Chapter 115: Apology

The next morning, Anaria woke up not quite early.

Her leg was throbbing and the swelling had not gone down. She could barely move it, she sat up slowly and looked around the shelter. Ana was asleep beside her on the bedding.

Anaria did not want to move. But still needed to check her leg. She reached down and touched the splint. It was still in place and the cloth was still tied but the pain was worse than yesterday.

She heard footsteps outside, she did not look up.

The flap opened. Kenai stepped inside. He was carrying a small bowl of food.

"You are awake."

She did not answer.

He walked over and placed the covered leaf beside her.

"You should eat."

She looked at the bowl and she looked away.

Kenai waited but nothing, he then sighed and stepped outside.

A few minutes later, Rylan came in, he crouched beside her "Let me check your leg."

She pulled her arm away.

He looked at her "Anaria, I just want to see if it is worse."

She still did not answer.

He waited and waited then he left.

Kai came in next. He sat on the floor near the entrance. He did not try to touch her. He just sat there.

"You know," he said, "Kenai has been standing outside for an hour, he is worried."

She did not answer.

"I am worried too."

She did not answer.

Kai tried a joke. "You know, if you keep this up, we might start crying. And you do not want to see that."

But it didn’t work, he sighed and left.

Ana woke up. She looked around. She saw the flap move and reached for it. She made a small sound.

Anaria picked her up. She held her close. She did not look at the entrance.

Outside, the mates stood together.

Rylan spoke first "She is not speaking to us."

Kenai nodded "She took the food but didn’t say anything"

Kai rubbed his face "She is angry at us."

Rylan looked at the shelter "She is not angry. She is hurt. She feels like we did not understand."

Kai looked at him "Did we?"

Rylan did not answer.

After some time, Kenai walked to the guard standing near the shelter.

"Is she still there?"

The guard nodded.

"Can I see her?"

The guard shook his head "No."

Kenai stared at him "Why?"

The guard looked uncomfortable "She said you are not allowed inside."

Kenai turned and looked at the other two.

Rylan closed his eyes and Kai let out a breath.

The guard shifted on his feet "All of you. She said none of you are allowed inside."

The mates stood there in silence.

They still stood there Infront of the shelters.

Kenai walked to the shelter again and stood near the flap. He did not open it. He just stood there "Anaria."

No answer.

"We know you can hear us."

Still no answer, kenai looked back at Rylan and Kai. They did not know what to do either.

Rylan stepped forward "Anaria. We didn’t mean to shout at you in front of everyone, we are truly sorry. Can we just want to talk."

Silence.

Kai sat down on the ground near the shelter. He leaned his back against the wall "Fine," he said. "We will wait here."

And they did.

Minutes passed then an hour.

Inside the shelter, Anaria held Ana. The baby was awake now. She was looking around. She reached toward the flap. She made a small sound.

Anaria did not stop her. She just held her.

Ana reached for the flap again. Then she looked up at Anaria. Then back at the flap.

Anaria sighed.

She could not stay in here forever.

She opened the flap.

Kenai straightened immediately. Rylan stepped forward. Kai got up from the ground.

Anaria looked at them.

She did not smile nor speak but she did not close the flap either.

Rylan took a step forward "Can we come in?"

She looked at him.

Then she moved back. Just a little. Enough to let them know they could enter.

They came in slowly. One at a time. Kenai first. Then Rylan. Then Kai.

They sat down, no one spoke.

Ana reached for Kenai. He picked her up and she settled against his chest.

Anaria watched them.

Then she finally spoke.

"I’m only upset because you guys couldn’t even allow me to explain myself"

Kenai looked down and Rylan nodded "We know."

"I am not a child."

"We know, Ana."

"Then stop treating me like one."

Kenai looked at her"We are not treating you like a child. We were scared."

"I get it"

"Then why did you go?"

She looked at him "Because I could help and was worried. Because that child was alone and scared and no one was finding him."

Kai spoke "We would have found him."

"When?."

She looked at all three of them.

"I only went out there to look for the child and probably find you guys."

No one spoke.

Then Rylan reached for her hand, she let him take it.

"We know," he said quietly. "And we are grateful but we were scared that you just disappeared like that and you were still sick. You didn’t even leave a message, so how could we have known where you were and in as much as you saved the child" Rylan paused and looked at her "You didn’t come back intact, look at your body and leg"

She looked at him "I am still alive"

"But your leg is wrapped and you are limping. You even look paler than before and that’s not a good sign"

She did not answer.

Kenai spoke "We are sorry for shouting at you in front of everyone."

Kai nodded. "We should not have done that."

She looked at them. Her eyes were soft now. The anger was fading "I am not sorry I went."

Kenai sighed. "No, it’s okay"

"But I am sorry I scared you."

Rylan squeezed her hand "That is enough, we need to get you all fixed up now"

They sat there in silence. Ana reached for Anaria and she took it.

Then a voice came from outside "Excuse me."

They looked up, the mother was standing at the entrance. Tiku was beside her. He was holding her hand.