Greatest Gift
TITLE: Greatest Gift
AUTHOR: honor_reid
FANDOM: Atlantis
PAIRING: Gen
RATING: PG
WORD COUNT: 10,000
SUMMARY: Jason and Pythagoras once again try their hand at hunting not realizing they are the ones being hunted. Takes place after the episode "The Furies"
WARNINGS: Violence/torture
NOTES: Many, many thanks to my awesome beta for this story
malefificent. This was written for the comm
hc_bingo prompt Unconsciousness table here, and stories_a_z prompt table here.
DISCLAIMER: 'I don't own these characters, nor am I making any money from them. I merely borrow them from time to time'.
The greatest gift of life is friendship, and I have received it. -Hubert Humphrey
Creeping forward, Jason listened intently waiting to see if the noise he heard would be repeated. Holding his bow in the ready Jason made sure the arrow was notched and ready to fly as soon as a boar came into view. Rounding the tree hoping to see a good sized wild pig, Jason instead was greeted to the sight of a small flock of quail. It wasn’t what he was hunting for, but food was food to an empty belly.
Pulling back the shaft, Jason was about to let go when he heard, “There is something about that third angle that is not quite right,” exclaimed right behind him. Jason released the arrow and though his aim was true it was too late as the birds had taken off startled by the loudness of Jason’s hunting partner.
“Pythagoras!” Jason exclaimed in annoyance, his irritation seeping into his voice. They hadn’t eaten in two days the hunger becoming a constant ache in all their stomachs. They needed food. Turning Jason saw the man, whose head was bowed; jump at the tone, apparently having been lost in his thoughts.
Pythagoras felt his face heat up as he blushed, feeling shame creep over him. This was the second time today that he had ruined the hunt for Jason. “Sorry my friend, I sometimes get stuck in my own head, when I am working out a problem,” Pythagoras said sheepishly.
Walking back to his friend Jason laid a hand on his shoulder, “It’s alright, I’m just tired and hungry,” Jason said smiling his forgiveness and giving Pythagoras’ shoulder a squeeze before letting go and continuing northward. The two of them had decided to give hunting another try when they had overheard a group of men boasting of a herd of wild boar that had taken up residence on the north side of the woods. The pigs supposedly were on the lee side of the small valley, but they so far had proved elusive. They had invited Hercules but the man had demurred choosing to stay in town, saying that as he had already spent enough time in that same wood as a pig and he felt no need to ever return.
Smiling in remembrance of their friend’s transformation, Jason trudged forward a few steps until he realized that Pythagoras hadn’t moved. Turning back he saw his friend gazing at the ground already lost in his thoughts…no, Jason corrected, lost in his triangles. Walking over, Jason grabbed Pythagoras’ shirt sleeve and dragged the man forward, “Come on, let’s get back,” Jason said in exasperation, his hunger getting the better of his patience, “Its getting dark.”
Pythagoras looked around in surprise only now noticing the growing shadows. Feeling the ache in his stomach, Pythagoras followed after Jason, the man’s hand on his sleeve offering little choice in the matter. He was truly hungry; they hadn’t eaten in days, their funds quickly running dry after an ill placed bet on Hercules’ latest insect acquisition. Trailing after Jason under his own power after the other man finally let go, Pythagoras felt really bad about ruining the hunt. The three of them had split the last of the food the day before, they were all starving and in need of some more.
Seeing Jason pause and grip his forearm before continuing forward, hurried Pythagoras onward. He knew that the wound the witch Circe had inflicted on Jason hurt the man constantly and served as a reminder of the pact he made with the accursed woman. Pythagoras had tried several poultices using both Calendula, and Yarrow, but to no avail. The wound was not naturally occurring and so Pythagoras could not cure it and that frustrated him greatly. Jason was a good friend; he made that pact in order to save Hercules and Medusa. The man had saved their lives countless times and it bothered Pythagoras that he could not do more to help his friend with the burden he now carries.
Jogging forward to catch up with Jason, Pythagoras said holding out his hand, “Jason, let me see your wound. Does the bandage need changing?”
Jason obediently stopped at his friend’s request and placed his arm in his friend’s hand before he chuckled softly saying, “No, you changed it this morning remember?”
Turning over Jason’s arm and checking the bandage once again making sure it remained clean and wrapped tightly, “I remember. I am just sorry that I can’t do more.” Pythagoras said.
Jason was touched by the red-head’s concern, by rights the man has not known him that long and Jason has more then once had put his friend’s lives at risk. “Are you done being a mother hen?” Jason said with a hint of humor in his voice.
“A mother hen? Me?” Pythagoras said smiling, his grim mood lifting as he pointed a finger at Jason, “You my good man are lucky to have me clucking after you and Hercules, between the two of you I run myself ragged trying to keep you both alive.”
Jason slung his arm over Pythagoras’ shoulder in companionship, saying, “Truer words have never been spoken.”
Pythagoras opened his mouth to reply when he heard a rustling noise off to his right. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a flash of movement, and a bow being readied to fire at Jason’s back. Instinctively he pushed his friend out of the way, before a burning pain seared its way through his side and he fell to the ground desperately trying catch his breath as pain went through him, blinding him to everything else.
A shocked Jason picked himself off the ground as a man ran from the bushes yelling as he drew a short sword from his belt. The would-be-murderer slashed at Jason slicing through his shirt but missing his chest. Jason grabbed the man’s wrist as he made another downward stab. As the blade inched nearer to his heart Jason was forced to use both hands to stop the sword’s downward motion, which left his side vulnerable as he soon discovered, when the assassin quickly delivered two blows to his ribs. Jason felt pain explode through his rib cage. Knowing he would not be able stop the short sword from its downward trajectory for much longer, Jason kicked the man in the chest. The kick sent the man flying to the ground. Drawing his sword with his right hand and wrapping his left arm around his torso as to try to stem the flood of pain twisting through him with each breath. Jason hurried forward keen to keep his momentary advantage.
The man rose, shouting over his shoulder, “This way, I have found them!”
Jason managed to block the man’s next swipe of his sword by stepping into the man’s personal space and grasping his sword arm with his left hand. Yelling in agony as his ribs complained greatly, Jason used his right arm to plunge his sword into the assassin’s torso. The man’s shocked eyes meet his briefly before Jason pushed him away and the assassin fell to the ground. Standing over him as he drew his last breath, Jason tried to take stock in what just happened. Backing away from the sightless eyes that now stared skyward; Jason gripped his ribs and staggered towards his friend.
“Pythagoras,” Jason gasped out as he knelt down, the pain from his ribs stealing his breath away. Gripping the man’s shoulders and turning him over slowly, Jason was terrified at what he would find, “Are you okay?”
Pythagoras had his eyes shut tight against the pain; his side felt like it was fire. He cried out as he was turned over. Opening his eyes he saw leaning over him a very concerned Jason. “I’ve been better,” Pythagoras muttered. Seeing the pain lines around his Jason’s eyes, he asked, “Are you alright?”
Mimicking Pythagoras’ answer Jason said with a smile, “I’ve been better.” The smile slid off his face when he saw the arrow sticking out of his friend’s side, in shock and panic he whispered, “Pythagoras.” He saw that the arrow’s end having broken off in the fall leaving a jagged end sticking out of his friend’s side.
The red-headed man grimaced in pain but tried to reassure his panicked friend by giving him a faint smile. “It’s not so bad.”
Jason was sure his return smile was just as weak, Pythagoras was in a bad way. Looking around Jason noticed that the sun was starting to set and some very forbidding dark clouds were moving in. They were at least 3 hours from town, and from any sort of help. He didn’t think he should move Pythagoras but he also knew he wouldn’t be able to find any help out here. “We need to get you back to Atlantis.”
Pythagoras knew Jason was right, but just breathing in and out was agony he couldn’t imagine actually moving. “Maybe you could go get help, and I’ll stay here and hold really still until you get back,” Pythagoras said with a pained expression on his face, looking up at his friend in hope that somehow the man would make that plan work.
Opening his mouth to respond Jason stopped, as he heard a far away sound to the south, which brought back to mind something the assassin had said. “I’m sorry Pythagoras we have to move you. I do not think this man was alone,” Jason, said in a low voice. They were partially hidden by a hodge-podge of trees and bushes but that wouldn’t hide them if the rest of the men searching for them came this way.
Staring down at his friend’s injury, Jason was unsure, if he left the arrow in then it could go deeper or get jostled when he moved him but to pull it out could cause Pythagoras to bleed out. Jason was not a healer but he knew someone who was, unfortunately he was the one shot.
“Pythagoras, what do I do?” Jason asked.
Pythagoras hadn’t heard the noise but he trusted Jason if he said they had to move then they had to move. Before they did though, Jason would have to deal with the arrow. “How deep is it?”
Jason ripped the bottom of his friend’s shirt until he could see the wound clearly; it was below his ribs on his right side. Thankfully it didn’t look to deep.
Listening to Jason describe the placement of the arrow and how deep it appeared to be, Pythagoras on one hand was very relieved by what he heard but on the other hand he knew what had to be done was going to be quite painful. Closing his eyes briefly against the knowledge of what was to come Pythagoras opened them again and said in stronger voice then what he felt, “You are going to have to cut it out.”
In horror Jason jerked back, and shook his head in denial, he couldn’t purposely cause his friend pain, “I can’t do that, in case you haven’t noticed I am not a physician.”
“I had noticed that fact, Jason, but you are the only one here,” Pythagoras said in a strangled voice, as he laid a hand over his friends and clutched it tightly in pained desperation, “In my bag is the knife I use to sharpen my stylus it will work just fine for what we need.”
Jason nodded and then gently worked the strap of the bag off the injured man’s shoulder inside he found the knife and a shirt he could use on the wound once the arrow was out.
“All you have to do is cut around the arrow until you can pull it out,” Pythagoras said as he braced himself. He knew that he must hold as still as possible otherwise Jason could cut too deep, as it was Pythagoras was worried about blood loss and infection.
Placing his hand near the wound so he could steady the arrow, Jason placed the knife against Pythagoras skin and looked up making eye contact with his friend. Staring into his friend’s eyes Jason could see the faith Pythagoras had in him. Taking a deep breath Jason steeled himself for what he had to do, and made the first incision.
Although Pythagoras had promised himself he wouldn’t cry out as to not make this any harder on Jason, he couldn’t stop from gasping as the pain seared through him, bringing tears to his eyes. Closing his eyes tightly against the ache he tried to remember his latest theory he had been working on before they had went on this blasted hunting trip.
Jason in a hushed tone said, “I’m sorry,” as he made the second cut and tried to block out the sharp intake of breath that Pythagoras made. Dropping the knife, Jason gripped the arrow in one hand and pulled the projectile straight up and out trying to go quickly as to minimize the pain. Jason swiftly placed the bandages over the wound trying to stanch the new flow of blood that bubbled up. Pressing down hard Jason looked up at Pythagoras. He saw how pale his friend was, how tense with pain the man’s whole body was, “Pythagoras,” Jason said, “How are you doing?”
Pythagoras tried to answer to Jason but he could only gasp as the pain from his abdomen radiated outward, the intensity ratcheted up a notch as Jason pressed down harder to stop the bleeding. Finally Pythagoras ground out a single word in response to his friends question, “Fine.”
Jason grabbed Pythagoras’ hand and said, “Hold this on here tightly and I will bandage it.”
Clutching his side Pythagoras tried to calm his breathing as he watched Jason move away and start to rip the shirt from his bag into strips. Knowing it would be easier for Jason to wrap the bandage if he was sitting up; Pythagoras raised himself up on his elbow with a grunt of pain.
Seeing his friend struggle to sit up Jason lurched forward to help, “Here let me,” as he placed his arm around Pythagoras’ back set him upright. Quickly winding the shirt strips around Pythagoras’ torso, Jason made sure it was tight enough to keep the bandage in place but not so tight as to cut off circulation tying a knot in the fabric hoping it would hold till they found someplace to hole up for the night.
Feeling like they were rapidly running out of time Jason went over to the would-be assassin, and quickly looked through the man’s belongings looking for anything that would be useful. Jason was curious as to who the man was and who may have sent him, this man had not tried to rob them he had come to kill them and had friends who were also after them. Frustratingly there was nothing on the man to give Jason the answers he was seeking. Although he did find a small dagger that he hung from his waistband.
Getting up Jason was about to help Pythagoras stand when he heard an echo bouncing off the valley walls. His body tensed as he walked through the tamarisk bushes before he painfully crouched down at the edge of the cover they provided, he pulled aside a few branches to get a better view of the valley below. Walking along the small creek that ran along the bottom of the gorge were two men, they wore the typical clothes of the Atlantians but it was the way they moved that showed Jason they were dangerous. The men moved quickly but quietly through the valley, when one of the men stopped and crouched down in the soft dirt next to the riverbed Jason realized with a chill that crawled up his spine that the man was tracking them. He and Pythagoras had walked that same route this morning and if they continued to follow after them they were maybe an hour behind. Jason watched as the lead man stood and then spoke to his companion, before they set off again following their trail. Jason softly let go of the branches as to not attract any attention and have the assassins on them sooner, hurriedly he ran back to Pythagoras. When he reentered the clearing he saw a very pale Pythagoras standing leaning against a tree.
Hastily Jason gathered their belongs roughly stuffing the rest of the shirt strips and their wineskin into Pythagoras’s pack he tried to sling it over his head and shoulder so it lay cross his chest only to stop when his ribs screamed at him. Taking a moment to ride out the agony coursing through him, Jason knew they didn’t have time for this so he slipped the bag on his right shoulder. Looking over at his friend, he saw Pythagoras was thankfully looking down so he hadn’t seen him falter. Moving over to Pythagoras, Jason placed a hand gently on his friend’s side to check on the bandage, there was some blood seeping through the edges but Jason was hopeful that would soon stop. He made a mental note to check it again in an hour to make sure he was right. Seeing how heavily Pythagoras was leaning against the tree Jason despaired that they had to move at all, his companion needed to be resting but they had no choice so he asked, “Do you need help or can you walk?”
“I can walk,” Pythagoras stated with a wobbly smile, as he straightened himself up and forced himself to stop leaning against the tree. He had seen Jason stop in pain so he knew something was wrong. Trying to appear better then he felt and to help Jason out he reached for his bag.
Shaking his head Jason said, “I’ve got it. We have to move, there are two more following our trail. We need to stay ahead of them.” His words were punctuated by a clap of thunder from the south. “Wonderful,” Jason ground out in frustration before he dropped his hand and started walking in the opposite direction as their pursuers. They were going to have to reach Atlantis in a roundabout fashion in order to avoid crossing paths with the men hunting them. He started off slowly keeping his friend in his peripheral vision, so Jason would see if Pythagoras should stumble or fall.
Shaking his head in disbelief at their misfortune, Pythagoras gingerly followed his friend. His wound made it difficult for him to move but he was determined come what may he would carry on and not be a burden.
Part 2
AUTHOR: honor_reid
FANDOM: Atlantis
PAIRING: Gen
RATING: PG
WORD COUNT: 10,000
SUMMARY: Jason and Pythagoras once again try their hand at hunting not realizing they are the ones being hunted. Takes place after the episode "The Furies"
WARNINGS: Violence/torture
NOTES: Many, many thanks to my awesome beta for this story
malefificent. This was written for the comm
hc_bingo prompt Unconsciousness table here, and stories_a_z prompt table here.
DISCLAIMER: 'I don't own these characters, nor am I making any money from them. I merely borrow them from time to time'.
The greatest gift of life is friendship, and I have received it. -Hubert Humphrey
Creeping forward, Jason listened intently waiting to see if the noise he heard would be repeated. Holding his bow in the ready Jason made sure the arrow was notched and ready to fly as soon as a boar came into view. Rounding the tree hoping to see a good sized wild pig, Jason instead was greeted to the sight of a small flock of quail. It wasn’t what he was hunting for, but food was food to an empty belly.
Pulling back the shaft, Jason was about to let go when he heard, “There is something about that third angle that is not quite right,” exclaimed right behind him. Jason released the arrow and though his aim was true it was too late as the birds had taken off startled by the loudness of Jason’s hunting partner.
“Pythagoras!” Jason exclaimed in annoyance, his irritation seeping into his voice. They hadn’t eaten in two days the hunger becoming a constant ache in all their stomachs. They needed food. Turning Jason saw the man, whose head was bowed; jump at the tone, apparently having been lost in his thoughts.
Pythagoras felt his face heat up as he blushed, feeling shame creep over him. This was the second time today that he had ruined the hunt for Jason. “Sorry my friend, I sometimes get stuck in my own head, when I am working out a problem,” Pythagoras said sheepishly.
Walking back to his friend Jason laid a hand on his shoulder, “It’s alright, I’m just tired and hungry,” Jason said smiling his forgiveness and giving Pythagoras’ shoulder a squeeze before letting go and continuing northward. The two of them had decided to give hunting another try when they had overheard a group of men boasting of a herd of wild boar that had taken up residence on the north side of the woods. The pigs supposedly were on the lee side of the small valley, but they so far had proved elusive. They had invited Hercules but the man had demurred choosing to stay in town, saying that as he had already spent enough time in that same wood as a pig and he felt no need to ever return.
Smiling in remembrance of their friend’s transformation, Jason trudged forward a few steps until he realized that Pythagoras hadn’t moved. Turning back he saw his friend gazing at the ground already lost in his thoughts…no, Jason corrected, lost in his triangles. Walking over, Jason grabbed Pythagoras’ shirt sleeve and dragged the man forward, “Come on, let’s get back,” Jason said in exasperation, his hunger getting the better of his patience, “Its getting dark.”
Pythagoras looked around in surprise only now noticing the growing shadows. Feeling the ache in his stomach, Pythagoras followed after Jason, the man’s hand on his sleeve offering little choice in the matter. He was truly hungry; they hadn’t eaten in days, their funds quickly running dry after an ill placed bet on Hercules’ latest insect acquisition. Trailing after Jason under his own power after the other man finally let go, Pythagoras felt really bad about ruining the hunt. The three of them had split the last of the food the day before, they were all starving and in need of some more.
Seeing Jason pause and grip his forearm before continuing forward, hurried Pythagoras onward. He knew that the wound the witch Circe had inflicted on Jason hurt the man constantly and served as a reminder of the pact he made with the accursed woman. Pythagoras had tried several poultices using both Calendula, and Yarrow, but to no avail. The wound was not naturally occurring and so Pythagoras could not cure it and that frustrated him greatly. Jason was a good friend; he made that pact in order to save Hercules and Medusa. The man had saved their lives countless times and it bothered Pythagoras that he could not do more to help his friend with the burden he now carries.
Jogging forward to catch up with Jason, Pythagoras said holding out his hand, “Jason, let me see your wound. Does the bandage need changing?”
Jason obediently stopped at his friend’s request and placed his arm in his friend’s hand before he chuckled softly saying, “No, you changed it this morning remember?”
Turning over Jason’s arm and checking the bandage once again making sure it remained clean and wrapped tightly, “I remember. I am just sorry that I can’t do more.” Pythagoras said.
Jason was touched by the red-head’s concern, by rights the man has not known him that long and Jason has more then once had put his friend’s lives at risk. “Are you done being a mother hen?” Jason said with a hint of humor in his voice.
“A mother hen? Me?” Pythagoras said smiling, his grim mood lifting as he pointed a finger at Jason, “You my good man are lucky to have me clucking after you and Hercules, between the two of you I run myself ragged trying to keep you both alive.”
Jason slung his arm over Pythagoras’ shoulder in companionship, saying, “Truer words have never been spoken.”
Pythagoras opened his mouth to reply when he heard a rustling noise off to his right. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a flash of movement, and a bow being readied to fire at Jason’s back. Instinctively he pushed his friend out of the way, before a burning pain seared its way through his side and he fell to the ground desperately trying catch his breath as pain went through him, blinding him to everything else.
A shocked Jason picked himself off the ground as a man ran from the bushes yelling as he drew a short sword from his belt. The would-be-murderer slashed at Jason slicing through his shirt but missing his chest. Jason grabbed the man’s wrist as he made another downward stab. As the blade inched nearer to his heart Jason was forced to use both hands to stop the sword’s downward motion, which left his side vulnerable as he soon discovered, when the assassin quickly delivered two blows to his ribs. Jason felt pain explode through his rib cage. Knowing he would not be able stop the short sword from its downward trajectory for much longer, Jason kicked the man in the chest. The kick sent the man flying to the ground. Drawing his sword with his right hand and wrapping his left arm around his torso as to try to stem the flood of pain twisting through him with each breath. Jason hurried forward keen to keep his momentary advantage.
The man rose, shouting over his shoulder, “This way, I have found them!”
Jason managed to block the man’s next swipe of his sword by stepping into the man’s personal space and grasping his sword arm with his left hand. Yelling in agony as his ribs complained greatly, Jason used his right arm to plunge his sword into the assassin’s torso. The man’s shocked eyes meet his briefly before Jason pushed him away and the assassin fell to the ground. Standing over him as he drew his last breath, Jason tried to take stock in what just happened. Backing away from the sightless eyes that now stared skyward; Jason gripped his ribs and staggered towards his friend.
“Pythagoras,” Jason gasped out as he knelt down, the pain from his ribs stealing his breath away. Gripping the man’s shoulders and turning him over slowly, Jason was terrified at what he would find, “Are you okay?”
Pythagoras had his eyes shut tight against the pain; his side felt like it was fire. He cried out as he was turned over. Opening his eyes he saw leaning over him a very concerned Jason. “I’ve been better,” Pythagoras muttered. Seeing the pain lines around his Jason’s eyes, he asked, “Are you alright?”
Mimicking Pythagoras’ answer Jason said with a smile, “I’ve been better.” The smile slid off his face when he saw the arrow sticking out of his friend’s side, in shock and panic he whispered, “Pythagoras.” He saw that the arrow’s end having broken off in the fall leaving a jagged end sticking out of his friend’s side.
The red-headed man grimaced in pain but tried to reassure his panicked friend by giving him a faint smile. “It’s not so bad.”
Jason was sure his return smile was just as weak, Pythagoras was in a bad way. Looking around Jason noticed that the sun was starting to set and some very forbidding dark clouds were moving in. They were at least 3 hours from town, and from any sort of help. He didn’t think he should move Pythagoras but he also knew he wouldn’t be able to find any help out here. “We need to get you back to Atlantis.”
Pythagoras knew Jason was right, but just breathing in and out was agony he couldn’t imagine actually moving. “Maybe you could go get help, and I’ll stay here and hold really still until you get back,” Pythagoras said with a pained expression on his face, looking up at his friend in hope that somehow the man would make that plan work.
Opening his mouth to respond Jason stopped, as he heard a far away sound to the south, which brought back to mind something the assassin had said. “I’m sorry Pythagoras we have to move you. I do not think this man was alone,” Jason, said in a low voice. They were partially hidden by a hodge-podge of trees and bushes but that wouldn’t hide them if the rest of the men searching for them came this way.
Staring down at his friend’s injury, Jason was unsure, if he left the arrow in then it could go deeper or get jostled when he moved him but to pull it out could cause Pythagoras to bleed out. Jason was not a healer but he knew someone who was, unfortunately he was the one shot.
“Pythagoras, what do I do?” Jason asked.
Pythagoras hadn’t heard the noise but he trusted Jason if he said they had to move then they had to move. Before they did though, Jason would have to deal with the arrow. “How deep is it?”
Jason ripped the bottom of his friend’s shirt until he could see the wound clearly; it was below his ribs on his right side. Thankfully it didn’t look to deep.
Listening to Jason describe the placement of the arrow and how deep it appeared to be, Pythagoras on one hand was very relieved by what he heard but on the other hand he knew what had to be done was going to be quite painful. Closing his eyes briefly against the knowledge of what was to come Pythagoras opened them again and said in stronger voice then what he felt, “You are going to have to cut it out.”
In horror Jason jerked back, and shook his head in denial, he couldn’t purposely cause his friend pain, “I can’t do that, in case you haven’t noticed I am not a physician.”
“I had noticed that fact, Jason, but you are the only one here,” Pythagoras said in a strangled voice, as he laid a hand over his friends and clutched it tightly in pained desperation, “In my bag is the knife I use to sharpen my stylus it will work just fine for what we need.”
Jason nodded and then gently worked the strap of the bag off the injured man’s shoulder inside he found the knife and a shirt he could use on the wound once the arrow was out.
“All you have to do is cut around the arrow until you can pull it out,” Pythagoras said as he braced himself. He knew that he must hold as still as possible otherwise Jason could cut too deep, as it was Pythagoras was worried about blood loss and infection.
Placing his hand near the wound so he could steady the arrow, Jason placed the knife against Pythagoras skin and looked up making eye contact with his friend. Staring into his friend’s eyes Jason could see the faith Pythagoras had in him. Taking a deep breath Jason steeled himself for what he had to do, and made the first incision.
Although Pythagoras had promised himself he wouldn’t cry out as to not make this any harder on Jason, he couldn’t stop from gasping as the pain seared through him, bringing tears to his eyes. Closing his eyes tightly against the ache he tried to remember his latest theory he had been working on before they had went on this blasted hunting trip.
Jason in a hushed tone said, “I’m sorry,” as he made the second cut and tried to block out the sharp intake of breath that Pythagoras made. Dropping the knife, Jason gripped the arrow in one hand and pulled the projectile straight up and out trying to go quickly as to minimize the pain. Jason swiftly placed the bandages over the wound trying to stanch the new flow of blood that bubbled up. Pressing down hard Jason looked up at Pythagoras. He saw how pale his friend was, how tense with pain the man’s whole body was, “Pythagoras,” Jason said, “How are you doing?”
Pythagoras tried to answer to Jason but he could only gasp as the pain from his abdomen radiated outward, the intensity ratcheted up a notch as Jason pressed down harder to stop the bleeding. Finally Pythagoras ground out a single word in response to his friends question, “Fine.”
Jason grabbed Pythagoras’ hand and said, “Hold this on here tightly and I will bandage it.”
Clutching his side Pythagoras tried to calm his breathing as he watched Jason move away and start to rip the shirt from his bag into strips. Knowing it would be easier for Jason to wrap the bandage if he was sitting up; Pythagoras raised himself up on his elbow with a grunt of pain.
Seeing his friend struggle to sit up Jason lurched forward to help, “Here let me,” as he placed his arm around Pythagoras’ back set him upright. Quickly winding the shirt strips around Pythagoras’ torso, Jason made sure it was tight enough to keep the bandage in place but not so tight as to cut off circulation tying a knot in the fabric hoping it would hold till they found someplace to hole up for the night.
Feeling like they were rapidly running out of time Jason went over to the would-be assassin, and quickly looked through the man’s belongings looking for anything that would be useful. Jason was curious as to who the man was and who may have sent him, this man had not tried to rob them he had come to kill them and had friends who were also after them. Frustratingly there was nothing on the man to give Jason the answers he was seeking. Although he did find a small dagger that he hung from his waistband.
Getting up Jason was about to help Pythagoras stand when he heard an echo bouncing off the valley walls. His body tensed as he walked through the tamarisk bushes before he painfully crouched down at the edge of the cover they provided, he pulled aside a few branches to get a better view of the valley below. Walking along the small creek that ran along the bottom of the gorge were two men, they wore the typical clothes of the Atlantians but it was the way they moved that showed Jason they were dangerous. The men moved quickly but quietly through the valley, when one of the men stopped and crouched down in the soft dirt next to the riverbed Jason realized with a chill that crawled up his spine that the man was tracking them. He and Pythagoras had walked that same route this morning and if they continued to follow after them they were maybe an hour behind. Jason watched as the lead man stood and then spoke to his companion, before they set off again following their trail. Jason softly let go of the branches as to not attract any attention and have the assassins on them sooner, hurriedly he ran back to Pythagoras. When he reentered the clearing he saw a very pale Pythagoras standing leaning against a tree.
Hastily Jason gathered their belongs roughly stuffing the rest of the shirt strips and their wineskin into Pythagoras’s pack he tried to sling it over his head and shoulder so it lay cross his chest only to stop when his ribs screamed at him. Taking a moment to ride out the agony coursing through him, Jason knew they didn’t have time for this so he slipped the bag on his right shoulder. Looking over at his friend, he saw Pythagoras was thankfully looking down so he hadn’t seen him falter. Moving over to Pythagoras, Jason placed a hand gently on his friend’s side to check on the bandage, there was some blood seeping through the edges but Jason was hopeful that would soon stop. He made a mental note to check it again in an hour to make sure he was right. Seeing how heavily Pythagoras was leaning against the tree Jason despaired that they had to move at all, his companion needed to be resting but they had no choice so he asked, “Do you need help or can you walk?”
“I can walk,” Pythagoras stated with a wobbly smile, as he straightened himself up and forced himself to stop leaning against the tree. He had seen Jason stop in pain so he knew something was wrong. Trying to appear better then he felt and to help Jason out he reached for his bag.
Shaking his head Jason said, “I’ve got it. We have to move, there are two more following our trail. We need to stay ahead of them.” His words were punctuated by a clap of thunder from the south. “Wonderful,” Jason ground out in frustration before he dropped his hand and started walking in the opposite direction as their pursuers. They were going to have to reach Atlantis in a roundabout fashion in order to avoid crossing paths with the men hunting them. He started off slowly keeping his friend in his peripheral vision, so Jason would see if Pythagoras should stumble or fall.
Shaking his head in disbelief at their misfortune, Pythagoras gingerly followed his friend. His wound made it difficult for him to move but he was determined come what may he would carry on and not be a burden.
Part 2