Navy Wolf

Chapter 17

Embrace danger like the night embraces the stars, for in fantasy,

it is the crucible of heroic tales.

☾

The next morning came by like fast car on the highway.

We were all waiting at the front door for Nathan to come with Keoni, who was chuckling when he realized everybody was waiting for him. Holding his older brother's hand firmly, he took one stair case after the other. A smile spread on our faces when we saw his clumsy attempts to seem smooth.

„River!," he laughed, reaching for me with his chubby fingers as he ran along through the kitchen to the front door where Kaven and me were standing.

I couldn't help but grin and offered him my hand to hold.

A small little moment of felicity amid the brutal chaos that surrounded us.

Because the reminder was visible.

The kitchen was still a mess.

Nobody had touched anything. Robert was probably going to take care of this, so the boys let everything where it was.

Collecting proof and something untouchable - like a scent.

„You guys leaving?," Nathan asked, while I kept Keoni busy by playing with him.

„Yeah. I'm going to go now and later we can take turns and I'll take care of Keoni," Kaven replied.

Very admirable how every single one of the brothers knew their responsibility.

They worked in three different bodies but their minds were so in sync and connected that I sometimes suspected that they could each others thoughts.

But what did I know.

They had lived together their entire lives. Of course they knew what matter needed to be settled.

My time with them had been short but nonetheless I had never seen them be lazy when there were tasks to complete.

Just to make sure I was a help, too, I wanted to offer to take care of the youngest sibling, who wasn't even half my size yet but I was hesitant that Kaven wouldn't accept - like he usually did.

He'd let me watch him chop logs, cook, carry heavy things but never did he let me do actual work.

When there was something for me it was typically no one would sweat for. Feeding the dogs or helping to set the table.

So I waited for the perfect opportunity to talk.

Nathan nodded and looked down at the five-year-old. He looked quite indifferent.

„Dad called. He asked where we were," Anakin said, walking into the kitchen through the porch with his phone in his hand.

„Okay, then hurry up so I can see grandma, too," Nathan ordered, with a little exhaustion in his voice. Over the last couple of hours of the night dark circles had formed under his eyes, which explained his low energy. Keoni must have kept him up all night after his loss of temper yesterday.

„Nathan, maybe you should come with us, I'd take care of Keoni while you guys are with grandma," I suggested, before his face slightly lit up.

„He can be really too vigorous sometimes, you don't have to-," he said, as I cut him off.