The Mane Squeeze
Page 10
Wouldnt you know them if you saw them again? the cat asked Lock, although Lock sensed there was definite sneering behind that question.
Not necessarily, Lock answered honestly. I was asleep and they woke me up.
That was Gwen, Blayne filled in, answering the question that had been bothering Lock since hed recognized Gwens face as she hung off that cliff. She aimed right for you. I thought shed lost her mind, especially when she bit your big grizzly hump. Blayne blinked and then, slowlyand in a pathetic attempt at nonchalanceleaned back, trying to see between Locks shoulder blades.
Lock leaned back with her and said, Its not nearly as prominent when Im human, Blayne.
She quickly sat forward. I wasntI meanI was onlyum
When I get startled awake, Lock went on to the lion and She-wolf, trying not to chuckle at Blaynes embarrassment, I wake up swinging and anything in my way gets slapped around.
How nice for your friends and family. And there went that sneer again.
My friends and family know how to ease me out of my slumber. He glanced at Blayne. Coffees always good. Croissants with honey on the side, even better.
Ill have to keep that in mind, the cat practically snarled.
Lock studied the cat for a long moment before finally asking, Do I know you?
The She-wolf leaned forward a bit and whispered, You kind of slapped him around at Jessie Ann Wards wedding.
Lock snapped his fingers. You!
He didnt slap me around, the lion barked. He assaulted me.
You came at me from behind.
You were near my sister! As if that alone was a crime.
I was talking to her. That is allowed, ya know?
Not in my world, its not!
As the two predators glared at each other across the room, Blayne suddenly sat up straight and said, Uh-oh.
He didnt know if it was her tone or the expression on her face, but Locks entire body tensed.
Shes awake, Blayne said simply.
Lock knew then something was very wrong.
Gwens nose twitched, the smell of antiseptic nearly causing her to gag. Then she heard those telltale soundsa high-pitched beeping, steadily going up; the tear of plastic on hygienically maintained bandages and equipment; and the gruff orders of medical personnel.
Her eyes opened and an older coyote female smiled down at her. Hello, Miss ONeill. Everything is okay. Im Dr. Davis and youre going to be just fiack!
She heard the nurses and otherdoctors yelling, but all she could focus on was how this murderer, this coyote savage was about to kill her! About to cut her open and remove her organs!
Die, doctor! Die!
Strong hands tried to pry her off the coyotes throat but shed never let her go.
No ones killing me and taking my organs! she screamed.
Gwenie! Look, Gwenie! Look what I have!
Recognizing Blaynes voice and knowing the wolfdog loved her and would save her from having her vital organs sold on the black market, Gwen glanced over.
Look at the sparkly, Gwenie! Dont you wanna touch the sparkly?
Of course she did! Gwen released whatever she had in her hand and reached for the sparkly, shiny thing Blayne held. Gwen loved sparkly, shiny things. They were sooooo pretttttyyyyyyyyyyyyy
Blayne came back into the waiting room and, letting out a dramatic breath, sat down beside Lock again.
Whew! That was close. I had to steal someones car keys off their desk to distract her.
What happened? Lock had to know. He hadnt been this entertained in years.
Blayne shook her head. I told them when we came in how they should treat her dosage, but they never listen.
Ronnie frowned. Treat her dosage?
Were hybrids, she needlessly reminded them. What works for you as wolf doesnt necessarily work for me as wolfdog. And its the same with Gwenie. Her metabolism is way higher than any lions or tigers.
Most doctors try and base it on her weight as cat, which is about three hundred pounds unless shes a little bloaty. Then its like three-hundred-and-twenty-five, but either way, basing it on her weight never works. I told them if they didnt give her enough, shed wake back up. Dont worry. Were giving her something that will paralyze her muscles, they tell me.
Probably pancuronium. When they all stared at Lock, he asked, What?
Yeah, Blayne said. That stuff. Which I, personally, piss out. It doesnt do anything for me.
At all?
Nope. And I warned them it wouldnt work on Gwen unless they gave her enough. And what happens?
She woke up and everyone is all shocked. Why is she up? Shes up because you idiots didnt listen to me in the first place.
Is that why shes afraid of hospitals? Lock asked.
No. Shes afraid of hospitals because she saw this documentary on PBS once about organ theft. Ever since then, shes been convinced theythe elusive they, the terrifying theywant to steal her organs.
Not necessarily, Lock answered honestly. I was asleep and they woke me up.
That was Gwen, Blayne filled in, answering the question that had been bothering Lock since hed recognized Gwens face as she hung off that cliff. She aimed right for you. I thought shed lost her mind, especially when she bit your big grizzly hump. Blayne blinked and then, slowlyand in a pathetic attempt at nonchalanceleaned back, trying to see between Locks shoulder blades.
Lock leaned back with her and said, Its not nearly as prominent when Im human, Blayne.
She quickly sat forward. I wasntI meanI was onlyum
When I get startled awake, Lock went on to the lion and She-wolf, trying not to chuckle at Blaynes embarrassment, I wake up swinging and anything in my way gets slapped around.
How nice for your friends and family. And there went that sneer again.
My friends and family know how to ease me out of my slumber. He glanced at Blayne. Coffees always good. Croissants with honey on the side, even better.
Ill have to keep that in mind, the cat practically snarled.
Lock studied the cat for a long moment before finally asking, Do I know you?
The She-wolf leaned forward a bit and whispered, You kind of slapped him around at Jessie Ann Wards wedding.
Lock snapped his fingers. You!
He didnt slap me around, the lion barked. He assaulted me.
You came at me from behind.
You were near my sister! As if that alone was a crime.
I was talking to her. That is allowed, ya know?
Not in my world, its not!
As the two predators glared at each other across the room, Blayne suddenly sat up straight and said, Uh-oh.
He didnt know if it was her tone or the expression on her face, but Locks entire body tensed.
Shes awake, Blayne said simply.
Lock knew then something was very wrong.
Gwens nose twitched, the smell of antiseptic nearly causing her to gag. Then she heard those telltale soundsa high-pitched beeping, steadily going up; the tear of plastic on hygienically maintained bandages and equipment; and the gruff orders of medical personnel.
Her eyes opened and an older coyote female smiled down at her. Hello, Miss ONeill. Everything is okay. Im Dr. Davis and youre going to be just fiack!
She heard the nurses and otherdoctors yelling, but all she could focus on was how this murderer, this coyote savage was about to kill her! About to cut her open and remove her organs!
Die, doctor! Die!
Strong hands tried to pry her off the coyotes throat but shed never let her go.
No ones killing me and taking my organs! she screamed.
Gwenie! Look, Gwenie! Look what I have!
Recognizing Blaynes voice and knowing the wolfdog loved her and would save her from having her vital organs sold on the black market, Gwen glanced over.
Look at the sparkly, Gwenie! Dont you wanna touch the sparkly?
Of course she did! Gwen released whatever she had in her hand and reached for the sparkly, shiny thing Blayne held. Gwen loved sparkly, shiny things. They were sooooo pretttttyyyyyyyyyyyyy
Blayne came back into the waiting room and, letting out a dramatic breath, sat down beside Lock again.
Whew! That was close. I had to steal someones car keys off their desk to distract her.
What happened? Lock had to know. He hadnt been this entertained in years.
Blayne shook her head. I told them when we came in how they should treat her dosage, but they never listen.
Ronnie frowned. Treat her dosage?
Were hybrids, she needlessly reminded them. What works for you as wolf doesnt necessarily work for me as wolfdog. And its the same with Gwenie. Her metabolism is way higher than any lions or tigers.
Most doctors try and base it on her weight as cat, which is about three hundred pounds unless shes a little bloaty. Then its like three-hundred-and-twenty-five, but either way, basing it on her weight never works. I told them if they didnt give her enough, shed wake back up. Dont worry. Were giving her something that will paralyze her muscles, they tell me.
Probably pancuronium. When they all stared at Lock, he asked, What?
Yeah, Blayne said. That stuff. Which I, personally, piss out. It doesnt do anything for me.
At all?
Nope. And I warned them it wouldnt work on Gwen unless they gave her enough. And what happens?
She woke up and everyone is all shocked. Why is she up? Shes up because you idiots didnt listen to me in the first place.
Is that why shes afraid of hospitals? Lock asked.
No. Shes afraid of hospitals because she saw this documentary on PBS once about organ theft. Ever since then, shes been convinced theythe elusive they, the terrifying theywant to steal her organs.
