Chapter 114: After what she did

Anaria looked at all three of them.

She was tired and her leg was throbbing. Her body was aching. She had been chased by a wild pig. She had fallen. She hid in a tree trunk. She had walked back with a child and a baby strapped to her chest.

She clearly understood their intentions but yelling at her in front of everyone at this moment, is something that she can’t just handle "Can we shift this, the boy is found that’s the main point "

Kenai stopped "That is not the point."

"It is the point. He was out there. Alone. Scared. I found him and I was worried about your guys too, you took quite long so I thought that something bad had happened to you and decided to try and see if I could help"

"We would have found him, Ananria"

"When? After you came back? After you rested? He was crying in the dark, cold and hungry."

Kai stepped closer "You still should not have gone."

"Then what should I have done? Stayed here? Waited? I watched his mother cry all night?"

She looked at all three of them "I am not a child."

No one spoke.

"I am not one of the women who stays behind and waits. I am a healer and a mother, I can’t bear to see her cry and I was honestly worried that something might have happened to you guys, that’s why I step into the forest"

Rylan stepped forward "And if something had happened to you?"

His voice was low and quiet but there was something in it "If something had happened to you, what would we have done?"

Anaria looked at him "Nothing happened."

"You are hurt."

"I just twisted my leg"

"It’s not just that, look at you."

She looked down at herself. Her torn clothes. Her wrapped leg. Her dirty hands.

She did not answer.

The people were still watching. No one spoke. The mother was still holding Tiku. She was watching too.

Anaria looked around at all of them then she looked back at her mates "I am going to rest now."

She turned. She tried to walk but her leg gave way and she almost fell.

Kenai immediately reached for her.

She held up her hand "Don’t worry, I’m fine"

He froze immediately

She straightened herself. She took a breath then she walked.

One step... another then another.

She limped past them including the woman and the beast people.

She walked toward the shelter alone

No one moved, they just looked at her.

They watched her go. The limp. The torn clothes. The way she held Ana against her chest like she was the only thing keeping her upright.

The mother was the first to speak "She saved my son."

Her voice was quiet but everyone heard it "She went into the forest alone. She brought him back."

The other women nodded. One of them stepped forward "She is hurt. Someone should help her."

A beastman moved toward the shelter. Rylan held up his hand "Wait."

The man stopped.

Rylan looked at Kenai. Then at Kai. Neither of them spoke. They were still standing where Anaria had left them. Their faces were tight.

Rylan spoke again "Give her a moment."

The people did not move. The mother held Tiku close. The cub was watching the shelter where Anaria had disappeared. His small face was worried.

Kenai turned away.

"We should not have shouted at her."

Kai looked at him.

"But she went into the forest alone with Ana."

"I know."

"She could have died." Kai added again

"I know too but that’s not important, she is badly hurt at least we could have put our anger aside and treated her first" Kenai rubbed his face.

Rylan looked toward the shelter. The flap was closed. He could not see inside but he could imagine her sitting on the bedding, holding Ana with her legs wrapped in sticks, her torn clothes and tired face

They had scolded her for saving a child In front of everyone and might be feeling bad about it, they could have at least asked if she was alright.

He turned and walked toward the shelter. Kenai and Kai followed.

They stopped at the entrance. Rylan did not go in. He stood outside.

He spoke through the flap "Anaria."

No answer.

"I am sorry."

Still no answer.

"We should not have shouted at you. Not like that and not in front of everyone."

No one replied...

Rylan waited then he heard her voice but it t was quiet.

"I am fine."

"You are not fine."

"I am."

"What of your legs and scars, let’s get it treated."

"Thanks for noticing but I am fine."

Rylan closed his eyes for a moment "Can I come in?"

No answer...

Then "No."

Kenai stepped forward "Little fox"

"No."

Kai also added "We are deeply sorry, Ana"

Anaria didn’t reply again.

Kai put his hands on their shoulders "Let’s leave her for sometime"

Kenai looked at the shelter. His jaw was tight. Then he nodded.

They stepped back.

The people were still watching. The mother was still holding Tiku. The cub was looking at the shelter. He let go of his mother’s hand. He walked toward the shelter.

No one stopped him.

He stood at the entrance. He spoke.

"Fine lady"

A moment passed.

Then the flap opened a little. Anaria looked out. Her eyes were red and her face was pale.

Tiku looked up at her "Thank you for saving me."

She looked at him. Her expression softened just a little "You are welcome."

He reached out and took her hand and she let him.

He held it for a moment then he let go and walked back to his mother.

Anaria closed the flap.

The settlement went quiet again.

Rylan stood outside the shelter with Kenai and Kai.

The night was dark. The lanterns flickered. The people slowly returned to their homes.

The mother took Tiku inside then women followed. The guards returned to their posts.

Soon it was just the three of them. Standing outside the shelter, listening to the silence.

Rylan finally spoke "We will talk in the morning and we need to make things right."

Kenai and Kai nodded.

They went to find a place to spend the night cause Ananria is surely not letting them inside at least for tonight.