Sully lifted Michaela out of the cold water and on to the hard ground next to the lake.
“Oh Sully!” Michaela swung her arms around Sully’s neck and cried.
Sully tightened his grip around her trying to keep the tears from falling from his own eyes. He stroked her hair and rocked her back and forth.
“Shh, Michaela. We’re safe now. I’ve got ya and no one will take ya away from me.” Sully said matter of factly.
“Sully! Thank you! I love you so much!” Michaela cried some more.
“Michaela! I love you too! More than ever!” Sully said sincerely while staring into her green and brown eyes.
Sully placed his hand under her chin and slowly moved in to kiss her gently. Many moments later he slowly backed away from the kiss while never taking his eyes off of her.
“We better find shelter. It’s not good for you or me to be out here in the cold with wet clothes.”
Michaela nodded and Sully held out his hand to help support her up from the ground. As Michaela rose onto her feet she winced in pain.
Sully grew concerned. “Michaela?!? What’s wrong? Are ya hurt?”
“My feet..” Michaela whispered.
Sully picked up Michaela into his arms and started walking along the path to shelter. She felt so light in his arms. He wished he could carry her all the time!
“Sully, where are we going?” She asked weakly. She was so tired.
“You’ll see, it’s not too far. Just close your eyes and get some sleep.” Sully replied gently.
Michaela closed her eyes and fell asleep in a matter of seconds. Sully knew moments later that she was resting (finally) because she was breathing heavily. She had been through a lot and needed all the sleep she could get. He smiled when he looked down at her. Michaela was so beautiful. He didn’t know what he would’ve done if she had been killed or..hurt. In the back of his mind he knew he had to ask her if they had “hurt” her. If those Indians did, he would kill them.
Sully walked up the incline on the mountain which wasn’t steep and reached where he had set up camp a few hours ago. It wasn’t much, but it would protect them nonetheless.
Sully slowly kneeled to the ground and placed Michaela on the blanket that was laying on the ground. She sturred slightly and tightened her grip around his neck.
“Sully!” Michaela cried softly while abruptly waking from sleep.
“It’s me Michaela. I’m here, we’re safe now!” Sully quickly reassured her. “We gotta get ya out of these wet clothes or yer going ta get sick!” He added while unbuttoning her top. Michaela started to pull of the shirt but Sully helped her as much as possible. He didn’t want her to hurt herself. Moments later, with Sully’s help Michaela wasonly in her camisole.
“Now get some rest, Michaela,” Sully said softly while pulling the blanket over her.
“Sully, please, stay. Hold me.” Michaela pleaded while looking into his deep blue eyes.
He couldn’t say no. Michaela needed him more then ever. He quickly pulled off his wet shirt and laid it next to Michaela’s clothes on the rocks that were waiting to get dried out. Michaela held out her hand for him to grab. Sully took her hand, kissed it and snuggled in close to Michaela. He held her tight by putting his muscular arms around her fragile body. Michaela sighed and fell asleep in his arms in a matter of minutes.
Sully couldn’t sleep. He knew Michaela was safe with him now, but he couldn’t sleep knowing that he was so close to losing her for good. She was with him now though, and he didn’t lose her, he would never let anything like this happen again. Michaela would never be taken from him again. He loved her so much and nothing to separate them. Sully looked down at Michaela, smiled and tightened his grip around her. She was safe in his arms now and forever. Sully sighed and finally fell asleep knowing that whatever would happen tomorrow or any day after that, they would face together because she was his heartsong.
Michaela woke a couple hours later. It was pitch black outside. The crickets were chirrping and the wind was blowing softly. Michaela tired to remember where she was.
“Oh no!” Michaela thought she was still with the Indians. Her body tensed up and she frantically looked around. She realized that someones arms were around her, but it didn’t scare her. Why? She saw Sully’s manly face. He was asleep but his grip on her was strong, like he would never let go of her. The man that she loved so much was protecting her even while he was asleep. Michaela calmed down and smiled slightly. She snuggled closer to Sully. She needed to feel him close to her. Soon she was fast asleep in the arms of the one she loved so much.
The sun was beginning to rise when Sully’s eyes slowly opened to greet the new day. He quickly looked at Michaela who was pressed right up against his chest. She was still in a deep sleep.
“Good, she’s sleeping peacefully,” he thought. After what happened to Michaela, she needed all the rest she could get.
He looked at the sun and realized that soon Michaela was going to be awake, and they didn’t have anything to eat. Michaela especially needed to eat because knowing the Dog Soldiers, they wouldn’t give her anything to eat at all.
As slowly as he could and as gentle, without waking Michaela, Sully rose himself off of the man made “bed”. The air was crisp but when Sully went to see if the clothes were dry, they were still damp with morning dew starting to dry out.
Before heading off to find food, he glanced one more time to Michaela to make sure she would be safe.
“I won’t be gone too long. I can’t, I WON’T let her wake up without me bein’ here.” He thought to himself. He would never forgive himself if Michaela woke up and found that Sully was once again gone.
In a matter of moments Sully quickly walked off to find something edible to eat, hoping that Michaela would sleep a little longer.
Twenty minutes later Sully was quickly walking back with honey he had found in a near by tree and some blueberries he had found in a bush not far from camp. It wasn’t much, but anything was better than nothing, especially for Michaela. Sully wasn’t thinking about his own muscles aching and his stomach growling, the only thing that was on his mind was Michaela. She hadn’t eaten in days, let alone rest her aching body. She was already so small, but strong willed that he never thought Michaela could become any smaller.
Sully walked into camp and stopped abruptly to make sure that he was as quiet as could be.
“Good! She’s still sleeping,” He thought as he walked up to Michaela and silently set down the food near by. He brushed her hair away from her face with the side of his hand and smiled lovingly at her, his heartsong. Slowly he bent down and kissed her softly on the forehead, just like he had done when she was sick with the influenza. This time was different though, sure he cared for her then, but he cared for her in a different way now. He loved her with all his heart and without her he wouldn’t have a reason to keep living.
Sully pulled away from the soft kiss he had planted on her forehead and pulled himself up to stand and make a fire, knowing that soon Michaela would wake up and wonder where he was.
CONTIUED ON ABDUCTION… GO & WATCH IT TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT