my hands, gesturing to hold their position, directing them not to intervene. Focusing my attention back on Tova, I see that she now has seven or eight Lynxwolves crawling to her side. My eyes are bulging out of my head in shock and awe. She’s obviously communicating with them somehow, so I carefully back away from her, remaining as calm as I can.

  Studying her, I can see that her eyes are open, but she’s not staring any of them directly in the eyes. She’s concentrating on her surroundings or something. Shifting from her knees to a sitting position, she crisscrosses her legs and holds her hands palm up, touching her middle finger to her thumb. Humming a soft tune that I’ve heard her hum before, the animals seem to relax even more. This practice goes on for several minutes until they appear under a trance. Once Tova has them in her command, she rises to a standing position, and they jump to their feet all at once. Pointing into the woods with her right arm and index finger, they take off.

  Shifting her eyes back to normal right in front of me, I ask, “Umm, care to tell me what the hell just happened?”

  “I just tuned into their auras and allowed them to sense that we were not a threat. They were just curious about our arrival, but when the genius over there started swinging that stick, they became defensive. I had to send off positive vibes of peace. Once they recognized that we weren’t dangerous, they seemed to be less edgy. I helped them understand that we honor and respect them, then they quickly sought to trust me. I was able to calm them down and help them understand that we’re not here to hurt them.”

  “They really seemed to respond to that song you were humming.”

  “Oh, that’s just something my mom did for me when I was having a nightmare or got hurt. It always seemed to help settle me down. So, I figured it might work for the Lynxwolves too.” She says, shrugging her shoulders.

  “Well, it sure did. Good job, babe. Now we can sleep better knowing that they shouldn’t attack us.” I reply, kissing her on the forehead.

  Taking her by the hand, I lead her back to the tent. She glances at me, noting that my hands are a bit warmer than usual. “A bit edgy yourself, aren’t ya?”

  I kiss the knuckles my fingers are intertwined with.

  “Considering I thought we were about to be dog food and when you approached them, and I was completely unsure of what was going to happen… Yeah, I’d say I was on edge. Nevertheless, I’ve managed to cool down.”

  We slink inside, and after we assume our canoodling positions, we quickly go back to sleep.

  39

  Tova

  Waking up to the smell of eggs and sausage, I unzip the entrance of the tent. Scanning the fire before me, I realize the guys have brought a cast-iron skillet to cook on. I step out and walk over to the guys.

  Kole holds out a makeshift plate with food on it. “Want some?”

  “Yes, thank you. Who in the world brought actual food?” I answer, graciously accepting.

  Kole answers, seeming pleased himself, “I did. I brought a cooler with ice in it.” He thumbs over his shoulder. “I left it in the freezing river overnight, and low and behold…all the food kept and is good to eat. Enjoy it while it lasts because I only brought enough for one day. Kage wouldn’t let me bring enough for three to four days. So, it’ll be dried beef from here on out unless we get some fowl today.”

  “Well, thank you very much. That’s awful kind of you to think of us like this. Are you going to hunt for food, or are you staking out today?”

  Chuckling, rubbing his hands together, mischievously, he responds, “Oh, you know I’d never miss a good fight. I’ll be hiding in the woods waiting for the excitement to begin.”

  “Ha, I’m glad you see it as excitement. I see it as one of the most terrifying things I’ve ever agreed to.”

  Kole throws his arm around my shoulder and says, “We won’t let anything happen to you girls. Besides, if we did, I’m pretty sure Pierce would kill us.”

  Managing a nervous laugh as I lift food to my face, I say, “I’m just praying that no one dies today or whenever the battle happens.”

  I notice Adi and Dani-Jo crawling out of their tents. Wandering over to us, Kole nods for them to get some food.

  Pierce, observing us from the other side of the fire pit, makes his way over to Kole and I. Kole quickly removes his arm as Pierce walks to the opposite side of me. Kole inquires, “While we’re gone, what do you girls plan on doing all day?”

  Adi replies, “Oh, I’m not sure. I think I might want to go swimming.”

  Dani-Jo’s next to respond, “I may want to try out my ability while descending from various heights.”

  Last, I point out as I cross my arms across my middle, “I’ll do my best to keep myself occupied, trying not to think about what lurks in the forest.”

  Pierce furrows his brow as he looks at Adi. “I’m not sure that you leaving the campground to go swimming,” his eyes then move to Dani-Jo, “and you being up in a tree somewhere away from camp is the best idea. That means that you three will essentially be alone.”

  Patting him on the lower back, I reassure, “I don’t think anything’s going down today. I’m pretty sure we’ll be ok.”

  “I’d really like you three to stay together,” he says with a severe stare.

  I take my thumb and rub out the wrinkle in-between his brows and answer, “Pierce, we’ll be fine. In a few days, we’ll make sure to all stay together.”

  He covers his eyes with his right hand and says, “Damn it. I guess there’s no changing a made-up mind.” Taking me by the shoulders, he stares into my eyes. “Just promise me you’ll have your weapons nearby at all times.”

  Uncrossing my arms, I elevate up onto my tiptoes and kiss his supple lips, assuring him I mouth, “Promise.”

  Once the guys have their weapons and necessary hunting supplies, they get ready to head off into the woods. Pierce comforts me with a kiss and reminds me, “I’ve got your bac
k, Spitfire.” With that, I pat him on the ass as he trails off with the other guys.

  Now that they’re out of sight, Adi, Dani-Jo, and I plan out our day.

  Adi mentions, “Since it’s still early, I think I’ll wait until it gets warmer until I go for a swim.” Agreeing with the fact that it’ll be better to wait, I admit, “I think that’d be a good idea.” Looking at Dani-Jo, I quiz, “What about you?”

  Dani-Jo bolsters to her feet. “I don’t want to wait. I’ll go ahead and practice. You two holler if you need anything. I won’t be far.”

  Waving her off, I assent, “Will do. Have fun, and please don’t break any bones.”

  Sniggering, she grabs her handgun and rushes off, disappearing behind the trees.

  Adi moves to sit on a log that has been positioned around the fire. Settling down onto it, she pats for me to join her. Doing as she wishes, I lower myself until I’m sitting beside her. Resting her palms down onto the tree, she looks up through the leaves to the clear blue, “Did you ever imagine we’d be out here looking to battle knowing that someone’s going to get seriously hurt?”

  Leaning over, placing my elbows on my knees, I answer, “Not in a million years. I always saw myself standing guard behind the walls while the men came out to do the hunting and exchange goods.” Moving my knee, I bump Adi’s leg, “It’s funny how you don’t know what you’re willing to do until your friends are put in harm’s way.”

  Adi exhales, “Girl ain’t that the truth.”

  After our lunch has digested, Adi places her hands on her knees, pushing up to a standing position, “Well, I guess I’m going to find that river. Maybe there’s a swimming hole. I won’t be gone for more than a couple of hours.”

  I lean my back on a tree, sitting down on the ground, crossing my ankles over each other as I straighten out my legs, “Ok, just be careful.”

  Snatching her bow, she affirms, “I will.”

  After only a few minutes of quietness and the woods all to myself, I doze off. Clearly, I’m exhausted after waking up in the middle of the night to calm down those Lynxwolves. My head bounces to the side, startling me awake. Determining I need a nap, I stand up, dust the bottom of my pants off, and stroll to my tent.

  Bringing the covers up to my chest, I rest my head on my pillow, feeling for the ax I’ve hidden underneath it. Yep, it’s there. Sleep consumes me, it takes all of five minutes, and I’m out.

  Startled out of my slumber, I hear the zipper to my tent being undone. I don’t jump up because it’s Pierce and the guys back for the day for all I know. I simply turn my head in the direction of the sound only to be frozen in fear.

  Is this really happening, or is this a freaking nightmare?

  Cladec is inside my tent, covered in dirt from head to toe. He’s flashing a large knife at me, “Remember me?” he sneers.

  Looking for an escape, I spit, “You’re the reason, even now, six years later, I can’t sleep at night. Damn, right, I remember you.”

  He creeps inside, stalking closer toward me. Throwing my covers off of me with his left hand, he slices my shirt open in the top left corner, cutting my flesh like a ripe tomato. Blood is now drenching my shirt, flowing all the way down my chest.

  Trembling, I manage to drum up courage as he straddles me, trying to pin me down. I immediately knee him in the balls. Grunting, he grabs his sack and falls over off me. I immediately reach for my ax under my pillow, then I pounce to his right hand, stomping on it, forcing the knife out of his hand. As I’m lunging out the front of the tent, he grabs my left ankle with all his might, dragging me back in on my belly. Still clutching the ax in my right hand and the knife in my left, I wait for the opportune moment to strike.

  Once he has my entire body back inside, he violently flips me over, causing my head to bounce off the ground like a ball. Opening my eyes to darkness, I realize my vision has gone black. Even though I can’t see, I shove the ax underneath the covers so Cladec can’t see it. Shaking my head, my vision comes back, but it’s blurry.

  Do not let him do this to you. Get it together, Tova.

  Hovering over me with a menacing laugh, Cladec taunts, “Oh, I’m not through with you. You thought what you endured as a child was horrible, just you wait and see what this knife feels like. And when I’m done there, I’ll make sure to leave you bleeding out just enough to keep you alive until lover boy gets here so he can watch you die a slow and painful death.”

  He’s holding my legs still with his, and his arms are forcing mine down. Yet, as he lifts his right hand loosening his grip on my left hand, reaching for the knife I’m gripping with my life, I twist my right wrist toward Cladec’s thumb. I manage to free my right, and without hesitation, I use the Hammer Strike and slash his face with such force with the ax I hear the bone crack. He lifts his hand to his head and yells, “You’ve done it now, bitch. You’re gonna pay for that.”

  He takes his right fist and bashes my face on the left side, leaving my ear ringing and that oh so familiar copper taste of blood filling my mouth. I know now that if I don’t do something else, I will die in this tent. I switch my senses to tune into the surrounding wildlife, praying they’re near enough to intervene soon.

  Still holding the ax in my right hand, I thrust the smaller end of it forward, piercing Cladec’s gut, pushing it as hard as I can inside him. He muffles a grunt but refuses to get off of me. He drops his hand from his face, raising it to hit me again, this time, backhanding me with his left hand, hitting my right eye and slashing it open. Blood fills my vision. I withdraw the ax from his abdomen and quickly stab it even lower into his pubic area while taking the knife in my left hand and impale his right side. Causing more demonic snarls to come from him, he takes both of his hands and chokes me.

  My body aches as I lay on the ground, bleeding, striving to breathe. I vaguely hear footsteps thudding toward me, accompanied by growling, shouting, and gunfire. My vision refuses to focus and is now fading quickly as air refuses to enter my body.

  40

  Pierce

  Noticing movement in the woods heading to our camp, the guys and I follow suit, unsure if it’s the enemy or animals. All of us guys are now surrounding the campsite. They must have all noticed the movement because as we get closer, we see that about eight to ten men are searching our tents. Being as quiet as we can, we approach the intruders without so much as them knowing we were just a few feet away from them.

  These guys have makeshift weapons from what appears to be used arrows from our hunts; the ones we’ve been unable to retrieve. One or two of them have guns; where they got those is beyond me. They’re all dirt from head to toe, so it’s hard to tell if we know them.

  Not waiting for an introduction to these savages, we raise our firearms and begin shooting. That’s when the growling starts.

  The Lynxwolves are invading our camp too, but they’re not focused on us. None of the men in either group seem to care. The mêlée continues with the men fist fighting, stabbing, and shooting at each other, as the wolves have their sights set on mine and Tova’s tent.

  Shit! Where is she?

  Looking around, I realize she’s nowhere to be found. She said she was just going to hang around here while the other two girls went off. Dashing my head back and forth looking for her, I hear an all too familiar voice...

  “Don’t worry about her boy. She’s already been taken care of.” Drowning out all the commotion and growling from the wolves, I twist my head in the direction of the voice. I see it’s none other than my despicable uncle, Morton.

  Seeing fire, I demand, “What do you mean?”

  He seethes, “Oh, sonny boy, don’t play dumb with me. You know who. The person she had blackballed out here to this hellhole.”

  Doing my best to keep my blazing ass in check, I retort, “You’re telling me you’ve been in cahoots with that psycho manic bastard that abused her as a child?”

  “How else was I going to get back at your father for everything he’s stolen from me? I’m
the one who snuck arrows out so Cladec could get a good shot at her on the track, only he was supposed to get you, too.” He spits through a wicked smirk, “You know two for one?”

  Fire now erupts from my hands. “Are you fucking kidding me? You got him weapons to use against your own family and Tova.” Gesturing my hand toward our tent, I yell, “You don’t even know her.”

  Sneering, he answers, “Yeah, boy, I did. I figured if you died, then your father might just go on and die of a heart attack or at least resign, then I’d be up for his position. And it was me shooting at them girls in the forest. I almost had ‘em too. If I was in better shape, I’d a caught ‘em, and they’d all be dead too.” Raising a gun to my chest, he scowls, “But none of y’all were ever supposed to know it was me behind the attacks.”

  Not waiting for him to shoot, I stretch out my hands and force burning flames to his face. Screaming, he shoots his gun three times as he falls to the ground, fire consuming him.

  I’m hit in the left shoulder, right thigh, and the third bullet hits the ground. Refusing to stop and assess my injuries, I take my fiery right hand and cauterize my left shoulder. My left hand cauterizes my right thigh as best as I can while I’m running to where our tent is. Glancing in the woods, I notice that the wolves are now on the outskirts of our camp, chomping down on some thick bloody flesh from a remaining carcass.

  Getting to our tent, I’m forced to a halt at the outside of the entrance as I see the lower half of a bloody body that’s been ripped into shreds. My heart is now thumping so hard I feel it in my throat. Stepping over the dead body, I duck my head inside the tent. Gasping, I fall to the ground on my knees beside a small lifeless body.