No Strings Attached

It took lan a good ten seconds before he slowly cracked open his eyes. His breath was weak as he managed to croak out, "Is Clara okay?"

Ryker, who had always been a free spirit, felt his eyes moisten for a fleeting moment at the sound of lan's voice. It wasn't the joy of lan cheating death that did it, but lan's thought of Clara. Ryker knew all too well the agony Clara would endure if lan hadn't made it.

With a wry smile, he teased, "She's fine. If you had bitten the dust, she'd be marrying me in a heartbeat."

lan's lips twitched into a faint smile, his voice hoarse as he replied, "I won't give you that chance."

"Even in such a time, you're still trying to outdo me? If I hadn't found you, you'd be wolf chow by now." Ryker bent down, hefted lan off the ground, and slung him over his shoulder.

He whistled sharply down the mountain. In no time, a group of commandos were racing in their direction. They took turns carrying lan out.

There stood Clara, not too far off, gazing anxiously their way. Her voice shook with urgency as she called out, "Ryker, did you find lan?"

steadied her feet, she saw a figure on Ryker's back, covered in blood. His

tight, her fists balling involuntarily. In a soft whisper,

forced his eyes open and mustered all his strength to say, "Clara, I

side, her eyes blurred with tears as she gazed at his wounds. Her voice broke. "Ian, how are you? Where does it hurt?

gently touched lan's injuries. The pain

her cheek, his lips curving slightly as he whispered, "Clara, don't cry. I'm going to pull through for you." He

terror, her voice laced with anguish as she

a stretcher and placed lan on it. They rushed him into the ambulance. Through it all, Clara never let go of

stumbled forward. "Doctor, how is

a severe head injury. There's a

Clara could respond, Ryker chimed in from behind, "He's not going to end up with amnesia or in a vegetative