The pain started to become a bit more bearable. I could now tell that the pain was mostly coming from my side. Everything still hurts, but I can feel the difference in the pain. While my side has more intense, sharp, lingering pain, the pain in the rest of my body will disappear until I make the slightest movement. Then, my body will feel a shot of pain, and my arms and legs will become weak.
Just as I was about to fall asleep, I heard a yelp. It sounded like an animal calling for help. I jumped up and almost fell back, forgetting I was still hurt. The pain shot throughout my body. I stumbled back a little bit and steadied myself. I heard another yelp. This time it was louder. I had to help that poor animal.
I forgot about the pain and hurried to get to it and save it. I got outside and looked around, trying to find it, whatever it is. I saw the same trip I had found Serina in, but this time it was a helpless little puppy trapped. It looks like a King Charles Spaniel, a boy. It's possibly only a few days old. I used to know someone who had one. The memories from my London days flashed back into my mind. I'm genuinely not the same girl whom I once was. I heard a yell. It sounded like someone had yelled, "There you are!" I looked around but didn't see anyone. I listened to another cry, saying, "Got ya." I must be hearing things. I put my focus back on the puppy.
I got the little puppy, carried it back inside, and tried not to think of the pain. Once I got inside, I realized my hand was wet. Ugh, how disgusting. I looked at my hand, and it was red! Oh no! The puppy's leg is bleeding.
I hurried to the bathroom to wash the blood off the little pup's leg and my hand. Once I finished cleaning the blood off the pup's leg and my hand, I rushed to the kitchen, leaving the little dog lying on a towel. Loveday has to have a first ad kit somewhere.
I ultimately passed Robin forgetting he was here too. I opened and closed several cabinets, trying to find the first ad kit.
Robin's POV: Sitting here and watching a tiny spider move around is pretty dull. All it ever does is take a few steps forward, then take a few steps back. There is no reason for me to be watching it. I turned my attention to my thoughts and looked out of the small window, almost invisible to the outside world. I looked back at the little spider expecting it to still walk forward, then backward.
The spider is gone! "Where did it go?" I whispered to myself. I started looking everywhere. That little spider couldn't have gone that far. Something moved in the corner of my eye. "There you are!" I yelled to the spider.
Wait, where did it go. I saw it move. "Got ya!" I cried again while quickly picking up the spider in my hands. It kept on trying to get out of my hands. I got a container with little holes and slipped the tiny spider under it and on the table. As soon as I sat down, Maria came storming in. She walked right past me, opening and closing the cabinets.
"What are you looking for? How are you moving around? I thought it hurt to move? Are you already better?"
"No, of course not! I'm not already better. I feel like I'm about to collapse. It hurts so much. I found a small dog trapped. I brought it in, and his leg was covered in blood. I'm looking for the first ad kit. Are you going to help or just sit there looking baffled?"
"Oh, okay, alright. You seemed agitated, and I did not want to get in your way." I said, laughing while standing up. "Oh, you might want to look out for that thing," I said, pointing to the spider. "It's a tricky little thing, and I don't want it to escape again."
"Okay. I found it!" Maria said while holding up the first ad kit. "Wait, what do you mean again? Whatever, can you please help me."
"Sure thing, princess." I followed Maria into the bathroom where the hurt dog lay. I opened the first ad kit, disinfected it, and bandaged the wound while Maria kept the dog calm and stopped it from swarming around. "That should help with the bleeding. I've done all I know how. When Loveday returns, she'll know what else we might have to do, but you should be resting in the meantime." I said, standing up and offering a hand to help Maria.
She looked down at the dog and asked, "Should we leave him here? I feel so bad I got dog blood on one of Loveday's towels."
"It's okay. Loveday is used to it. She takes in a wounded creature every week, it seems." I laughed, and Maria slowly took my hand, and I helped her up. She seemed hesitant to leave it by itself. "Anyways, let's get you back to resting, and hopefully, you will start to feel better by the time you go home."
"Yeah, I rather not have to worry, Mrs. Heliotrope and Uncle Benjamin, even more, particularly after last night," Maria said as she sat back in the chair. I sat down beside her, forgetting about the spider.
"Out of wonder, did the fall hurt?" I asked, wondering.
"Well, it wasn't the fall itself that hurt. It was when I started to drown that really hurt me." Maria spoke softly.
"Oh, yeah, that makes sense," I said, lowering my voice just a bit because I noticed something out of the window move, but it was just a squirrel.
"Can I ask you a question?" Maria asked, still speaking softly.
"Sure, what's up, princess?"
"Why did you help me?"
"Umm, well, I promised to listen, and that's precisely what I did. The more you went on, the more sense it made, and I began worrying about my friends and family. I was willing to do practically anything to help you save the valley and everyone in it." I said, thinking back. It felt as if it had been quite some time ago.
"Thank you for helping me again today." Maria finally spoke up again after a few seconds had passed.
"Of course, princess," I paused momentarily before continuing, "how do you feel?"
"I'm feeling much better. I still feel a tad weak, but I'm gradually regaining my strength."
"That's wonderful! By tomorrow you probably won't feel a thing." I said happily. Maria and I continued talking until we heard a noise by the entrance.
"This thing!" Someone said, fussing. Maria quickly stood up to see who was by the entrance, but I rushed before her. Someone walked in carrying a ginormous box, and I couldn't see who it was. Before I had a chance to think, the person said something.
"Robin dear, can you come into the living room for a moment to help me?" It was Loveday. I quickly took the enormous box from her hands and gently set it on the floor. "Oh, you are already here. Sorry if I started y'all." Loveday looked from me to Maria with a suspicious look in her eyes. After a moment, she hugged Maria and me and said, "Maria starting to feel better, I presume."
"Oh, yes, Loveday. Thank you for everything you have done! Follow me, please I have something very important to show you." Maria took Loveday to the bathroom, and I followed behind. Still lying, there was the little pup, and Maria explained everything to Loveday. After Maria explained, she looked up at Loveday and asked, "Is there anything else you can do to help him. He seems to still be in a lot of pain."
"of course, you did a remarkable thing, Maria. You saved his life! While I help this dog, Robin, can you help me by putting everything in the box in its rightful place?"
"Of course, Loveday. I'll get right on it!"
"Wait a few more seconds. I have to tell you where specific stuff goes. Maria, do you think you can help Robin? It's a lot, but I understand if you can't just yet." Loveday said, already getting things out of the bathroom cabinets that I guess she'll need.
"I'd be more than glad to help, Loveday!" Maria seemed excited to finally do something other than sit down.
"Okay then, Robin, Maria, follow me, please. She led us to the kitchen first, opened a cabinet on the far left of the wall, and said, "If you come across any food, it goes in here."
She opened another one on the far right and said, "This is for any kind of medicine you may find there." She grabbed some scissors and went into the living room.
Opening the box, she said, "If there are any clothes, it goes into my closet. If anything else is in the box, hurry and put it into this chest. If you have any other questions, I'll be in the bathroom trying to help the little dog. Wait, Robin, you put my new spider friend back in his cage on the counter already, right? He has been trying to escape all day, but he recently hurt his leg, and the only way I can keep him from escaping and help him get better is if he is in his cage." Loveday laughed a little.
"Oh yes, of course, Loveday," I didn't actually. I waited until Loveday left the room and said, "I'll be right back to help you, princess."
"You didn't put it in its cage, did you," Maria said, laughing.
After several minutes of losing hide and seek to a spider, I finally found it. I put him in his cage and went to help Maria. She seemed to be very focused on what she was doing. She had almost finished too.
"So, what can I help with?" I asked.
"Just grab anything in there and put it up."
"Alrighty then," I said, and we both started laughing.
After a couple of minutes, we finished.
Maria walked over to where Loveday was and said, "Hey, Loveday, we finished putting everything up. Is there anything else you'd like us to do?"
"Umm, no, thank you, dear. Anyways you both should be heading back now. It's almost dark." Loveday said while looking out the window.
"Okay, thank you for everything, Loveday. I really appreciate it." Maria said while heading out. Loveday and I exchanged a smile, and I went to catch up to Maria.
"Wait," I said to Maria just before she was out. She looked confused. "I'm going to take you to the manor, but we must go a different path to avoid William or anyone else."
"Alright. Will it take long?" Maria said, looking up at the sky. It was going to be dark soon.
"Nope, we should get there before dark," I said, already heading to the path. Maria hurried to catch up. "Here, princess, let me help you," I said, offering to help her up a hill. I held out my hand.
"Umm, thank you. What should I tell Uncle Benjamin and Mrs. Heliotrope if they should ask why Atlas and Periwinkle returned, but we didn't?" Maria looked up at me, awaiting my answer.
I looked ahead of me and started thinking about what I should say. I realized we already got over the hill, and I was still holding her hand. There was this weird feeling in my stomach that I didn't really like, and my heart started beating faster. I quickly let go.
"Umm, you should tell them that someone who didn't agree with the sudden peace scared off Atlas and Periwinkle, and while he did that, he also gave a few empty threats, but he shouldn't be anything to worry about," I said quickly, trying my best to ignore any weird feelings that mess with my head.
"Okay. I wouldn't want to worry anyone, especially after everything." Maria said softly. She sounded tired. Maria stopped walking and looked down. I followed her gaze. On the path, there were big animal tracks.
"What animal could have made that, Robin? Maria said, looking up at me once again. She seemed to be a little nervous.
"Umm, I think it's a bear, but as far as I know, we haven't had any bear encounters for years. Maybe there are bears in this part of the woods. Nobody goes out there, so it's not surprising that bears could be on this side of the forest." We continued walking.
"Why doesn't anyone go out there?" Maria asked.
"Well, it's forbidden. No one can go past the path we are walking on right here. Nobody other than my Father and I, oh and you now, of course, know about this path. Everyone else won't even come close to this side of the forest." Looking out at the other side of the forest. It looked darker than this side. All the trees seemed huddled together as if they had something to hide.
"Why is it forbidden, though?"
"I'm not quite sure. All I've ever heard since Father and I discovered this path is that no one is allowed past this path, and if I ever see anyone pass it, I have to tell Father immediately." I said. I looked back to the path. That place gives me the creeps.
"Hey, Robin."
"Yes, what's up?" I looked at her something seemed to be bothering her.
"Does something seem off about the forest to you? It's like the closer you come to it, the more you realize that something feels wrong or off about the forest." I thought for a second.
"Actually, yes, it does. I thought it was just me. I wonder why."
"Robin, look!" Maria said. The manor was finally coming into sight. I started hoping that this path would never end.
"Here, I'll walk you to the door," I said, trying to make the walk last as long as possible. Much to my surprise, I really enjoyed Maria's company.
"Are you sure? Wouldn't your Father be waiting?" Maria asked.
"It's alright. It wouldn't be the first time I've come home late. I'm sure my Father will understand." Maria nodded, and we headed up to the manor. Maria tried to open the door, but it was locked.
"How weird." I heard Maria whisper under her breath. I knocked on the door, and after a few seconds, Digweed opened the door.
"Hello, Miss Maria and Mr. Robin. Maria, dinner has just been served if you're hungry."
"Thank you, Digweed." Maria said. Maria walked in and stood by the door.
"Would you like to join us, Mr. Robin?" Digweed asked.
"Thank you, but I have to hurry and return home."
"Be safe out there," Digweed said. There was a crash somewhere in the house, and I heard someone getting mad at Wrolf. Digweed hurried to help with whatever happened.
"Bye, Robin. I had a lot of fun today! I hope to see you again soon." Maria said.
"Goodbye, Princess. I did as well! " I tipped my hat and said goodnight and headed out.
2 weeks later..