I own none of the original trilogy.
Sore and exhausted the following day, I lie in bed, not bothering to get up. The swords hid themselves with my wolf again sometime during the night, which was confusing beyond belief. I know by the distant voices that my pack is worried about me, wondering if the Elemental Cross drained my energy while I carried the swords. The way I am hurting, it might as well be true. I definitely do not feel like doing anything.
A swift knock sounds on the door. Anika sweeps in with Shay closely behind her. Under ordinary circumstances, I would at least try to sit up. But my body refuses to move, making me stay in that same position.
"Are you okay?" Dad asks worriedly.
I stare up at him weakly and croak, "Fine."
Concern ties him to the room, even when the Arrow attempts to make him leave. Anika sighs and pulls over the desk chair. Dad sits on the edge of the bed, keeping some space between us but close enough that his fear-scent can engulf me. I never meant to hurt you, I think yet cannot bring myself to say. A thorn of worry pierces my heart when images of Brady and Ren flash in the back of my mind.
"Do you want us to send for the Healers?" Anika offers. I shake my head briefly, and she continues: "The others want to see you. Seeing as how you want to rest…"
"Send one in at a time," I accept wearily. "Dad, can you fashion as my guard?"
Shay laughs. "Of course, my precious gem," he answers, heading after Anika through the door.
My sensitive hearing picks up the other wolves' voices. To my surprise, Jazz comes in first.
She hugs me briefly, somehow managing to help me lean against my headboard in a sitting position. I smile to reassure her that I am alright, hurting or not. "We were worried," she states obviously.
"I know," I scoff sarcastically. "I thought Ren would visit first. How'd you manage that?"
"Even Ren knows not to mess with me!" she calls. A hushed growl, followed by my father's short bark of laughter, sounds from the other side of the door. Jazz smiles. "See?"
I grin, too. "You might want to let him in, though," I suggest. "Could you find Brady for me?"
"Anything, my alpha," she replies with a gleam in her eyes.
Ren, as expected, pushes past Jazz before she's even left. I tilt my head a bit to the side as if eyeing him. I bite back a smile when he rolls his eyes. "Sleeping Beauty awakes," he teases, grinning like a fool.
"Now I'm beautiful?"
My friend shakes his head. "You're stupid, I'll give you that."
"Don't mess with an alpha," I warn jokingly.
He sits on the edge of my bed like Shay and Jazz did, only slightly closer than they were. I silently growl as my heartbeat quickens, feeling trapped like my mother in her stories. Calla had had too-difficult choices from her love divided between Shay and the old Ren. Dad still has yet to know who my new guardian is, I realize with a flicker of guilt.
"At least you're okay," he breathes, his gaze locking with mine.
Surprised at the sadness I find there, I lean forward, my strength slowly seeping back into me. "What's wrong?"
Looking away, he stares up at the glassy ceiling. "Nothing I can't handle," he mumbles. There is no questioning the sudden shine to his eyes, though.
"Ren…" I search for any words of comfort, but since I have no clue what the problem is, I come up with nothing. "I am okay. Really. If that's what you're worried about…"
"Everyone's worried," he interjects. "Not me."
Blinking slowly, thoughtfully, I actually do size him up this time. He looks so much like the old Ren; with a pang, I recall seeing the pieces of the old Ren's soul mixed with the new. Maybe he's feeling the same as the whole Ren-Mom thing, I realize, suddenly concerned that he would die, too. That thought was nothing short of unpleasant in my brain, and I desperately want to get it out as quickly as it plants itself. "Why don't you care about me?" I inquire, forcing suspicion into my tone and onto my face. I know this Ren, and acting like he's done something wrong is the only way to break through when he closes on himself like this.
"I do!" he responds quickly, meeting my quizzical gaze again. "That might be the problem. Brady…"
"I trust Brady. We've been through this."
"Just listen," he scolds gently. "I overheard Brady tell Nick that he does care about you, that his brother should back off before someone gets hurt." He shudders. "Even thinking about it makes my fur bristle."
"Are you jealous, Ren?" A teasing note plays in my voice that I swiftly shut out, not wanting to aggravate him into leaving.
His eyes narrow. "You might know me too well, Aqua. But not as well as I want you to."
I catch a flash of red around his neck. My own necklace starts to burn, the gem glowing on its own accord. "What's that?" I finger the new pendant, shining crimson in the light cast by the Cat's Eye Aquamarine.
"It's called Pyrope Garnet," he explains. "Adne gave it to me. She said that she was planning on giving it to her actual brother but she never had the chance. I was the closest she could get."
No kidding, I silently agree. "It suits you, seeing as how willing you are to fight."
"Its bloodlike color is about the only thing, besides getting it from Adne, keeping it around my neck," he replies.
"Well, keep it." I let it fall from my hand, hanging around his neck once more. "I would hide it, though." I tuck my pendant back under the collar of my shirt for emphasis. "Rare stones like these have already proven to be powerful."
Ren smiles and pecks my cheek. I warm from head to toe, trying to swallow my emotions. "See ya, Aqua. Get better soon."
"Bye," I say in farewell, feeling a prick of disappointment when he leaves. Since I still have Brady to deal with, I quickly compose myself and wait for Jazz to come back with him. Although I do lie back down to stop my oncoming headache.
Readers, a word of advice: Pay close attention to the crystals. The aquamarine was indeed the cause… somehow… of the old Guardians returning. The garnet can't be much better, can it? I'll leave you with that thought – see ya!