Warrior Rapter: Legend of a Legend, Chapter 6

Warrior Rapter could feel the darkness he was in letting up.  Slowly his body was regaining it's feeling, it's strength.  He could start to hear voices.  They sounded like they were arguing, but the words were muffled still.
"... creature... danger... killed..."  Words had come into focus.  He reasoned the words were the mayor's.  His mind went back to his last memory he could recall, and he suddenly wished he could see and move.
"... reacted... Jack... You caused... great buffoon."  The words were becoming even less faded.  Doubtless that was Marg.  He wondered how she was holding up after what had happened to Jack.
"I want him... my town, Marg.  He is a clear and... present threat to this community.  I don't care that he was reacting to my action with Jack, he will never truly be accepted by humans.  He is a monster, and monsters must be slain."
He wished those words had stayed faded.  True, he was acting in defense of Jack, but he also knew that few humans would accept him for what he was.  He tried not to let it bother him most of the time, but it was a fact he could never escape.
"And I want you out of my tavern right now.  Mr. Rapter could wake up any moment now by Leiutenant Hutch's figuring, and I don't want any more incidences, least of all in here!  So out!"
"Just remember, Marg, I want him gone by sunrise, or I'll come and finish the job.  And I won't be alone!"
He heard the tavern door shut rather loudly.  He wanted to get up, to say something, but he found he still lacked the strength to move, even though he could clearly hear now.  He heard more conversation.
"Have you any news on Jack, Lieutenant?"
"None yet, madam.  I had one of my fastest horsemen rush him to a healer I know in a town to the north, with explicit orders to keep us posted on any news."
Jack wasn't dead? Warrior Rapter thought to himself.  He felt relief, both for him and for Marg.  Maybe the mayor is right.  Maybe I am a monster.  He quickly disregarded the thought.
"Is there anything you can do for Mr. Rapter, Lieutenant?  He's been a friend of mine since I was a little girl, and he's known Jack just as long."
"I'm afraid not.  The mayor has the jurisdiction down here.  He grew up with you and Jack?"
"Oh, no.  It's a funny thing, he hasn't changed a bit in appearance since I was little that I can recall.  Jack has mentioned the same before.  He's just always been a friend to us.  He's been a friend of my families, really.  My father told me that when he was little, he helped Mr. Rapter learn how to speak with us."
"He was around when your father was little?!  He doesn't look much older than a twenty year old human!"
"I know, but that's just Mr. Rapter for you.  He keeps an eye on the children in the forest, even though he says he doesn't.  But I know it for true, because for all the bandits in the area, we haven't had one child go into that forest without coming back.  I even heard a few saying they were rescued from the bandits, even though that hadn't been gone a day.  Some of the parents said that was just childish imagination."
"But you have reason not to believe that?"
"Yes, why, I was one of those children back when I was young!"
"I think I see why you defend him now.  He protected you when you were young, and you're returning the favor now."
"Precisely, Leiutenant!"
Warrior Rapter couldn't help but feel a little comforted by those words.  Marg was a true friend of his, he would never ask he to do some of the things she does, but she does them anyway, even when most of the rest of the town is against him.  He attempted to move again, he managed to tap one of his finger claws on what he was laying on.
"I think he's awake, Marg, or starting to wake up.  He's trying to move his hand."
"Mr. Rapter, thank goodness."  She rushed to him and propped open his left eye.  "He's still a little weak, Leiutenant.  Grab me that glass I poured earlier."  She closed his eye, and he heard shuffling and the sound of a glass being placed on the table.
"Leiutenant, could you hold his mouth open please?  Careful of his teeth, heaven knows they are naturally sharp!  Mr. Rapter, this is going to be a little spicy."
Spicy was putting it mildly.  As soon as the concoction went down his throat, he felt like he could've been a dragon for all the burning.  It jolted his body awake, he could feely move and speak now, but he was focused on trying to get the fiery feeling out of his mouth.  Marg handed him another glass, this one with milk, and he drank it hastily, the burn disapating.
"Whatever that was," He said when he could breath again, "I do not want to try it again!"  They all laughed a little bit before he continued, "How long was I out?"
"Nearly half a day now Mr. Rapter.  The Lieutenant had to knock you out when you were struggling to get to the mayor!"
"You're quite strong, I didn't know how much longer I could've held you."
"What of Jack?" Warrior Rapter inquired.
"Sent him to a healer to the north.  His injury was a little short of being mortal, but it needed tending to as soon as possible.  I told my man to send word back if anything --"
Suddenly, a man rushed into the tavern, looking out of breath.  The Leiutenant sprang up, a glint of recognition in his eyes, and hurried to the man as he was about to fall down.
"What news Diertry?"
"I'm afraid he couldn't make the trip, sir.  We were ambushed by bandits on the road.  I tried to hurry past them, but by the time I got to the healer, he said it was too late."
The four of them sat in silence, Warrior Rapter and Leiutenant Hutch looking at Marg, both feeling empathic for what she must be feeling now.  The soldier, Diertry, stared at Warrior Rapter, as if puzzling whether to draw his sword on his belt or not.  Marg just stared, a hint of disbelief in her eyes.