Cult of the Lamb : The Man in the Forest

Chapter 9: Out of Love

[CONTENT WARNING, THIS CHAPTER ONLY!]
[Brief mention of sexual assault in dialogue, no descriptions. Reader discretion is advised.]

Merida had slept soundly up until a muffled noise caught her attention. Her eyes opened to find Kenedra still fast asleep, curled up on her own under the blankets. She had considered that the noise was in her head, perhaps something in a dream. She had only just dismissed it when she heard it again. Now alert, she was able to recognize it for what it was, yelling. Muffled yelling that barely drifted into the bedroom through the closed windows. She sat up and looked outside, trying to decipher anything amongst the darkness. It was faint, but she could just make out Nykka. Her white fur and robes illuminated under the moonlight. She was the one yelling, though Merida couldn't make out a word of it from inside. A mix of curiosity and worry urged her out of bed. She crept out of the bedroom, the living room was vacant as she expected. The noise was louder there, easily penetrating the hide wall covering. She approached the covering, and pushed it aside, peeking out. Nykka was standing a good twenty or so yards away, her fists clenched at her sides. Narinder was sitting on a tree stump near her, he did not look nearly as agitated as she was. He just looked tired, incredibly so, perhaps more than he had before laying down.

"Have you considered how this makes me feel?!" Nykka shouted. Before he could respond, she went on, "Of course you haven't! You selfish, vile man! She is my daughter! I am the one who raised her without your help! You cannot just step in at the last minute like this! You do not deserve her!" Narinder rubbed his temple and spoke. They were too far away for Merida to hear his calm response. Whatever it was, it did nothing to soothe her rage. Nykka continued her verbal assault, though she was yelling in an odd language Merida did not understand. She thought that perhaps it was the foreign language her grandmother knew, but it wasn't quite the same. It sounded incredibly old, and similar to the words Followers used during her mother's rituals. Though Merida didn't understand a word of it, Narinder clearly could. His exhaustion gave way to a hint of indignancy, bordering agitation. Merida leaned out a bit, as if being a bit closer might help her to decipher the words. Narinder looked towards the cottage, and Merida quickly slipped back. She cursed herself for being so stupid, she could have sworn their eyes met for a moment. She looked back, this time parting the gap hardly more than an inch. Narinder had stood from his stump, and waved a hand to quiet her shouting. During his reply, he motioned back to the cottage. Nykka crossed her arms and said something with a roll of her golden eyes before disappearing in a shaft of gold light. Narinder shook his head and picked a bag up off of the ground before starting back to the cottage. Merida considered going back to the bedroom, but she was almost positive that Narinder had seen her. Hiding was pointless, and she was honestly a little worried about him. The front door opened, and Narinder walked in carrying the bag over his shoulder. He disregarded her presence entirely, proving that he had seen her.

"Kenedra didn't hear, did she?" He asked, setting the bag down in one of the armchairs.

"I don't think so, she was still asleep when I left."

"Good." He sighed and sat down heavily on the couch, rubbing his head.

"Sorry for, uh, eavesdropping..." Merida apologized, unsure if she should stay or go back to the bedroom.

"It's fine, it gave me an excuse to make her leave." He shrugged, and waved a hand. "This is not your concern, you should go to bed."

"Are you going to bed?" She asked, standing stubbornly in her place.

"There is no point for me to, it is nearly dawn, and I have things to do."

"Then I'll stay up too." Merida shrugged and sat down in the empty armchair. He furrowed his brow.