173. Rabies

Jax

Max did well we did tracking again and because Cora and him had come home so late we had skipped dinner we instead were out deep in the woods. I had laid this scent this morning while Cora and Max were gone. I wanted to see what Max had learned. But it was now late, and we were just heading back. Max’s wolf stopped his ears pricking up. I listened and then I heard it to. A branch had cracked. Something was close by, but what. Then there was another loud crunch. I sniffed the air.

It was an animal. Then there was a demented growl. What the fuck? Then my wolf saw it. A coyote crawled out from under the brush. It had mange, which was contagious. Then there was the foaming mouth, Rabies. The thing had both mange and Rabies. “Max run home do it now.” I mind linked him. “Dad” my wolf didn’t turn to look at his little white one. “Howl if you need me okay, I will come but you run home do not stop.” I reiterated. Max wolf snow took off and it made the coyote lunge. I knocked his body over.

I would get Mange I knew it the second I saw him. I had to kill the coyote and that meant touching him. Contact was how mange spread. This was going to be a bitch, I hoped Cora had something to prevent it from spreading, I had been told getting mange could be managed and you could recover but it took a long time sometimes over a year. I didn’t want to bite the coyote. I didn’t want to risk Rabies so instead I hoped I could get him knocked down onto a rock and that would kill him.

I shoved the coyote over, but the thing was squirmy. I heard a small howl, Max. I was distracted for a second and I felt my back leg get bitten hard. Fuck it., I didn’t have time. I shook the thing off and picked up the animal by the neck and ran with it in my mouth like it was a frisbee. It was howling and scratching. That little howl again echoed in the woods, and I followed it. When I got there nothing was there. I snapped the coyote's neck that was in my mouth and tossed him.

I heard the howl again and followed. “Dad up here” I heard a little voice, it was Max. I looked up Max was up in a tree. “Dad watch out” He screamed, and I turned in time to see another mange rabies ridden coyotes. I had already been bitten and so when this one was so close I killed it instantly. “Max come down I need to get you home.” I mind linked him since I was still a wolf. “Hurry please” I said over the link and Max floated down. “Okay hold on” I mind linked him and took off running home. We were close to home, but I heard growls and fighting. It sounded like rapid animals. I mind linked John. “Come get Max from me and tell Cora to come out into the woods. There is infected animals and I need her help.”

He showed up fast as his wolf. I knew he saw my bites. “Get him home keep him safe and tell Cora.” I mind linked him and ran back into the woods. I started to run taking out the various animals I could. Not all of them were coyotes. There was a black bear, bats, racoons, and even some dogs. But they all had rabies and some had mange as well.

The earth shook and I watched as Animals began to be torn apart by the woods. “Jax where are you?” Cora was calling out to me. MY body felt hot, My skin tingled. I shifted back to a human. “Cora” I called out, but I was tired. “I am coming Jax” I heard Cora yell. I was in and out of it. I don’t know how long but at one point my jaw was burning. I opened my eyes and found Cora. She had her hand holding up her face by the side of it. She was leaning far over. I looked around more. I was in a tub. Then I saw the ice. I was in an Ice bath and Cora had fallen asleep sitting there watching me.

“Cora” I said, and she almost fell into the water as she woke up. “Jax you are awake.” I nodded. “Why am I in ice.” Cora looked at me and burst out crying. “You are okay.” She said again. “I am okay love.” She cried some more. I tried to get up, but Cora yelled. “No stay in the ice okay. Just until I tell you otherwise.” I nodded sitting back down. “How long have I been out?” Cora looked away. “Cora how long?” “Almost a week.” she said. “Cora what about Tanner I had a fight with him what is going on with that?”

“John tried to have him push it back, but he wouldn’t.” She spoke. “Well so when am I supposed to go meet him?” “Tomorrow but Jax you won’t be well enough. I am healing you the best I can. I had the other witches try to help and John, Anne too and you won’t be able to fight Tanner tomorrow, there is just no way. The Virus is still exiting your system, and I should be able to clear up the manage after the Rabies are all gone. “Cora, you are not understanding me I have to go fight Tanner otherwise we lose even this land we are on.” Cora was silent.

“Cora John can’t fight for me. He might loose and Tanner will kill him it has to be me.” I spoke. Cora looked at me. “John is not fighting for you.” I looked at her. “You can’t be serious Cora?” I knew what she was going to do. She was going to fight for the land. She had the rank of Luna it would be seen as a fair match. The problem was my brother wanted her dead. “Cora, no” She gave me a kiss. “Garrett and Grant will be outside the door. I have Anne watching Max you just stay here okay.” Cora said.

“Wait you are going now.” I yelled. “Jax, I have to go, Tanner can’t have our land. Someone has to do this.” I shouted. “It is more than just that Cora. You must convince some of them to come to our new pack.” She turned when she got to the door. “Jax, I got this okay, John can give you a play by play of what happens. He is taking me; he will keep you posted.” I looked at her. “Cora” Her long lashes batted as she looked at me, her face was pure determination on it. I was not worried that she would lose. I worried about what happened after that.