Chapter Seven
"Where are we?" Solan asked. Xena looked up from the fire she had built in the medium sized cave she'd found. Another blizzard had found its way into Greece and they'd likely have to wait until morning before proceeding back to Athens.
"In a cave not to far from Athens." Xena replied coming over to him with some tea. She lifted his head up and helped him drink.
"Ah what is that?" Solan said barely swallowing it.
"Herbal tea it'll help with the pain and speed up the healing process, so drink some more." Xena said. He drank it all.
"I'm hungry." Solan said.
"I thought you might be, I managed to get a rabbit before the blizzard made it nearly impossible to go outside. Your lucky I came prepared." Xena said. She gave him half of the rabbit she had carefully cooked just for him. He ate as if he hadn't eaten in ages much of the way he had eaten at dinner the night before. Xena ate her own piece of rabbit slowly as she watched him just wanting to be close to him and for her heart to stop aching. The things he had said to her had really hurt, and he was the first person in the world she had prayed would never hate her.
"I'm still hungry." Solan said nonchalantly to see if she would really give up her half to him if he was still hungry and they were trapped here in this cave together.
"Here take the rest of mind I'm not all that hungry." Xena said handing him the plate. He took it and ate just as ferociously.
"When's the last time you had a real meal, I mean before I found you." Xena said.
"I don't know that morning before we left the village." Solan said.
"Didn't the man at the orphanage feed you?" Xena asked.
"Yes, but not like a real meal, not like famlies have..." Solan trailed off.
"Oh I see." Xena said and resolved she would have to do something about that man practically starving those kids.
"There were so many of us and we put him over his limit to give us an equal meal to keep us well fed and full. He could have turned us away even if he is an orphanage, but he didn't." Solan said. Xena changed her mind and decided to donate to the man first chance she got. Thanks to him her son wasn't dead.
"That was very kind of him." Xena said.
"Its almost Solstice isn't it?" Solan asked.
"Yes, do you want something in particular?" Xena asked.
"Yea, my parents." Solan said.
"You can't bring your father back from the dead." Xena said.
"I know I can't bring my mother or father back." Solan said angry. He put the plate down and layed down. He turned on his side away from her and just missed the sad look in her eyes. She stayed up awhile longer crying a bit. She went outside to check on Argo who had moved closer to the warmth coming from the cave, before going back to her seat. Than Xena got an idea and it brightened her up a bit and she was able to sleep.