Author's note

Hey, it's me again. Thanks so much for all the reviews, I love reading them all. Some of you have been asking to update quicker, but I need to know if you would prefer slower updates and longer chapters or quicker updates with shorter chapters. Let me know in the reviews!

Morningstar0804 Xx

Okalanae POV

The next few days passed uneventfully. Day and night blurred together, and my fear each time a doctor walked in ceased slightly, although it was no where near gone. Several of them would enter every hour, some just checking in on me, some running tests and checking my IV's.

Xav was one of the doctors who visited most frequently. He always chatted happily whenever he came in, about everything from his family to his job. I never spoke to him, though he seemed content on our one-sided conversations.

The subject of his family was one that interested me in particular: he had six brothers, two of which were married. He said that he told them all about me, and would love to meet me, since I had no family.

Another subject that he spoke frequently about was his girlfriend Crystal. Whenever he spoke of her his entire face would light up, and he spoke in an awed voice filled with devotion. It didn't seem possible that one person could contain such strong emotions, and it made me eager to hear more about her. It filled me with joy that in what I had thought was a loveless world, he had found a reason to be here. It restored my hope that had previously disappeared.

XxXxXxXxX

It had now been two days since the day in the clearing. I had no idea why it was taking so long. Was it because they didn't know where to put me? I suppose they won't let me go back to my home in the woods.

I was mulling this over when Xav suddenly burst into my room, a wide grin on his face. He was in here the most often, and I found myself no longer scared of him.

"Hey Oak, guess what? You're allowed visitors now!" He exclaimed, and I smiled slightly at his enthusiasm.

"My family are desperate to meet you. You wouldn't mind if just a few of them came in, would you?"

I nodded uncertainly, unsure of why they would want to meet me, of all people. He shot me a smile before darting out of the room.

He returned several minutes later, this time with five others in tow. I stiffened slightly as they walked through the doorway, but forced myself to relax. If Xav trusted these people, then so should I.

He gave a short introduction, and I recognised each of them as having been by the waterfall several days previously. Crystal- Xav's girlfriend- was tall, with vaguely Egyptian features and frizzy brown hair. Karla- his mom- was shorter, with a seemingly excitable air about her. Saul towered over her with a slightly Hispanic face, bearing a large resemblance to Zed, his son. Sky was the last one introduced. She was the shortest of them all, with wide and innocent blue eyes and madly curly blonde hair.

My eyes wandered to Xav, and he must have sensed my nervousness, shooting me an encouraging smile.

"Oak doesn't like talking. She's what we call a selective mute," announced Xav, to which his family nodded in understanding. Karla began to walk towards me.

"Hey Oak, it's nice to finally meet you. Xav has told me loads about you. I hope he hasn't been too unbearable," she smiled, glaring at Xav mock-accusingly.

Xav feigned hurt.

"As if I ever would be! C'mon mom, I thought you knew me better than that," he joked.

Karla laughed at him, and Zed rolled his eyes, hugging Sky closer to his chest. Sky was gazing at me with what appeared to be curiosity in her eyes. Noticing that I had seen her, she turned away, blushing slightly.

After a few minutes, Xav led his family out of the room, claiming that I needed to rest.

And then I was alone.