" You're ok!"
I stiffened as Opal wrapper her arms around me for a hug.
The last time I had a proper hug that included people was...Ruby. On my birthday. As you can tell I'm not much of a hugger before and I'm still not now. In this world I've had Katsu and Noa cry on my shoulder but not proper hugs.
It felt strange. A second later she lets me go. Obviously felt me stiffen and pull back.
I coughed awkwardly, scratching the back of my ear. "Sorry. It just... I've never had a hug before." I mumbled with a slight blush of embarrassment. Not in this world at least...
I diverted my attention back to the two in the door way.
"Hi. I am Yira Teselo. It nice to meet you. Perhaps under better circumstances." I followed with the traditional bow and hand sigh thingie.
"Thank you for saving my daughter and husband. My name is Suyin Beifong and my husband is Baatar Sr." He nods to me with a grateful smile as I glanced to him.
I eyes caught the windows, my smile vanishing. I could just about see the sun setting, the burnt orange reflecting off the metal structures making it look beautiful with the mountains in the distance.
"How long have I been out? A day?" I asked slightly panicked to them.
"You've been out for three days." Su informed me. My eyes widen, "Three days?!" I exclaimed loudly but I winced at a jolt of pain from my side.
"You need to rest. Otherwise you'll be sent to the hospital for longer." Su suggested, pointing to the bed.
I pouted but sat down carefully onto the bed, Baatar indicated for Opal and they both left the room, Leaving me with Su.
"Why aren't I at the hospital? I thought that it would be the first place I'd be." I asked as Su pulled up a chair.
I sat myself better on the bed, pulling the covers over myself.
"You were, but we had you moved. Opal kept sneaking out to you since she couldn't sleep, no matter how many guards were placed around her doors and windows. She's been bunking here for the last two nights" she glanced at the other bed.
I shrugged, "It's fine. What did happen after I blacked out? Did she say what happened?"
"Yes. My guard followed the trail of light from your fire and came across the bodies. The two were dead. They continued to follow the trail until they got to the clearing and the cave where they found you and Opal."
I froze, "Two dead? I counted one dead." I whispered rubbing my temple.
She frowned but shrugged, "Don't beat yourself up over it. By the looks of it Fanged Panthers got to them first."
I nodded slowly, I could feel my eyes starting to droop. "I'll pop by later." She said getting up after seeing me yawn after ten minutes of talking.
As soon as she was out the door and down the hall, I charged straight into the door next to my bed and into the bathroom. Three days in bed really make a person desperate for the toilet.
I hopped back into bed and snuggled into the pillows to get cosy, soon enough I was asleep.
XxxxxxxxxxX
I was abruptly awoken by the sound of my door opening. I swift glance at the windows told me it was late evening, seeing as the domes are up. Domes...where am I?
I gasped in pain as I moved to sit up, the pain killers had clearly worn off while I was sleeping.
I jolted in alarm as a hand grasped my shoulder, pushing me back into the bed.
"Hey. It's ok. Calm down." A voice drags me out of panic. It took me a moment to process on the last couple of hours of my conscious memory. The forest...Opal...Fangs...Su...
My eyes trace the arm that held my shoulder up to a pair of fern green eyes, looking down at me with concern.
I blinked as it took a moment to register who it was. Black hair in a long braid, high cheekbones and pointed chin and a beauty mark under her right eye.
Kuvira...
She let go of my shoulder as I stopped resisting. I closed my eyes and took a deep calming breath. I head a tray being put down on the side table next to me.
"Hey...uhh...Thanks for not letting me freak out." I mumbled out. I could feel my cheek warming out of embarrassment.
I know I've woken in a few strange placed but I've never freaked out like that before.
She nodded with a slight smile, "Its fine. I've got your next dose of painkillers and some soup. Seeing as you've been unconscious for three days, you must be hungry."
As soon as she mentioned soup my stomach let out a big rumble which caused my cheeks to darken even more.
"Thank you. How long has it been since Suyin left? I went to sleep as soon she left."
"A couple of hours. Here. You take one sip every four hours until it runs out." she hands me a small blue bottle.
I took a swig of it and the taste of it was foul. Like when you take an ibuprofen or paracetamol that doesn't get washed down quick enough which leaves a bad case in your mouth. Yuck...
She must have seen me pull a face and was trying not to smile as she helped me sit up.
"I'll be back in half an hour to change your bandages. For the next week we'll have to change them twice a day, that's all the healer said to do, and you should heal up fine."
"Thanks." I said as she handed me the soup and left promptly.
Probably for the better, I didn't like it if people watched me eat. Like in a zoo or something.
Let's just say the soup and the bread roll was gone under two minutes.
Ten minutes after she left the pain was gone again. And for the next twenty minutes I gave myself a wash down. Which was difficult with bandages around your middle. I had come to a realisation that I didn't smell bad for someone lying in a bed for three days.
God I hope I didn't get a sponge bath... I've lost enough dignity as it is already. How about I never bring this up with anyone? Yes. I'll never talk about this to anyone.
I banished those thoughts away and locked them up with the Earth queen memories.
A quick brush of my teeth and I was back to my more cheerful self as Kuvira arrived back with a small bag slung over her shoulder, I finally noticed she was in causal Zaofu cloths and not in uniform. So, day off or not on duty.
I was still in the bathroom as she entered so she didn't see me, a devilish grin made its way to my face. It's a bad idea... but I'm gonna do it anyway.
Seeing as she was halfway in the room there was a large gap between her and the wall. Right behind the door was a book shelf that was only two meters below from hitting the ceiling. I ported onto it and snagged a random book from the shelf.
Kuvira was now looking around the room now, looking under the bed and into the bathroom.
I knew full well that Kuvira was down the hall and would have heard the door open.
"Man, no wonder the creeps got in if that's how you find people." I grinned as she spun around in alarm in a fighting stance.
"But points for being ready to strike first." I continued in a cheerful voice, snapping the book shut as she followed my voice to me.
I waved from up top as she relaxed her stance. "How did you even get up there? It's 6 ft high shelf."
"I was bored." I said blankly.
She blinked, "You climbed up onto a cupboard because you were bored?" Her voice was sceptical, but she shook her head after a moment. The debate in her mind to pursue that conversation or not, but thought better of it.
In a swift movement, I climbed down the shelf like a ladder but winced at the landing.
She frowned disappointingly at me and pointed me to the bed. I sat down carefully as she plonked her bag next to me and began to rifle through it.
"You'll need to remove your shirt."
I grinned mischievously, "At least can I get a name before going second base with me."
The reaction was immediate, she sputtered looking up at me but scowling playfully when she realized I was joking. I chuckled in amusement.
"My name is Kuvira," she mumbled embarrassed, unsuccessfully hiding her blush.
"Yira." she nodded and got the bandages with some antiseptic at the ready.
The shirt was easy to come off but Kuvira had to give me a hand when I couldn't stretch my right arm from the long sleeve.
Her eyes widen as she sees the huge teeth marks. I rolled my eyes at that. This is exactly why I wear long sleeves...
I could tell she wanted to ask but she restrains herself. She cut the old bandages away with scissors, which I might add was bloody cold.
She grabbed her cloth and gave the wound a clean, I held my breath as I gave it a look.
It was about 3 inches long with a few jagged sections around it, most likely a bit of debris of finer glass I didn't feel before.
Being on the painkillers in didn't feel the sting if the antiseptic liquid but on the other hand I was trying not to focus on the redness, which was making me green but not enough to puke. Yet...
After a quick examination, she began to rewrap the wound. Tighter than it was before. Pay back from my earlier remark no doubt.
"A five ft wolf."
"Huh?" she looked up at me confused as she finishes trying up the bandages.
"The scars. I mean. Everyone is always curious." I shrugged. She nodded, I could see a bit of satisfaction about knowing now.
"Hey, what's your job here? Seeing as you know a good deal of first aid. But is not your profession going by the slight tan around your wrists and neck? So, you work outside for a deal of your time. Most likely guard work and seeing as your here on your own and know this place fairly well, you clearly have a good connection with the family." I finished with a smirk as she looks dumbfounded, it took a second to collect herself.
Note to self: keep my inner Sherlock away or shut up all together.
She stole a glance at her wrists to notice the slight tan. The armour here covers everything but the head and wrists.
"You have good eyes. Yes, I'm a lieutenant of the guards here. And yes...I'm close to the family." she said as she began to put away her things.
"What's your job? If you don't mind me asking!" she asked, curiosity peaked. Probably from my evaluation before.
"I'm a bounty hunter. And currently having a terrible holiday." I sighed leaning back onto the bed now.
She nodded in deep thought, "Oh yeah. Before I forget, Su has invited you to join the rest of the clan for breakfast tomorrow. If you're up for it?"
"Sure. By the way, can I use a phone? A few friends of mine are probably worried that I haven't called."
Katsu and Noa are gonna be pissed... I mentally wince at the shouting yet to come.
"Of course. We have one in the hall. Feel free to use it when you're ready."
I nodded as she left, after ten minutes of contemplating I got up to make that dreaded call.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
And that chapter 12. This one I shorter today, so I apologise for that.
And again. All my drawn pictures of her cloths are on Pintrest. The thing I use to upload my chapters doesn't allow me to use links but if you go on pintrest and follow the instruction on my previous chapter HOPEFULLY that should work.
I am still looking for some village names, so ill be happy to take some suggestions in to account.
I am trying to hurry the story along for book one to start but I need the prologue ones for it to make sense. But it about 6 months before book one starts and there will be some time skips to reach that point.
Thank you again my loyal readers!
