"It's getting rather late. Isn't Teela home yet? I'm getting worried, and I'm excited to talk to her about Adora's wedding," asked Queen Marlena.
"There's plenty of time to talk to her about it, mother. Adora will be here for 3 months the least. I'll go find Teela," offered Adam.
"No, you have some visitors. Let me look for Teela," said Man-at-Arms.
"It was my fault she stormed out angrily this afternoon. Let me find her to make peace with her. Besides, like I said my sister and I will be bonding for some time," smiled Adam.
"Why don't I come with you, dear brother," said Adora.
"No. You need your rest. You and Teela can talk in the morning. I'll take Cranger with me."
Cranger froze in fear. "Me? Why me? I'm scared of the forest, especially after sundown."
"You don't have to be afraid, Cranger. I'm here. We'll look for Teela together. There's nothing to be afraid of, I promise."
"Okay… but please hold my paw… I'm scared," said Cranger in a trembling voice.
It was almost pitch black inside the hole if not for the moonlight that cast a shadow of the trees around the forest. Teela wasn't scared. She was never one to be afraid of the dark but it was getting rather chilly and her swollen ankle made her feel weak. She was in and out of consciousness. She wondered what time it was and how long she'd been in lying down inside the hole. Her throat was dry from thirst and she swallowed hard to clear her throat. Suddenly, she felt a presence inside the hole with her. Funny that she didn't feel any alarm despite not knowing if the presence was a friend or a foe.
"Teela," he spoke her name so gently.
Was she dreaming? Was this how one became delirious before dying because she could swear it sounded like Adam or was it He-Man. She blinked her eyes several times to make out the outline of his face beneath the moonlight. Funny, how she suddenly thought of Adam as synonymous to He-Man. Were they more similar than she ever thought about or believed?
Adam removed his pink tunic and draped over Teela's shoulder before holding her closer to his warmth. She was so cold. He examined her closely to see if she had any major injuries. He felt relieved to realize she didn't hurt her head nor had she sustained any broken bones. She flinched when he touched her sprained ankle. He sighed in relief to know there was nothing serious.
"Teela," he spoke again as he gently shook her to wake up.
"Wake up. Let's go home," he whispered before brushing his lips on the side of her temple. She uttered a low moan but Teela didn't want to wake up. If she was having a dream or a hallucination for that matter, she didn't want it to end. It felt so good to be in Adam's arms, and it was the most wonderful kiss. I wish he would kiss me on the lips too.
As though he reading her thoughts Adam gently brushed his lips on hers for a moment, it would have been longer if not for a shivering furry Tiger that slithered inside the hole with them.
"Cranger! This hole is too small for the three of us," said Adam.
"I want to crawl in here with you. I'm scared to stay up there all alone," protested Cranger shivering with fright.
"I couldn't wake Teela and I can't take her out this hole without her help. Why don't you go back to the castle and get some help. I just need another person to pull her out once I've climbed up this hole," said Adam.
"I'm scared. I can't go back to the castle by myself. Let's just all stay here till the morning," said Cranger.
"But we can't fit in here, Cranger," explained Adam.
But Cranger huddled closer to them in fear. "Alright, Cranger, you leave me no choice. I didn't want to do this, not with Teela so close by…"
He took his sword and yelled, "For the Power of Grayskull."
He-man came into the castle carrying Teela. It was late and he entered through the side door instead of the main entrance to alert only Man-At-Arms with his presence.
Incidentally, he ran into Adora in the hallway, who was still awake at the time. "Adam! What's happened to Teela?" she exclaimed.
"Sshhh… Someone might hear you. Come help me put Teela to bed. She just hurt her ankle and it needs tendering. Call her father and get me some bandage for her ankle," said He-Man.
Teela was only half awake but slowly became more conscious as she felt the soft warmth of her bed. Was she still dreaming? She felt the covers being draw over her. She thought she was saved by He-Man or was it Adam? She wasn't sure anymore but he felt someone tugging the tunic that draped around her shoulders. She moaned a little and clutched it tighter around her, refusing to let it go. He-man let it go and faced Man-At-Arms and Adora as they entered the room.
"How is she?" asked Man-At-Arms with worry.
"She's fine. She just sprained her ankle," explained Adam.
She opened her eyes a bit to check what was happening and was astonished to find He-Man talking to her father. Strange… she thought the voice belonged to Adam. Those were her last thoughts before she slipped back into oblivion.
The next morning Teela was awakened by the sunshine entering her window. She smiled lazily and stretched her arms in bed. IbetterthankedHe-Manforsavingme.
She flinched a little in pain as she tried to move with her sprained ankle. She hopped down the bed and tried to catch her balance in a nearby dresser when the sight of a familiar pink jacket that fell off her shoulder and onto the floor made her heart skip a beat. She hopped on one leg to reach for the jacket and unmistakably it was Adam's.
Suddenly her head was aching more than her ankle. She vaguely remembered Adam putting it around her and kissing her but she thought it was only a dream, and yet here was the jacket. She was certain she saw He-Man talking to his father in this very room but she remembered a woman addressing Adam…
"Good morning, Teela. I brought you breakfast," a cheery voice greeted her.
"Adora! It's so nice to see you. When did you arrive? Was I asleep that long?" she laughed as she kissed the blond woman.
Adora plopped the small bedroom tray on Teela's bed. "I arrived yesterday but you were out…"
"Tell me, Adora, who brought me in my room?" she asked eagerly.
"Why it was your father…and me," smiled Adora.
"Was there anyone else?" she asked.
"No, it was just me and your father."
Teela clutched the pink tunic in her hand hidden from Adora's view. She couldn't have been mistaken, could she?
"Adam! Adam!" called out Adora as she helped herself inside his room.
There was no answer but before she could turn back and leave she noticed a glistening female head dress on his bed. She examined it closely and realized she had seen it before… on Teela.
"Whatcha doin, Adora?"
She gasped. Adam came out of the bathroom drying his hair.
"You startled me Adam. Why is Teela's head dress with you? Don't you think you're a bit too old to be playing tricks on girls," teased Adora.
Adam smiled sheepishly before seating on the bed. "I…I…"
"Well?" probed Adora.
Adam sighed before meeting his sister's stare solemnly. "I took it because I like the way she looks with her hair down but I couldn't tell her 'Hey Teela, could you just take off that head dress because I love the way you look with your hair down. The way your red hair glistens beneath the sun like dancing fire, the feel of your long hair when it brushes against me when we duel' I can't say that!"
Adora crossed her arms and smiled at her brother. "Have you told her you like her?"
"No… I wanted to but I'm not sure how she would take it," he told his sister defeatedly.
"We wouldn't know until you do. For all we know she's in love with you too."
"Oops… I didn't say anything about love, Adora," protested Adam.
"You don't have to, dear brother. It's written all over your face."
Adam smiled. "Oh yeah? Well, have you told your husband-to-be that you possess a secret?"
Adora's smile faded. "No, in fact I don't know how to tell him. I wanted to but I don't know how."
"Well, sis, welcome to the club. That's exactly how I feel about Teela. I wanted to tell her but I don't know how."
