Page 15 of Green Ravens

“I’ll keep watch tonight. Get some rest, Sawyer… You’re gonna need it.”

Chief Aiken Oakley

Oakley took ten- and fifteen-minute naps most of the night while Sawyer slept in his arms as if he were in a suite at the Holiday Inn.

Which might have been a good thing because if Sawyer had seen the massive eagle suddenly leap off his branch, dive into another tree, and grab the young sloth in its four-inch talons, he might have shit himself.

The sound of bones crunching and tendons tearing in the pitch dark even made him cringe.

It was probably the morphine because not many people could sleep so soundly with all that natural selection going on around them.

Sunlight began to filter through the canopy of trees and cast a mosaic of golden light on the forest floor.

The hundreds of species of birds sounded as if they had all woken at the same time, singing and chirping in a way that mimicked an unrehearsed choir of sopranos.

The fine mist that covered the ground prevented him from seeing which creatures were scurrying and rattling in the dense bushes.

The air was thick with the scent of rich vegetation, hints of exotic florals, and smoky musk from the man in his arms.

Oakley was able to get a better look at Sawyer’s burns, glad they weren’t as severe as he’d assumed, but his hair and beardwere still singed, and clumps of blood matted the back of his head.

The skin beneath his jaw and along his throat was bright red and burned raw.

But somehow, he was still gorgeous.

What the fuck have I done?

He tried not to replay yesterday’s disaster in a constant loop as he’d done last night. He didn’t want to think of his crew, his friends he’d never see or serve with again.

It was pointless to think about it now, and it only proved to torture his conscience.

“Hey,” he whispered against the back of Sawyer’s ear.

Sawyer moaned and shifted against his chest, his right hand inching down the front of his pants.

Oakley chuckled, ignoring how his own cock jerked in reaction.

“I know the woods is kinda our thing, but this isn’t the right time, Chief.”

Sawyer slowly opened his eyes, then touched the side of his charred face, flinching when he brushed a patch of skin that’d blistered overnight.

“I’m sure it feels worse than before… Do you need more pain meds?”

“No. I need a clear mind.” Sawyer’s morning voice was deep, gritty, and tinged with discomfort as he groaned to get in position to climb down the tree.

Oakley wanted to go first just in case Sawyer lost his footing, but he didn’t press it.

Sawyer grunted hard when his boots hit the ground, clutching his right side.

Oakley’s stomach let out a rumble that was hard to ignore. Sawyer glanced back at him, then patted his own stomach as if he understood.

“You wouldn’t happen to have a couple of MREs in one of those pockets, would ya?”

“Afraid not. But I do know a way to feed us. You may not find it appetizing, but it’ll give enough energy for a hump.”

“If that loud-ass monkey from last night is still around here, I’d gnaw on his ass like it’s a turkey leg at Thanksgiving, so don’t worry about that. I’m not picky when it comes to surviving.”

Oakley quirked one side of his mouth. “In an hour or so, remember you said that.”

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