A Love Like No Other

Part 3

Iris walks another bucket into the Healers tent. The Healer was still asleep and didn't notice the thud the bucket made when it hit the uneven ground.

She looks around the tent. A couple cots line the sides and in the middle of there is a small stone fireplace. In the far corner there was a pile of bloody cloth that is probably used for cleaning wounds before the Healer fixes them.

The Healer shifted in his cot, scaring Iris. She takes it as a warning and quickly exits the tent. She notices that there are a little more people walking around than normal, especially this early in the morning.

Making her way around the strange flow of people, she notices Ulle talking to two people. People she has never seen around the camp before.
She hides behind one of the makeshift huts, trying to get a better look at these two strangers.

A younger boy with ink black hair and couldn't be much older than Iris stands next to a woman with the same ink black hair. The boy looks nervous while his mother talks to Ulle.

They are definitely new around here. Whether they are Grisha is another story. Ulle doesn't seem like he is scared by these newcomers, so maybe she isn't in danger. But keeping an eye out for the boy and woman is definitely something that she is going to have to do.

It was as if the boy could sense Iris staring at him. His gaze moved over the area she was standing until they locked eyes. His pale eyes pierce through Iris's uncharacteristic midnight blue.

It was strange. No one ever notices Iris. She's the person who blends in with the shadows and can disappear when necessary. Having someone see her without trying too hard was very new and strange.

Iris shook off the strange feeling and walked away. The quicker she gets away from the strangers, the faster the boy can forget that she was staring at him.

She heads towards her small hut when Sylvi and Annika block her path.

"Hello," Iris said, trying to walk around them.

"We're going down to the lake tomorrow morning, you should come," Annika said.

"I have a lot to do tomorrow."

"Come on, Iris, we are trying to befriend you. People are talking and saying you're strange," Sylvi said.

"So, let them talk? Doesn't bother me."

"Will you think about it?" Annika asks.

Iris looks at Annika. They really are trying to become friends. Probably feel that the Grisha who haven't shown their power yet should stay together. Having people looking out for her wouldn't be too bad. Lev won't rest with his Saint complex, so maybe Annika and Sylvi can help show him that she isn't strange.

"I'll think about it," Iris nods. Annika and Sylvi smile and run off.

Iris starts her journey back to her hut when she feels a presence behind her. She turns to see the boy with ink black hair and white eyes staring at her. She didn't notice before but he was pretty tall for a boy that looks so young.

Ulle was leading them towards a hut that was considered to be one of the nicer ones. Ulle must know the woman because he never did this for any of the other random Grisha seeking a calm place to be.

Iris nods her head in show of greeting. Trying to get the strange boy to stop looking at her with his pale eyes.

The boy nods back in Iris's shock. At least she knows the boy is friendly.