Redeeming (22 page)

Kane roared at Jett who returned the threat with equal intensity just before he leapt towards Kane
’s neck with his massive jaws open and razor sharp teeth exposed. He managed a direct hit against the bear clan leader. Kane lost his footing and stammered back as Jett remained clamped to him.

But just as if it seemed Jett had the edge, he tripped and lost his bite against Kane
’s neck. As he did, Kane swatted at him with his paw and Jett roared in pain as Kane's claws scraped into him. Jett’s fur darkened with blood as he continued past Kane. The momentum was enough to cause his right leg gave way and as he fell towards the ground, Kane reached up with both paws and slammed them against the top of Jett's head.

Jett roared and writhed on the ground as Kane rained blows down upon him. In a move of desperation, Jett kicked at Kane with his hind legs and knocked him off balance long enough to get up off his back. But the counterattack emboldened the older bear as he stood on his hind legs once again and roared. Disoriented from the attack, Jett shook his head and tried to regain his focus. Daniella noticed that he'd begun to breathe heavily as he retreated to gather his strength.

Kane dropped to all fours once again and pursued the younger bear. Jett whipped back around to face him and roared. As he did, his head turned from side-to-side and he bared his teeth in a show of defiance. Not to be outdone, Kane kicked at the ground with his back legs and returned Jett's growl with one of his own.

Then, without warning, Kane leapt at Jett again. As he crashed into him, Jett fell onto his back once more
except this time Kane pounced on top of him. Jett kicked against Kane's hide with all fours but Kane was too quick and sank his jaws into Jett's neck. At the same time, he clawed at Jett's earlier injury and tore into it with even greater violence than before. Jett roared in agony as the tide of battle swung decidedly in Kane's direction.

For several seconds, Kane kept Jett pinned flat against the ground as he held him in place with his jaws clamped around Jett's neck. Jett flailed beneath the older bear until at last he managed to swipe Kane across the face with his
three-inch long claws. As Jett sliced across Kane's eyes and nose, the bear's teeth broke free from Jett's neck just long enough to allow him to kick Kane off him.

Kane roared and lifted his paws up to his face as he fell away from Jett. He staggered back in agony. Blood spilled from his face and nose as he roared. Jett, visibly weakened by his effort, made a
semi-circle back towards Kane. From Daniella's vantage point, he seemed disoriented and exhausted.

Kane's head dropped low as he looked at Jett and began to walk towards him again. As he approached, the younger shifter braced himself on a nearby dead tree that lay flat on the ground. Jett jumped up and down on top of the log with his front paws in a defiant display and roared as Kane neared.

Now exhausted himself, drool poured from Kane’s mouth as he closed the distance between them. Jett climbed off the log and turned back towards his encroaching adversary. Blood covered the fur of both of them as they once again faced each other head-to-head.

As the combatants circled each other, Daniella looked around at the faces of those nearby. Most seemed to be surprised by what unfolded on the field in front of them. Apparently, they were used to Kane making quick work of his challengers. Bloodied though he may have been, Jett seemed to
be holding his own against the fearsome clan leader.

But just when his exhaustion seemed to peak, Kane mustered a surge of energy and crashed into Jett. Caught by surprise, the younger shifter fell back under the force of the impact. Kane seemed revitalized as he began to tear into Jett with his claws and teeth. Daniella looked on in horror as more and more blood began to spill from him. Kane
growled, roared, and tore at Jett’s hide for several minutes until Jett at last went limp under the weight of the assault. Kane roared and lifted his blood soaked claws skyward, as the young bear lay motionless beneath him.

“Jett!” Daniella screamed. “No!”

Without thinking, she broke free of Tricia’s grasp and started to run towards the melee.

“Daniella!” Tricia exclaimed as she reached out in a failed attempt to stop her.

Kane’s head swung back in her direction as he heard her approach. Daniella stopped in her tracks as the large bear turned towards her. His huge head hung low as he looked in her direction. For several seconds he stood deadly still and growled at her as blood dripped from his chin.

Acting on instinct, Daniella started to back away but Kane matched each rearward step she took. The faster she moved, the more he pursued until at last, she tripped and fell back, banging her head in the process. Dazed, she looked upwards and heard Kane roar once more as he drew ever closer. Frozen by fear, her breath palpitated in her chest as the shadowy figure of the bear clan leader draped across her body.

She shook her head and looked towards him. Now steps away, Daniella screamed as Kane’s black eyes drilled into her soul. The ground beneath her shook as he closed the final few feet between them. He stopped right in front of her and stood on his hind legs. He looked skyward and emitted a heart-stopping roar. Daniella covered her ears in fright as he bellowed. He looked down at her one last time and lifted a large black paw to strike.

With a final motion, he swung down towards her but just t
hen a blur came out of nowhere and collided into him. Stunned, Daniella looked to her right as Jett’s bloody body smashed into Kane and sent him tumbling. The impact dazed the older shifter and Jett used the element of surprise to his advantage. In a fit of unbridled violence, he bit and slashed at Kane.

As Daniella watched in disbelief, blood and fur scattered in every direction. The motions were so swift and so
violent; Daniella had difficulty distinguishing who did what to who. And then, at last, a high-pitched moan filled the night air as Jett dove down and sunk his teeth into Kane’s neck one last time. He shook the clan leader back and forth and as he did, Kane swatted at his assailant’s head.

Undeterred, Jett
’s attack continued until after a final flurry, Kane fell motionless beneath him. A great gasp emerged from the throng on onlookers as Jett collapsed on the ground next to him. He remained there for a moment and then staggered to his feet. He glanced down at Kane’s motionless body and then stood on his hind legs and roared in victory.

***

Unable to maintain his shifted form, Kane’s bloodied and beaten body returned to its human shape. Seeing that, Jett reverted as well and staggered over to the location where Kane dropped the handgun he’d used earlier. Drenched in sweat and blood, Jett groaned as he leaned over and picked up the weapon.

He meandered back to where Kane still lay motionless and kicked him. The clan leader stirred to consciousness and immediately started to cough and spit blood. He glanced up at Jett who wasted no time in putting the pistol to his head. Kane took deep labored breaths, looked up at Jett when a defiant sneer came to his face.

“Do it…” Kane muttered. “You’ve beaten me. Claim what is yours.”

Jett, still breathing heavily, scoffed at the old shifter
’s bravado.

“I value
all life
…” Jett began as he pulled the hammer back on the pistol. “Even one as miserable as yours. You will pay for what you’ve done to this clan and all the people in it. But, it won’t be by my hand. Not on this night.”

“You fool…” Kane said as he spat blood on the ground. “You had better kill me. If you don’t, I don’t know how but I will get my revenge. I’ll kill you and the pregnant whore of yours…”

Before he uttered another word, Jett struck him across the forehead with the butt of the revolver. Kane fell back in a heap, unconscious once more. Exhausted and victorious, Jett dropped to his knees and as he did, Daniella leapt to her feet.

“Tricia, help my mom, please!” S
he said as she ran towards him.

“Jett…” she said as she arrived at his side and wiped his bloodied brow. “Oh my God…”

“I’ll live…” Jett said with a smile as he looked at her. He looked past her towards the gathering of people behind.

Upon Kane
’s defeat, a number of clan members rushed in to help. They untied Marilyn, Millicent, and Tucker. Several more huddled around Owen’s still motionless body.

“Is he?” Jett gulped as he looked at Owen.

“I don’t know…” she whispered.

“Daniella,” Jett coughed as he talked.
“You are in incredible danger… the child.”

Daniella felt tears begin to pool. She nodded as the salty discharge made its way down her cheek and onto his bare chest.
“Yes, I know but, I’ll be alright for a while. I’m so sorry, Jett…”

He groaned as he attempted to prop himself up on one elbow.
“Sorry?” He said. “For what?”

“I don’t know…” she said. “I just am.”

“Daniella,” he began. “Look at me.”

She wiped another stray tear from her cheek as she glanced down toward him. A soft smile came to his face as he looked up at her.

“You have nothing to be sorry about…” he said. “Have hope.”

Just then, in the distance, Daniella heard the sound of police cars as they approached. Soon thereafter, two helicopters closed in on the location as well. Within minutes, authorities overran the field and surrounded everyone. Daniella helped Jett to his feet and into his clothing as the first of the officers broke through the throng.
Sergeant Billy Holder barreled into the proceedings and walked right up to Daniella and Jett.

“Billy…” Daniella said as she hugged him. “I’m so glad you’re here. How did you…?”

“Tricia…” he said as she gestured back to where she stood. “When you left Pine Hill, I did my best to talk her out of it. But she told me she was going with you no matter what. I bargained with her that I’d steer clear for twenty-four hours as long as she texted me the location where she parked. When I didn’t hear back, we came running…”

He paused and looked at the gunshot victims and a still unconscious Kane. At the same time, a handful of officers walked up and stood next to him.

“Looks like we got here a little late…” Billy said.

“No,” Jett replied. “Just in time, actually.”

“Is that him?” Billy nodded as he looked at Kane.

“Yep.” Jett nodded. “That’s your guy.”

“Alright,” Billy said as he motioned to the deputies. “Get him up and in cuffs.”

***

“This is outrageous!” Tucker yelled as he looked at Jett with rage in his eyes.

“I’m sorry you feel that way, Tucker.” Jett replied. “And I’m terribly sorry for the loss of your son… but we all suffered under Kane. My family included.”

The two men stood outside the Pine Hill hospital the next morning after receiving treatment for their injuries. To the side, Daniella chatted with her mother, Tricia, Millicent and Jett’s parents as patients, doctors and nurses shuffled in and out of the front door. Although it wasn’t the most comfortable place to get some rest, they managed to sneak in a few hours of much needed sleep.

“That’s all the more reason to bring him back to the clan to face justice!” Tucker demanded. “This is not right, Jett.”

“Tucker, I know how you feel.” Jett replied. “But I am the rightful leader of this clan now. Kane committed crimes not only against our kind but humans as well.”

“So this is about your brother?” Tucker asked.

“No,” Jett replied. “It’s about doing the right thing.”

“I don’t know what the fuck that is supposed to mean, Jett.”

“Look, Tucker…” Jett began as he shook his head. “If his crimes were confined to our people, things might be different but he took the life of a human and so he must answer for his crimes in their world. If shifters are to have any hope of ever being accepted by humans, we must learn to coexist with them and part of that means respect for their laws.”

“But what about our laws?” Tucker asked. “Do they not matter? He should die. Plain and simple.”

“And if I did kill him?” Jett asked. “How would having him die change any of what has happened?”

Tucker inhaled and looked skyward but didn
’t answer.

“My own family has suffered as well, Tucker.” Jett began. “My father and brother both dead by his hand. But, do I seek blood for blood? No. We are not a violent people. As our first act of attempting to live in the world around us, let us demonstrate our goodness and decency. We have to do it and we must do it now…”

Tucker chewed his lower lip in disgust and frustration.

“There’
s nothing I can say is there?” He asked at last.

“No,” Jett replied. “There isn’t…”

“Very well,” Tucker said. “I will abide by your decision but I will not do so with any sort of pleasure.”

“Thank you for that,” Jett said as he placed his hand on Tucker’s shoulder. “As my elder, I rely on you a great deal. And, if we should lose
Owen that will be all the more true.”

Tucker shook his head as the two men walked back to join everyone else.

“Owen… Unkillable, that one.” Tucker replied. “Unkillable…”