Chapter 3:

"Amber…Amber, can you hear me? Amber, open your eyes."

The voice seemed to be coming from very far away. Amber struggled to do as the voice said. Open her eyes, it sounded easy, but Amber was finding it harder than she expected.

At last she slowly opened her eyes. A familiar face stared down at her.

"There you are, we thought we'd lost you for a bit there. Glad to have you back."

"Patch?" She said softly.

"Yes, that's right. It's me. How do you feel? Does you're shoulder hurt?"

"What are you doing here?" she asked in a hoarse voice, "I am at the Eco camp, aren't I?"

"Shhh, it's alright, don't talk too much, just rest." Patch admonished her softly. "Yes, you're at the Eco camp. Dee and I stopped here a few months ago on our way back to the city and decided to stay."

"Dee? Where is she, can I see her?"

"No, Amber, I'm sorry…Dee…Dee didn't make it." Patch answered softly, "She…she died while giving birth to our daughter."

He was examining her shoulder now, checking on the poultice of herbs that he had fastened around her wound.

Amber closed her eyes again, thinking of Dee. Bright, lively Dee, she had been so full of life. Gone. A sharp pain in her shoulder brought her back to the moment. She opened her eyes and met Patch's gaze.

"Are you alright." She asked him.

"It's been hard, but I'm getting better.Paddy keeps me going, without here, I don't know where I'd be." He put a hand on her forehead, checking for signs of fever.

"Paddy?" Amber questioned.

"My daughter, she was born here in the Eco camp. She's beautiful Amber; I can't wait for you to see her."

Amber gave him a small smile, "I'm sure she's wonderful. Patch, where's my baby? Is Bray alright?"

"Oh yes, he's fine. Rain is looking after him."

"Rain?" Amber queried.

"The woman you met in the forest, she helped Hawk bring you in."

"Oh yes, of course." Amber said, remembering the girl she had hidden with in the forest.

As she closed her eyes again against the pain in her shoulder she heard someone else enter the small hut.

"How is she," Hawk asked.

"She's much better, there's no sign of infection and her fever has broken. She should be up and about in no time," Patch replied.

"Hawk…" Amber said, opening her eyes and looking up to see her old friend.

"Yes, Amber it's me. You certainly made quite an entrance. We were all very worried about you."

"I'm fine, Hawk, don't worry about me."

"We need to get you on your feet and your strength built up so you can be on your way." Hawk replied.

"On my way…But I was going to…" Amber struggled to formulate a reply.

"Hawk, please, not now. She needs to rest." Patch joined in, trying to change the subject.

As Hawk turned to go Amber cried out, "Wait, Hawk, I want to see my baby. I want to make sure he's ok."

"He's with Rain in our tent. I'll go get them," he said leaving the little hut.

"Our tent?" Amber turned questioning eyes to Patch.

"They're married Amber," Patch replied, "She's his wife."