ilbarker's POV
It's been about a week.
I think.
He's been keeping on the down-low whenever I'm conscious and panicking and uses the herb thingy whenever he needed to change bandages or...something.
That...didn't sound right.
While I was a bit mad at him for being doctor-like, he did keep me from death...in a less-than-satisfactory way.
I was able to walk on my own and my wing was completely healed hole-wise. Unfortunately, they were still sore and weak, so I couldn't fly quite yet. I also did inform him on our situation with being split up and Herobrine and stuff.
I was sitting at a table eating some fruit when Jerome came in, looking kinda weary.
"You ok?" I asked, setting down the apple I was eating.
What? If an apple a day keeps the doctor away, then of COURSE I'm gonna eat them!
He sat down across from me and sighed. "Depends. Can I ask for your help?"
I nodded. "Pretty sure you saved my life even if I hated every moment of it. I owe you big time."
Jerome chuckled slightly. "Well, I am the co-leader of a tribe of baccas. I found them not too long after we left the castle. Apparently, the leader of the tribe was my bigger brother, Jeremy. I was originally the co-leader, so they let me take back up my job. However...remember how I said WAAAAY back then that baccas don't trust humans because our fur is coveted? Weeeell...here is that case presented. Jeremy nearly killed Mitch on sight, but I just barely convinced him not to. Unfortunately, he thought that Mitch had convinced me to trust him, so Jeremy took Mitch and Kirby and locked them up under surprisingly heavy guard. I've only been able to visit them twice in the past month and a half or two months. I dunno. The thing is...I was caught once trying to break them out.... Let's just say...they're not unwilling to kill their own kind for "traitorous" reasons."
"So...what am I to do? I'm kinda a human here!"
"Yeah, but humans don't have angel wings. I suppose you're just a special case. Maybe they'll let you in since you're not...human in a way."
I fiddled with the apple a bit. "So...I would...go in there...and...?"
Jerome looked down and rubbed the back of his head before grinning at me sheepishly. "Err...haven't thought that far yet."
I scoffed. "Typical of you."
"Yeah. Anyways, would you be up for a rescue mission?"
"Totally. How are we gonna do it?"
"Well, you're still injured quite a bit, right?"
I moved my aching wings a bit and winced. "Yup."
"Well...uh...how about I carry you into the village like you're injured much worse than you are and...they can see you're not totally human."
"And if they still consider me human...?"
He winced. "Uhh...book it?"
I was starting to feel like this was gonna be a suicide mission....
I facepalmed. "Jerome, the only way I'd actually get away was if I could fly. Running is out of the question since they'll clearly be faster than me and I can't fly."
Jerome looked down and sighed heavily before looking at me, his eyes filled with slight guilt and pleadingness. "ilbarker...please? I have no one else to turn to here and...I miss them, ilbarker. I miss my Mitch and my little Kirby. Sure, he's flipping 200 YEARS OLD, but he's still quite young for his kind. I don't know how long they'll last down there...."
I chuckled slightly under my breath. I mean, I can't exactly do anything else here, nor do I know where the others are...IF they're even alive! "Jerome, I never said no. I have no clue where in the world I am nor do I have any clear place to go. Of course I'll help you."
He grinned widely. "Thank you SO MUCH. I don't know how I'll ever repay you."
"Woah, slow down! We gotta actually SAVE them first. Then we can talk about repayment." I laughed.
"Right. Ok. So, carry you into the village...uh, I think you'll need a story as to who you are. They might ask if you hate humans. I recommend greatly that you say yes."
"Aren't I a bit...heavy?"
He shook his head. "You're quite lightweight. Maybe it has something to do with the wings. You know, birds have light bodies and stuff?"
Smert Jerome?!
"Ok.... So...I guess we go?"
He nodded and stood up. "Whenever you're ready."
I looked down at my apple and picked it up, taking a couple more bites before throwing it away.
"Yup. Lez go."
He went out the door and I followed a little slowly, my legs still aching a bit.
We walked silently for a while. I was thinking up a story to tell when he paused. "The village is just a little more ahead.... Here, let's get into position. Ya got a story?"
I nodded. "A pretty darn good one, if I do say so myself. Though...I just have to say...trust me. It's gonna look REALLY legit."
Hopefully.
He chuckled and picked me up bridal style. I wrapped my left wing around me and let my right wing hang limply.
"Ready?"
I nodded and closed my eyes, going limp.
He ran the rest of the way to the village. I was guessing we had entered by the various gasps of...baccas, I guess.
"Is the doctor available?!" Jerome asked quickly, adjusting his hold on me.
😰
Oooooh my God...ok...uhh....
I tensed up slightly, and Jerome felt it. He squeezed his paw on my shoulder slightly before running again.
I think we entered a house because I heard a door opening.
"Jerome?! What...who is that?! Is that a human?!" A bacca exclaimed.
Jerome groaned and placed me quickly on a table, backing away.
Calm...breathe-but-don't-breathe-so-deeply-that-it's-suspicious....
"Does that LOOK like a human to you?! I've never seen humans with wings! She just fell outta the sky right next to my house unconscious!"
Ok...plan...no-doctor plan....
The bacca placed a hand on my arm and I jolted upward, making myself look absolutely freaked out. "OhmyGodwhereamIwherearemyfriendswhoareyouomgareyouadoctorstayawayfromme!!!!" I said so dang fast that I could hardly comprehend what I was saying as I backed away from him and off the table against a wall.
Jerome looked shocked, but I could see a ghost of a smirk on his face. Both he and the...*shudder*...doctor bacca backed away a step. "Woah, calm down. Are you ok?" Jerome asked quietly.
My heart was still pounding, but I was a bit more calmed down. I groaned and slid down the wall, wrapping my wings around me slightly, holding them. "Oww...."
Jerome came over and knelt in front of me. "Hey...what's your name?"
I shrunk back a little, but I whispered, "i-ilbarker...."
"ilbarker...can you tell me what happened before you got here? I found you unconscious next to my house. You just fell outta the sky."
I opened my wings slightly so the doc bac....
Omg, that sounds amazing.
Doc bac.
😂
Anyway, so the doc bac could see my face. "Umm...I...I was in a...lab...and...these people...experimented on me...." I shuddered.
The doc narrowed his eyes. "Were they human?"
I clenched my fists and made myself look angry. "Yes...I was human too...then they just think it's a good idea to EXPERIMENT on me! I was normal! I had a life, friends, family! Then they take it all away from me! I HATE humans! Why are they so EVIL?!!"
Jerome's eyes widened in surprise as he stood and backed away.
The doc nodded in agreement but did not comment. "You need rest, especially after THAT ordeal."
"S-She can rest at my house." Jerome said uncertainly.
The doc looked at Jerome and shrugged. "K. Once she's rested, bring her back so we can inform Jeremy."
Jerome looked to me and sighed, helping me up. "This way...." He muttered.
We walked swiftly to a little hut a little bit away from other bacca houses. Once we got inside, I let out a huge breath and sat down. "Oh my God, I wish you had WARNED me about that!"
Jerome looked at me with wide eyes. "Dudette, your acting skills...holy crap! I almost believed you for a second, and I KNEW you were acting!"
I chuckled lightly and sighed again. "I guess I do need rest.... But...when I mentioned my friends...."
I felt a pang in my chest.
"I miss them...I don't even know if any of them are alive...."
"Do you not have any way to contact them?" He asked as he sat on a chair.
I started to shake my head when I froze.
"Wait...I do know of one I can contact who might be able to help...."
I slowly raised my hand to my right ear and tapped it.
' Becca? Ya there? '