A little rescue
My arm is burning from the bite.
“Pem, help!” I shout.
Rogger’s face is contorted, her eyes red as she chews on my arm.
“We’re coming, William! Hold on!” Pem shouts.
“We?”
“Me and Rogger!”
I look over my shoulder and see Pem and Rogger running toward me.
I look down, again, seeing Rogger with red eyes and razor teeth.
“What’s happening, Pem?”
“It’s a Dodger!” Rogger shouts.
The pain’s there but there’s numbness too. I look back at the Rogger underground. “Is that true? Are you a Dodger?”
It stops gnawing on me. “Well yes. What do you think this was all about?”
“I haven’t a clue,” I say.
Pem reaches me first, skidding in on four feet, tail puffy, ears back, and fangs baring a loud hiss.
The Dodger laughs. “Good! Good! A kitten will wash you down nicely!” The teeth go back into my arm.
“Ah!” I cry, pain alive in my arm again.
Rogger reaches us and bends down, looks at the Dodger.
The Dodger screams and covers its eyes.
I’m free and yank my arm out.
“Curse you, dwarf!” the Dodger says. It disappears, further underground, I guess.
Rogger smiles and looks at me. “Not always very bright, are you, son?”
I feel silly. “No, I suppose not.”
Rogger pats my back.
Pem rushes to my side and licks at my wounds.
“Ow, ow, ow! Stop, Pem!”
Pem stops. “Sorry! I’m just trying to help!”
“And I appreciate that, but your tongue is very coarse, and it hurts!”
“I know a place,” Rogger says. “It’s not far from here.” She points.
“What sort of place?” I ask.
“A healing place. We’ve gotta go see Boggy Nic.”
“Who’s Boggy Nic?”
“A weird one,” Rogger says.
I look at my bloody arm. “Are you sure that’s what we need?”
“Yes, I am, my lad.”
I shrug. Then I get suspicious. “Wait, you are really Rogger, right?”
Rogger smiles. “Yes, but you’re wise to wonder. Would have helped you a mile or so ago.”
Pem says, “It’s Rogger! She smells the same. That other thing smelled bad!”
I crouch down by Pem, pet her ears.
She squints, purrs, and pushes up through her neck.
“I’m sorry I pressed it, Pem. We don’t have to talk about anything you don’t want to talk about.”
Pem enjoys the petting.
Rogger taps me. “C’mon. We need to see to that wound.”
“Yes, okay. Off we go then.”
Pem looks around when I stop petting her, like she’s a little disoriented, then says, “I’m sorry, too, William. I shouldn’t have run off and left you.”
“It’s okay,” I say. “I don’t blame you.”
We walk down river, looking for the dwelling of Boggy Nic.
