"Come, Lena," Simone murmured, rising to her feet after Wolf had fallen into an uneasy slumber. "Now that you're awake, I can take you to Fiona."
Lena's eyes had been resting wearily on her husband, and with one hand reached out to rub the dresses covering the wounds on his chest. She felt him shudder in his dreams and Lena breathed a rattled sigh of relief. At least everybody is still alright. I hope.
"Lena." Simone approached her silently, resting a gentle hand on the younger woman's shoulder. "He's going to be alright. But did you hear me?"
"I'm afraid I didn't, Miss Lenoir." Lena's mind had been swimming since the incident; she wasn't sure if it was that healing gash on the side of her head, of her overall bewilderment of the day's earlier events. "I'm sorry. I'm just trying to figure everything out."
Simone's eyebrows rose slightly at the statement; indeed Lena sounded tired; both physically and mentally. Therefore the older woman decided to be patient. "Let's go get Fiona."
Lena's eyes lit up immediately; something Simone enjoyed seeing out of her, which even managed to make the older woman feign a small smile. "Follow me."
They stepped out into the musty afternoon sunshine. The sun was obscured by clouds, which only made the day seem duller and more depressing with every moment forced to spend in its glare. Lena sighed at this, and continued to follow her companion as they meandered through the settlement.
Even Simone found herself surprised by some of the damage MacWright and his crew had caused. Sections of walls had been kicked in, leaving some of the bunk houses sagging on one side and therefore unsafe to sleep in. The food from the kitchen had been either raided or strewn all about, along with shattered dishes and other debris. Tables and chairs were overturned and splintered; all of this damage almost made it impossible to distinguish the once well-trodden paths around the settlement.
Lena looked around frantically. There was nobody outside but them. This was enough to send Lena walking a little faster to catch up to Simone, who gave her a confident glance.
"Where… Where is everyone?" the younger woman choked.
"In hiding," was Simone's reply.
Hiding? It was enough to quell Lena's fear for now, and she consented with a single nod. Though it didn't make her move away from Simone one inch.
The rest of the journey passed without words. They passed a few intact bunkhouses, a half-demolished cooking pit, and a small meadow of reeds that had taken a trampling from the battle. Soon enough, along a towering wall of cypress trees, one single house came into view.
"Brightcrow's house. Excellent choice," Lena sighed, smiling softly as she picked up her pace.
"She's a wise woman. Figured the children would hide with her until the scouts have returned from their patrol," Simone nodded.
"To make sure nobody stayed behind. Right?" Lena asked. Simone answered her with a nod.
Casting a questioning glance to the older woman, Lena received a nod from Simone as if saying it was clear to approach the door. Lena's shaking hand gripped the door and slowly pushed it open. It swung lazily on its hinges, and Lena's heart felt as if it had stopped when she was greeted with a long silence.
Her mind began to wander. Oh, no! she thought. What if one of them was hurt? Or killed? Lena could have slapped herself for that last thought; if Miss Lenoir thought everything was alright…then wasn't it true? But Miss Lenoir wasn't a mother. She couldn't have understood that stomach-knotting feeling that Lena herself was experiencing.
She cleared her clenched throat and whispered into the darkness.
"Fiona..? It's me. It's your mama."
Simone hadn't gotten to Lena's side for more than five seconds before they were greeted by the crowd of youngsters, all with bright eyes and smiles. Lena grinned and greeted all of them with pats and hugs, though her eyes still searched for Fiona. She froze once she caught a glimpse of wild red curls, with was soon accompanied by Fiona's face as the girl came rushing to the front, arms open. "Mama!"
"Fiona!" Lena cried instantaneously, rushing forward to scoop up her daughter. She twirled a few times, clutching Fiona's small frame, almost as if making sure she wasn't holding a ghost. "Oh, thank the gods you're alive, little one!" Lena purred, tears beading her eyes when she felt Fiona's head nuzzle into her shoulder.
Simone spotted the approaching shadow from behind the children. A smile came when she recognized her old friend.
"Glad to see you've made it this far. Thank you for caring for the young ones," Simone whispered.
"Not a problem," Brightcrow chortled, her brown eyes flickering. The two old friends had often talked and laughed amongst themselves, for the most part Brightcrow believed that the occasional levity helped remedy Simone's moodiness. It seemed to help her keep her spirits up; though Brightcrow wasn't the colony matriarch; so perhaps she didn't fully understand the pressures of such a title.
The temporary peace in the group, as expected, vanished as soon as they heard a voice break through the air.
"Come about!" the voice bellowed. It was young and crisp, and one they all recognized.
"Come about!" Simone called back. As expected, the group of five scouts, all teenage boys, stepped into view. Their leader was Gordon, tall and average in shape. His mother had been a part of the colony and upon her death, declared as her dying wish that Gordon would make something of himself. And that was a promise the 19 year old wouldn't break even under threat of death.
"Matriarch," Gordon breathed, approaching his superior slowly, "There is news."
"Tell me then," came Simone's response, waiting patiently. After all, after a day like today, the last thing her colony needed was her moodiness.
"We found one of them. In the woods," Gordon nodded.
A hush came over the crowd; the ill silence had even taken its effect on the usually boisterous children. This announcement sent them huddling at the adults' sides.
"Show me," Simone stated, making her way in Gordon's direction, her eyes never leaving his all the while. It was one of those glances that was cordial, yet demanding, and it scared all the scouts senseless, even though none would be willing to admit it.
Obeying the matriarch's request, another scout came forward, this time a younger boy, though not much younger than Gordon. He stood perfectly still, while his hand gripped tightly onto the shoulder of their prisoner.
Simone blinked in recognition, examining their captive, the youngest of MacWright's crew. His meager form trembled in her shadow, long, clumsy limbs poised to make a run for it.
"I know you," Simone murmured, "Jacob. Correct?"
"Yeah…Yes, madam..!" the boy stuttered, realizing that there was no chance of escape.
"Jake!" Fiona called, writhing in Lena's grasp. Lena looked on worriedly, firmly holding her daughter close despite the protest.
Simone wasn't sure what to think, and she looked toward Lena, who was wearing the same expression as she continued to look pitifully at Jake. And then Wolf's declaration rang in their minds:
If we find any member of any of the crew still on the island, we kill them.