Lost in the woods (3)

The animal really needed her help? What was she going to do? It wasn't like there was any material around that she could use to apply first aid treatment. 

Her eyes flew to the lantern which was a few feet from her, and it looked like it was going to go off at any moment because there was no more kerosene inside it, "Give me a moment, okay?" She told the animal as she took cautious steps towards where the lantern was lying, and after setting it upright she tried to look around for sticks, "Don't worry, the sticks aren't for you. I want to make a fire, or else this place will be dark soon." She explained to the animal that kept watching her. 

At that moment, the animal's ears perked up when it heard a sound coming from another direction, and it flew at both Alicia and the lantern, throwing her off balance before it lay over the lantern.

"What are you…"

"Did you hear that sound?"

 Alicia heard a deep masculine voice ask, making her snap her mouth shut immediately. 

Everywhere was dark, save for the light she could see from a lantern somewhere ahead of them. What sort of animal had this sort of high survival instinct to cover a lantern in order to hide?

"Did you see where that animal went? We have to make sure he dies!" One of the people said, and Alicia glanced in the direction of where the animal was. Because everywhere was dark, all she could see was the blue eyes of the animal staring at her as it tried to stay still. 

Soon the voices faded, and by the time she felt the animal move, the light from the lamp was dead already.

"Oh no! The light has gone off," Alicia cried in distress. Her escape plan was no doubt automatically ruined.

Seeing how the animal remained silent, something tugged on her heart. She felt sorry for the animal that had to hide from humans this way just so that it could survive. She could understand its resentment and why it would want to attack her too. If she were an animal, she would probably do the same. Why couldn't humans live in their homes and leave the animals in the wild alone? Alicia wondered as she kept looking into the animal's eyes.

"How am I going to help you without light?" Alicia murmured as she sat on the ground and reached out to pat its head. "Don't worry, I won't hurt you. I'm very different from those humans." She murmured softly to the animal. 

"You know, where I come from, animals are protected, not killed. Maybe if you're a good girl, or are you a boy?" She asked thoughtfully, and heard the animal growl. "Well, as long as you are good, I might just adopt you and take you out of here with me once I find my way." Alicia continued as she tried to think of the best way to help the animal.

She suddenly remembered that she was wearing a flowing dress, and she reached down to tear a piece from the hem, "I don't have a first aid box, but tying up your wound should suffix." Alicia said as she blindly reached for its legs. When she touched one leg and the animal whimpered a little, she figured that was the injured leg, so she ran her hands up it to find the injury, and then tried to tie it up to the best of her abilities in the darkness. 

"It is getting cold," Alicia said with a shiver as she sat with her knees up, and balanced her head on it. 

On hearing that she was cold, the animal snuggled closer to her for warmth.

"You are a sweetheart, aren't you?" Alicia asked with a soft smile when she noticed what the animal had done. 

The place began to brighten up a little, causing her to wonder where the light was coming from. She looked above and was surprised to see the once empty sky now had a moon. It was a crescent moon. 

She smiled up at the moon.  "I guess the heavens are helping us now." She smiled as she looked down at the dog's leg, and returned to tie it up properly.

"You are a strong animal, you know? How can you go through this and still be alive?" She asked, looking at its face. 

"You remind me of my dog. I named her Ruby. She also has black fur like yours, but her eyes are brown. Maybe that's why I feel sorry for you?" She sighed. 

"I wish I could go home to her. Imagine suddenly seeing yourself in the year 1503 from the year 2020. That's crazy, right? I mean, I am Alicia! But all of a sudden, I am a scrawny looking princess who is in exile. Does that even make sense? And I had 2 cobs of corn for dinner. Can you believe it? Two fucking cobs!" She began to laugh maniacally, causing the animal to withdraw from her. 

"What?" She asked the animal. "You think I'm crazy?" 

Her eyes widened when she thought she saw the dog nod. "Wait, what?" 

"I am serious!" She said, placing her hand on her chest and staining her dress with its blood. 

"Just wait. I'll take you with me and we will return to 2020 together. Then, you will meet my ruby and fall in love. She is pretty. You two would make beautiful puppies together. You are a dog, right? " She asked, scrutinizing its face properly. 

The animal growled unpleasantly and used its head to nudge her, causing her to fall. 

"What is wrong with you? I am being nice." She hissed and glared at the animal who was still staring at her with its head tilted to the side. 

"You really do think I am crazy, don't you?" She asked with a soft sigh. "Well, I understand. I'd think I'm crazy too if I were you." She said with a yawn. 

"I can't believe I survived that jump off the bridge only to land here. I'm so tired. I need to sleep for a little while. When I wake up, we can leave this place together, okay? Don't worry, I will protect you." Alicia said with another yawn as she lay on the ground next to the animal, and dozed off with the large dog snuggling closer to her.

By the time she opened her eyes the next morning, the animal was gone, but she was found by Paulina and Madam Grace with an injured arm, a few bruises on her body and blood on her dress and hands.