Rebirth

Chapter 13: Appreciation (Avalon)

It was just as cold as Avalon predicted if not more so. Even the long sleeves which he now currently donned couldn't keep the low temperature at bay. Luckily, however, Avalon didn't have to travel far to the first house Maya wanted to visit. Avalon gave a sigh of relief when they finally stepped in.

First they had to wipe their shoes on the mat then they could walk onto the carpet. Maya greeted the couple that lived there—Simba and Fey Jenkins—and immediately they told Maya of the problem they were facing. Mainly, it was their son who needed her attention. The couple guided Maya to the back of the house. Avalon followed as Maya turned to beckon him forth. He still felt as if he was intruding. As far as saying "Hi, good morning to you, sir", no one had said anything to him. Perhaps it was simply because he was a stranger.

"My son," Fey managed to say through tears, "Can you help him, Maya?"

Even Avalon had to cringe at the sight of the misshapen boy. His bones were obviously broken in multiple places and judging from his shallow breathing, he was hanging on by a thin thread.

"I'll see what I can do," Maya said quickly as she knelt down beside the cot.

Avalon stepped closer so he could get a better look. Only Simba glanced his way as he did so, but Avalon wasn't bothered. Fey's eyes remained anxiously on her son.

Maya had her small slender hands hovering over the body. An indigo mist began to flow over the body. An indigo mist began to flow over the child as she began to ease his pain, but Avalon noticed Maya's despondent expression.

"I'm sorry," Maya said slowly, "I can only heal the fractures, but the clean breaks are impossible. He'll have to hang on until his bones begin to mend on their own, then I can hasten the healing process."

"B-but what if he doesn't hold out 'til then?" Fey asked.

"Mrs. Jenkins, have hope," Maya said quietly.

Tears began to flow from the mother's eyes and she quickly cried into her husband's chest. He meticulously wrapped his arms around her in surprise.

"Is there nothing more you can do?" Simba asked, "Perhaps some herbs we could apply?"

"The most herbs can do is heal cuts and wounds and I have done that. I'm sorry."

"That's alright. I know you've done your best and Fey—even though she doesn't say it—is thankful as well."

Simba's eyes returned to his wife and Maya turned to Avalon whose eyes seemed trained on the boy. She walked over to him and tapped him on the shoulder startling him out of his thoughts.

"Let's go, Avalon, there's nothing more we can do here."

"I could save him," Avalon said steadily.

"That's alright, Avalon, I've tried everything already. I know it's hard to just leave him like that."

"No, I mean I could save him," Avalon said walking past Maya.

Maya watched Avalon mystified. What exactly was he going to do?

"Hey, what are you doing there," Simba said as he saw Avalon move to his son's cot.

"It's okay, Mr. Jenkins, he's going to help your son," Maya said.

He sat down cross-legged and took the child's hand into his. Everyone in the room had grown quiet. His golden eyes became hidden from the world as he seemed to enter a meditative state. Long minutes went by before anything more happened. Maya could sense Simba's impatience. Fey simply looked on curiously.

A dim light suddenly began to illuminate from Avalon's palm. Slowly the light grew brighter and more golden until it was like the sunlight. Then the light disappeared as it entered the boy's body. Energy shot through the child's body awakening the child from his sleep.

At first, the golden energy was light and airy, but then it began to attack his broken bones and the energy became concentrated there in all the places that already pained him. And the boy cried out at the sudden intensity of pain.

"Aw! Make it stop! Make it stop, Mommy, it hurts!"

"Let go of him," Fey said frighteningly, "Let go."

Then Simba was pulling Avalon away. He grabbed Avalon's shoulders and tugged, but Avalon was still quite entranced unaware of what was happening around him. He held the boy's hand firmly and gave no signs of releasing him. Simba realized this and went instead for Avalon's strong grasp.

"Wait, Simba, I don't know if you should interrupt the process—you may be putting your son's life in danger if you do that," Maya said finally.

"Tell him to release my son," Simba said angrily standing back.

"Avalon," Maya said shaking him.

"Almost…done," Avalon whispered to himself, but Maya heard.

"Do you hear me, Avalon? You're hurting him!"

The boy was screaming then as his eyes began to water.

"Avalon!" Maya yelled urgently.

"Move out the way, Maya," Simba said, "He's not listening to anyone."

Maya was shoved out of the way just as Avalon opened his eyes. Only it was too late. Simba tackled Avalon aggressively onto the ground. Avalon tried vainly to push the other off, but he found he wasn't strong enough.

"Damn bastard," Simba spat.

Simba pulled Avalon up with the nape of his shirt when he was still on his knees.

"I've had just about enough of you," Avalon shouted back, "Is this the thanks I get for saving your boy?"

"Save him," Simba said in disbelief, "You damn near murdered him."

Simba thrust the other towards the cot so he could see the damage he'd done. The boy laid sweated and exhausted on the sheets.

"I see nothing wrong. He's perfectly fine. Don't you see his bones—

"Get out of my house!" Simba bellowed.

Avalon glared back at the other in contempt.

"Come on, Avalon, let's go," Maya said tugging on Avalon's arm, "I'm really sorry about this, Mr. Jenkins, I didn't know this would happen."

"Next time leave your stray dog at home or at least send him back to the wild where he belongs."

"Stray dog?" Avalon repeated.

"Yeah, that's right."

"Do you know who you're talking to?"

"I'm gonna be talking to a dead man in a minute if you don't get moving."

"Please," Fey sobbed, "No more fighting, no more arguing. Just leave us alone!"

"But Mrs. Jenkins—

"Leave!" Fey shouted interrupting Avalon, "Please!"

Finally Avalon turned and walked through the house to the outside world. Maya trailed behind him. His shirt was more than a little ruffled.

"I can't help it if the world is full of idiots," Avalon said bitterly.

"What did you do?"

"I saved him. Don't you go questioning me too? I shoved his bones back into his place and mended him completely."

"What you did was quite impressive, but you should have considered everyone else's feelings as well. If it was going to hurt like that then you should've forewarned somebody at the very least, the boy."

"You're siding with them," Avalon accused.

"No, I'm trying to be objective. I'm trying to tell you something that you should at least listen to."

"Fine, I heard you."

"For your sake, I hope you did."

Maya turned and continued towards the next house. Avalon followed reluctantly.