Page 41 of Sheltering Instinct

With venom in her veins, Tess’s body's response to the sight of Levi was a betrayal of its limbic system.

Tess knew from her early days that survival comes before emotion. You may fear the roaring waters, but you swim them anyway. Then, you sit in front of a fire and tell your pain to the flames that carry your words away with the smoke.

The snake app said this was a life-threatening event.

And until she was told otherwise, the bite was her priority. All the Levi feelings, all of them … she’d deal with that at a later time.

If she had a later time.

The future was a luxurious thought. People walked around, not realizing what a treasure it was to consider the future, to think beyond their present moment.

Lying here, processing the idea that she could have deadly venom flowing through her body and that she might very well not see the sun rise on a new morning, had a familiar sensation.

How was it possible that she was lying on a platform in Namibia, and Levi was the one who climbed to her rescue?

While Tess was scolding herself into the right frame of mind, Goose was off to the side, reviewing the chain of events with Gwen. “And when did this happen?”

“About an hour ago. I have the time stamp on one of the photos. It took a few minutes to get Tess lying down and put an action plan in play. But I spotted you on the road right away and tried to signal with a mirror. Before you had your flat, that is. That’s when I switched from the signal mirror to the whistle. I guess you heard that.”

“Mojo did.” Goose tipped his head toward Mojo, who lay down on the wide platform, sweeping his gaze over the vista as he guarded their activity.

“So, about an hour. You said you had photos of the snake?”

Gwen pulled up the video. “Just the skin markings, not the head.”

Goose took the phone and held the video out for Levi to see.

“Do you know what kind of snake it is, Goose?” Levi asked. “My bet is zebra cobra.”

“That’s what I came up with.” Goose lifted his head. “Which leg, the right?”

Gwen’s voice rippled with anxiety. “Yes.”

“Hey there, Tess. I’m Goose,” He knelt beside Levi. “I’m a vet for Iniquus and trained in field medicine. Do I have permission to render first aid?”

“Absolutely. Yes. Thank you.”

“Levi, get her shoulders.” Goose edged closer and reached over her legs. “Tess, we’re going to roll you onto your left side so I can access your wound.”

Tess’s teeth chattered.

“You’re going to keep your legs sealed one to the other. On the count of three, Levi and I will do the rolling. You’re not to help.”

There was a count, and as the men moved her, Tess tried to be water and let them manipulate how she flowed.

Once Tess was on her side, Levi held her in place with a hand on her shoulder and waist while Goose leaned over to look.

Levi was scared for her. She could feel his concern radiating out of his hands.

Scrambling around to the other side of Tess and sitting where Tess could see her face, Gwen provided moral support.

“I see two puncture marks. So we are dealing with a venomous snake.” Goose turned to Gwen. “An hour?” he confirmed.

Gwen nodded vigorously.

“The good news, Tess,” Goose continued, “is that as I look at the puncture site, it’s not red or swollen or oozing. That’s all encouraging. Enrico, thoughts?”

“In my years in Namibia, I’ve never known anyone, man or dog, with a snake bite. I know the basics—immobilize and race for the hospital.”

---