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?"

as she steadied her feet, she saw a figure on Ryker's back,

heart clenched tight, her fists balling involuntarily. In a soft whisper, she called out,

open and mustered all his strength to say, "Clara, I didn't

as she gazed at

lan's injuries. The pain in her

as he whispered, "Clara, don't cry. I'm going to pull through for you." He didn't finish his sentence before his finger

laced with anguish as

and placed lan on it. They rushed him into the ambulance. Through it all, Clara never let go of lan's hand, even though he had already lost consciousness.

"Doctor, how

have been treated, but he suffered a severe head injury. There's a hematoma in his skull. It'll

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