The Return
The sun was just peeping over the lowest branches in the forest, creeping over the cold muddy ground and glistening on the midnight dew still clinging to silvery cobwebs. Everything was silent, even the stream had been reduced to a gentle murmur. The first of the birds were tittering high above head and the faintest breeze whistled in from the west…
The group too were sombre and quiet, seeming to slow as they neared the place they now called home, weighted down with bags filled with supplies. They were later than they'd expected to be, however none of them had really expected events in the city to pan out the way they had…
Their mood was one of tiredness, a tiredness which fuelled dejection as they marched silently, even Kuger made no noise at the front of the group. They didn't know what they were going to say when they got back, how could they possibly… Jay had stepped forward and announced that he would break the news if no one else objected; and of course no one did, even Scott, who knew deep down that it should be him bringing this heartache.
In the whole time at the city all had only slept for a few hours, and dark circles were evident under sleepy eyes as they moved on, the cottage almost in sight, heavy legs pushing just that little bit harder when the roof was visible…
Grace hadn't slept very well the previous night, worrying about Malaika's warning-words - the fact that the group hadn't returned yet and although she needn't worry about him, she still couldn't help it, they needed this talk; and soon.
A gentle almost inaudible rustling reached her ears and she stood slowly, warily. Her inky eyes not blinking until she saw the dog run into the clearing and drop in exhaustion.
"Kuger…" She whispered her name almost as a question, flicking her eyes from the dog to where she had appeared.
After a few seconds that seemed to last an eternity his bleached-blonde head appeared slightly bowed. She held her vision of him with worried eyes. The tribal marking on his face was smudged and dusty…and was that [I]blood[/I] on his face…?
This realisation brought the sound rushing back to her ears giddily and movement came into her legs as Grace rushed forward to catch him in an embrace. "Jay…!" She whispered harshly, closing her eyes tight as she put her arms around his waist and buried her face in his chest.
Jay winced slightly with injuries that couldn't be seen through his clothes but didn't push her away. In fact he held onto her as tightly as he could, breathing her in and closing his eyes. She felt so right in his arms, clinging onto him for dear life, holding him as though she was never letting go…the group came to an agreed halt as the two embraced and Jay closed his eyes to stop the teary emotion that was welling up inside.
Finally she let him go, stepping back and throwing her eyes over the rest of the group. She looked back at Jay and reached up to touch his slightly bruised face. "What happened?" The concern in her voice brought tears to her own eyes, and although no one saw, it did the same to Tammy's.
Kuger barked loudly, no once, but twice and then reduced the noise to a low wining as all moved into the picnic area, not wanting to answer Grace's question…not [I]yet[/I] anyway…
All the bags and boxes and things were dropped and disregarded as people sat and rested, the heavy silence still hanging in the air above them.
The door of the cottage opened and Malaika stood there, looking as beautiful and as wise as ever, watching from the shadows of the house. She stepped slowly into the light and all eyes were on her as she came down the steps and waited. Her dark eyes washed over the group and Grace literally saw her face drained of colour as she noticed something Grace had missed.
"Where is he?" Her voice was eerie and calm, much like the quiet morning. It also sounded squeaky, as though she was holding back sobs…
"Mali…" Jay rose from where he was sitting next to Grace and her eyes followed him, soaked with concern. "I'm…so, so…sorry."
Malaika's face crumbled slightly as she took a step backwards and away from Jay. "What happened?"
Jay shook his head silently.
"What happened Jay?!" Her voice rose as she began breathing as though her throat had closed over.
Jay and Scott exchanged glances. "We were set upon by another tribe…The Locusts…I…" Scott stood slowly as Jay began to explain and Malaika turned to him eyes flashing.
"You!" She pointed shakily. "You promised…why didn't you bring him back?"
Scott's voice was as shaky as Jay's when he spoke. "We tried to fight back…there were too many of them…he was caught as a…slave…"
A sob escaped from her throat as finally the tears came thick and fast over her pale cheeks…her hand went to the steps as she tried to steady herself when her knees buckled weakly…
"Mali…" Grace stood now, tears filling her own eyes.
"I won't forget…" Malaika whispered her eyes locked with Jay's, before turning to do the same to Scott. "…and I'll never forgive you if something terrible has happened to him…"
Scott blinked hard, as he raised a hand to wipe away any tears that escaped from his eyes at the sight of his broken sister, his heart ached to see her this way…but there was really nothing they could've done…
"Come on Mali…" He moved slowly towards her.
"Don't 'c'mon Mali' me!" She bit out venomously as she sunk to the steps. "I'll never forget…" She whispered losing herself in sorrow rather that fury…
Malaika's body collapsed on the steps as all poise and grace she ever had vanished in the floods of tears and loud wails that escaped her body.
Jay moved to comfort his friend but Scott held up a hand, stopping him. He knew that this was his doing, and she was his sister…
Scott knelt in front of her and looked up into watery eyes, his own eyes stinging and his heart too… "They left him to die…" She sighed out in a tiny voice. "…to die…"
"I'm sorry…" He whispered so quietly only she heard, the tears now on his cheeks too. "Mali…I love you…and I'm so sorry…"
Malaika choked out loud sobs again as she threw her arms around Scott's neck and cried so violently she could hardly breathe. Gently Scott scooped his sisters shaking body into his own shaking arms, carrying her up the steps and lovingly into the house.
Mali was now sleeping. The tears had finally worn her out so much she had drifted off into the place of dreams, a place she could finally be happy…
Scott was sat at her side; he hadn't left her for a single moment, preferring instead to watch her with concern and sorrow. He was exhausted, but refused to let himself sleep, even when Grace had offered to sit with her for a few hours.
Mali stirred and murmured in her sleep and he sat forward instantly bringing his hand comfortingly to her hot forehead and soothingly stroking her dark hair.
"It's okay Mali…" He whispered to himself more than anything, as she seemed to settle again.
The only problem was that he didn't know if he believed that himself anymore…