Cain groaned at the sunlight hitting his face, causing him to wake sooner than he wanted. He wanted to shield his eyes, but his arms weren't working right as they felt more like dead weight. As if someone was reading his mind, a shade was drawn, shutting out the suns' light and a cool hand was resting on his forehead.
"Cain?" Came a distant voice, "Wyatt you with us?"
"Come on dad." There was Jeb in as just as distant way, "We heard and saw you. Just open your eyes, please?"
The hell? Cain thought, why does Jeb sound so… frightened?
That alone cause Cain to open his eyes, but he still did it slowly. Even with the shades drawn, the light was still pretty bright. He had to turn his head to the side, just to keep his eyes open. When the world came into focus, his son's face was the first thing he saw.
"Hey Jeb." He said, trying at a half smile, "So you were blackmailing me?"
"No dad." Jeb laughed, but Cain still caught the hint of sadness in his son's voice, "Wanted you to be awake… finally."
"Finally?" Cain asked, slowly turning to look around the room. Azkadellia, Glitch and Raw were there, though not as close, "What is that suppose to mean?"
"Mister Cain, you've been unconscious for a long time. We were beginning to think you would never wake up." Az said, with the same tone as Jeb.
"Yeah, Tin Man. You started to worry us." Glitch added, walking next to the bed. Glitch just smiled at Cain, glad that his friend was awake.
"Just how long have I been out for you to worry so much?" Cain finally asked, sick of the suffocating silence, "And where is DG? I would figured she would be here with the… What is going on?" Cain asked, sitting up in his bed.
"Dad, you need to lie down. You're still recovering from the ambush. Though the healers cleaned you up and got rid of your wounds, you're still weak. You lost a lot of blood and haven't died." Jeb said, pushing his father back down.
"How many have died, son?" Cain asked, letting Jeb readjust his pillow. At least he wasn't completely lying down.
"Only six of you survived. Seven were dead on the field and seven more died of their injuries. The last two, besides you, have died…" Glitch answered, "Twelve were dead before nightfall."
"No wonder you all freaked. What's the verdict Raw?" Cain asked, wanting his hairy friend's opinion, "Do I have a shot?"
"Cain stronger now. Rest helped, but still weak for a while. Raw say…" The Viewer tossed his head from side to side, "Two days?"
"Two days until I can leave or just two days of ample more rest?" Cain ventured, wanting to know.
"Maybe you should rethink that afterwards." Glitch whispered.
"Okay, this has gone on long enough. What aren't you telling me? What, being nearly dead wasn't bad enough?" Cain asked, ready to bolt from his bed again.
"Raw, why don't you and Glitch go get some lunch for all of us?" Azkadellia said, replacing Glitch at the side of Cain's bed.
"Good idea." Glitch said as he and Raw nearly raced from the room.
Cain sat as patiently as he could, watching Az and Jeb exchange glances a few times. Jeb looked to his father finally, but Cain wasn't prepared. Tears… tears were falling down his son's face.
"DG isn't here. She ran away and we can't find her trail, father." Jeb finally answered, "She thought you were as good as dead and left."
"Did she…" Cain suddenly lost his voice, "Did she leave a reason?"
Azkadellia sighed and pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to Cain, "She left that, but no one could bring themselves to read it. We wanted to wait if you, until you recovered." Azkadellia caught herself.
"We should wait for Glitch and Raw and after lunch." Cain said, taking the note and laying it on the bedspread.
The air grew heavy again as the three waited for the others. Jeb and Azkadellia kept looking from one another, Cain, and the paper. Cain though, couldn't take his eyes off the paper as questions rained through his mind. Why would she take off and what good would it do? He vowed to find his lost friend the moment he could.
Luckily, they didn't have to wait long before the others were back with a few trays of soup. The heavy feeling didn't go away and the room was practically silent. Well, silent enough past Glitch's slurping his soup. No one minded, knowing the misfiring advisor was trying to lighten the mood.
Once everyone was done and the trays set aside, the real earsplitting silence began. Everyone found seats either on Cain's bed or on stool nearby, waiting patiently for Cain to read DG's letter. He was holding the offending note in his hands, berating himself. How could he be so scared of a letter, but the answer was simple. DG wrote the letter.
"I don't think it's going to read itself Cain." Glitch finally prodded, "I am really anxious to know what she wrote…"
"I know Glitch, I know." Cain said, sighing as he finally opened the note. He read it out loud, not bothering to glance over it first.
My dearest friends and family,
I know you are all upset, angry or confused by my actions. In my defense, I need time. Time away from the Princess life, though I don't know if I will ever return to that life.
I am no Princess, I'm not even a heroine. I was just trying to save my family and I did. Then we all, including most of the O.Z. were trying to rebuild and make a new era. The Queen, my mother, even gave many of the Longcoats second chances!
Then they came after us! First me then the ambush, I can't take it! Who's next? Azkadellia, Glitch, a raid on the entire palace? I won't let that happen, I can't. So I am leaving and will not return until this matter is dealt with. One way or another…
I am truly sorry to let this happen and I promise to right this for the sake of all of the O.Z. Please don't be mad or do anything that will cause harm to you.
If I know of other plans, I will contact someone in the palace any way I can. Trust me in what I am doing and I need you all to promise me something.
Forget all that you knew about me, what little there was. I know that when I return, I will not be the same…
"Take care, DG." Cain finished, astonished at his own emotionless voice, "And she thinks I'm dead?"
"Yes and like I said, we lost her trail." Jeb replied.
"Then we'll just have to find it, find her trail. How hard will that be when she left maybe a day ago?" Cain shrugged, trying to think of where DG could have gone. Then he realized the stares at him, looking to each face and stopped at his son's, "What now?"
"Hey guys, why not take Az here for a walk. I think it's time for a father-son talk." Jeb said, leaving no room for an argument.
Cain watched as Azkadellia, Glitch and Raw all nodded and headed out of the Healer's Wing. Talking of heading to the Gazebo where the Queen and Ahamo were.
Cain turned his attention back to his son, his full attention. Jeb squirmed under the glare and mustard up the courage as well as an explanation for his father. Jeb was worried that this would affect his father in more ways then one. Sighing a few times, Jeb finally looked up at his father.
"Father, how long ago do you think the ambushed happened?" Jeb tentatively asked.
"I'm guessing no more than a few days ago. Is that when DG left?" Cain shrugged, not know where his son was going with this.
"Yes and no…" Jeb answered and then carefully explained the truth, "It's true, the night of the ambush, DG ran. The ambush happened nearly a week ago, father. DG's trails went missing three days ago…"
That hit hard and Cain felt his insides melt. DG would believe he was dead now, not knowing for a week that he had been recovering. She was out in the wilderness completely alone now and had been for three days.
"Where does her trail end, son?" Cain asked, sitting up to face his son.
"It looks like she was headed for the Tower, where the witch ruled. We haven't checked it out yet, not having a strong enough crew." Jeb replied, "It's where we knew the last of the Longcoats were regrouping."
That did it; Cain was now in utter shock. Slumping forward, Cain fell unconscious with the weight of the news. Luckily, Jeb was prepared for this and caught his father.
Jeb leaned his father back, easing the man into the bed and covering him up to his chest before leaving himself. He notified the healers of the situation and intending on coming back around dinner.
The small group of friends having the week to help one another could now focus on Wyatt Cain. Jeb made his way outside as well and to the Gazebo where he could make out the siloutes of the others.
"Well, how'd the Tin Man take it?" Glitch asked once Jeb neared them.
"Passed out cold. I'll go talk to him around dinner." Jeb replied, nearing tears.
"We will all go and talk with him." Azkadellia stated, "He needs all of us."
"Then, we go help DG?" Raw asked, looking to each of the others.
"Yes Raw, then we go find and help DG." Az replied.