They turned around the corner and saw their mother stirring something in a pot over the relit fire.
"Smells good!" Tegan shouted over to her mother to draw attention from the pot to themselves.
"Do you have any idea what she's making?" Sara whispered to Tegan.
"No clue. I can't smell it. I only yelled that to make her look over." Tegan whispered back and Sara replied with a laugh.
Sonia did look up with surprise though. Surprised that they were hanging off of each other until she saw Sara's wrapped up leg, and then her face turned with worry. She quickly stood up and walked the short distance left.
"Are you ok?" Sonia asked, helping Sara be guided over to the log near the fire along with Tegan.
"Turn around and face the tent." Tegan ordered to Sara and Sara complied.
Tegan plopped down on to the tarp and crisscrossed her legs while taking out the knife and placed it beside herself.
"Mom, you should go get the first aid kit for me, please." Tegan asked as she took off Sara's right shoe.
"Oh, I put it inside the tent by the entryway. Knowing you Tegan, I thought I would put it there."
Tegan laid back and stretched to reach for the plastic box, which she easily grabbed.
"You couldn't have just gotten up?" Sara said as she looked at Tegan's exposed lower stomach as she reached.
"Shut up." Tegan said playfully as she sat up and gently grabbed Sara's ankle to place in her lap.
"Be careful with me." Sara said as she watched Tegan begin to take off the temporary bandages.
Tegan glanced up at Sara and mouthed "I will." then ended it with a smile. "At least you're not bleeding now." Tegan said aloud this time.
"Is it deep?" Sonia asked as she stirred the soup in the pot.
"It doesn't feel like its deep, but it sure hurts."
"This might sting." Tegan said as she spread the disinfectant cream on Sara's leg.
Sara didn't wince but a shiver ran up her spine from Tegan rubbing her leg with care. "It doesn't sting." Sara said observing Tegan's concentration ridden face.
Tegan's face gave away the feeling that she was on a mission or she had a great goal set that she promised to finish flawlessly as she carefully wrapped a bandage around her leg. And her eyes were filled with love that was sure to make Sara melt if Tegan made that face at her.
"All done." Tegan said with a proud looking grin on her face as she wiped the excess disinfectant on her front of her pants.
Sara inspected the leg that was perfectly wrapped by Tegan. "Thanks." Sara said as Tegan got up.
Tegan nodded in response. "You're welcome; now let's go see if you have any more injuries." Tegan said holding her hand out to Sara to help her up to her feet once again.
"I'll call you two when the chicken noodle soup is done." Sonia said not looking over her shoulder.
"Ok." Tegan and Sara said in unison as Tegan led Sara inside as she closed off the wilderness with a single zipper.
Tegan brought Sara beside the cushy cot, soft with sleeping bag puffiness.
"Stay there. Don't move." Tegan said with such softness in her voice so she wouldn't get punched by Sara for being bossy as she directed Sara to the very edge of the cot.
Tegan crawled onto the bed and sat with a space between her legs for Sara to comfortably sit. Tegan put her hands on Sara's lower back.
"Ok. Sit." Tegan softly ordered as she led Sara down to the comfort of the bed.
Sara slowly sat down on the edge of the bed shakily because she was balancing on one leg. Once in the safety of the bed, Sara scooted in closer to Tegan. Sara felt the sweatshirt and t-shirt of hers slowly expose her back to the cool fall air in the tent. She felt herself blush from Tegan's simple actions and was grateful that Tegan wasn't facing her to see her blush.
Tegan held her breath as she lifted up the fabric from Sara's back to see pale skin, without any imperfections what so ever. Tegan's eyes searched for any type of damage that couldn't be seen from a passing glance.
"See anything?" Sara asked.
"No, I don't. Does it hurt anywhere?" Tegan asked from behind Sara.
Sara responded with a simple no. Tegan cut herself off from attacking Sara's back with her lips by pulling the material back down. She knew if she didn't, she wouldn't be able to stop, no matter whom heard or barged in.
Sara leaned back into Tegan's encirclement. "So now we wait." she said quietly enough for only Tegan to hear.
"Waiting's not too bad when I have you in my arms." Tegan sweetly said as she wrapped her arms around Sara's waist and pulled her closer to her.
Sara leaned the back of her head against Tegan's shoulder and closed her eyes, taking in the moment.
"No moment can be more perfect that this." Sara said with her voice low as she began to intertwine their fingers together.
Tegan held onto Sara even tighter, "Yeah." she said lovingly into Sara's ear before kissing it.
Tegan rested her head against Sara's then closed her eyes, only listening to their breathing, the small breeze blowing through tree leaves and the few birds that were left that stay for the winter instead of migrating south. Everything was as Tegan dreamed. The calmness was shattered, however, when Sonia announced so unnecessarily loud that lunch was done. Her call was so out of nowhere that both Sara and Tegan jumped.
"Ok!" Tegan yelled back at her mother as she was grinning at Sara while trying to regain her breath from the shock.
Sara turned around at Tegan to see her reaction, which was matching hers. "Holy fuck, she didn't need to give us a heart attack!" Sara whispered to Tegan as she tried to get her breathing back to normal.
Tegan leaned herself over onto the cot while laughing at how startled they both were. Sara watched Tegan's laughter subside into giggling and noticed how adorable she was and could help but grin herself. Tegan's giggling settled down into a smile that reflected Sara's.
"Want me to bring you a bowl?" Tegan said.
"Nah, I'll go outside." Sara said as she began to get up while supporting most of her weight on her left leg.
"Whoa, hold on. Let me help." Tegan said as she shot up from the cot and held onto Sara with gentleness.
"Thanks Tee." Sara said then looked into Tegan's eyes.
Tegan huffed then smiled, "no problem."