CHAPTER TWO
When Grendel awoke the following morning, she found Loretta's hand on her chest. She blushed and didn't want to wake the sleeping girl, so, she went back to sleep.
An hour later, she awoke to Loretta moving. She opened her eyes and saw that Loretta was trying to stand.
Grendel was beside her in an instant. Loretta looked at her and smiled warmly, briefly "I'm fine, Grendel. I know you're just trying to help" she said, and the knight nodded, still worried that the young Callisto will hurt herself, unintentionally.
Grendel walked slowly, yet cautiously beside Loretta, just in case she fell. As she was doing so, she kept thinking about the close call she and the Mission Specialist had the previous night. Am I, falling for her? But she's only seventeen! She shook her thoughts away and continued to help.
Soon, Loretta was almost walking by herself and that surprised both. As she was walking, she was lost in her own thoughts. Her mind drifted to the female knight. Her red eyes were unnoticeably filled with a wildfire, unable to be tamed. She loved the knight's voice, it would lull her to sleep when it was whispering and her physical features. I wonder what it'll be like, to have those hands on me. Wait, Loretta, snap out of it! She shook her head to clear away the thoughts and stopped to catch her breath.
Grendel stopped and looked at her. She helped her sit down, leaning against a tree and sat down beside her.
Loretta absently leaned her head on the knight's shoulder, as she took a few deep breaths, while holding her injured leg.
Grendel looked down and noticed the pain the human was in. She touched Loretta's knee and was met with a sharp gasp. "That was too much for you, Loretta" she said, and was met with dagger-like eyes.
Loretta couldn't help but, smile at the care the female knight had, she'd never known.
Grendel got lunch cooking, and the two sat and stared at the fire in silence.
Finally, Loretta broke the silence. "Do you believe in true love?" she asked, catching the knight off guard. Grendel snapped her head in the Mission Specialist's direction, her mouth slightly agape.
Loretta looked at Grendel, then looked back at the fire, shrugging. "It's okay, if you don't. I just think it's possible" she said, holding her arms, to warm up.
Grendel noticed, and wrapped an arm around the girl. Loretta smiled and leaned on the knight's shoulder and closed her eyes. "To answer your question, Loretta, I think it's unnecessary to be thinking about true love. But you're right, it's possible" she said, looking down at the young human, who kept staring at the dancing flames of the fire.
When lunch was ready, Stardust came flying down, from her branch and noiselessly snapped her beak, clarifying she was hungry. Grendel chuckled and cut off a piece and fed it too her, before giving the rest to Loretta.
This time, there was medium-sized piece left on the plate, and like last time, the knight ate it, when Loretta gave it to her.
To pass the time, Grendel took Loretta over to a stream, to set the fishing nets the young girl had made. When they awaited to cook dinner, they shared stories, to wait.
Grendel was laughing, and Loretta was chuckling, as she remembered one of the adventures she had with her brother onboard the Stellosphere. "Then, we got the ship back to where our parents left it, and ran off to bed" she finished, looking at the red eyes of the female knight.
Grendel didn't say anything, but, stared at the green eyes of the young human. Now I know. She broke the gaze and started cooking dinner.
Feeling the awkward silence, Loretta started to pet Stardust. Grendel sighed, causing the Mission Specialist to look at her. "I hope you know the reason why I'm being distant right now, Loretta" she said, and the human nodded in understanding.
Loretta's mind drifted off to her brother. I know Miles. He'll be looking for me. He always does.
When dinner was ready, Loretta ate the whole plate, and gave it to the female knight, who washed it off.
Loretta truly wanted to sleep with Grendel, but, she respected the space the knight wanted. She laid down, Stardust on the tree branch above her, and both went to sleep.
Grendel sat down at her usual spot and usual position, then looked at the sleeping human. She regretted being this distant, she knew Loretta wanted to be close to her, to feel the safety she had. But, the knight knew, that would be an advantage, she didn't want to take. She now knew, she was falling in love, but, with an enemy. She sighed and rubbed her eyes, before closing them and surrendering herself to a much-needed rest.