Rise of the Erifs (The Fire Song Chronicles Book 1)

Chapter 22

Earth 

"WILL SHE BE ALL RIGHT?" TORIN ASKED, QUIETLY CLOSING THE DOOR behind him. The rest of the house was silent.

Alex looked up from his chair by the window. "I don't know."

Torin crossed the room and leaned against the window. "Is she going to live?"

"I honestly don't know. I've done the best I could. As long as she hasn't lost too much blood and the infection doesn't take hold she has a good chance," Alex said.

Torin nodded. "So we have to wait."

"Yes. It's probably best if someone stays with her at all times." Alex yawned. "We can set up a roster."

"I can take the next shift. You look exhausted," Torin offered.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. I can't sleep anyway."

Alex nodded. He stood up. "Okay, if you insist."

Torin sat down in the armchair. "Good night, Alex." He suddenly thought of something. "Alex."

Alex paused in the doorway. "Yeah?"

"Sorry about earlier today. I didn't mean...I didn't know what was happening...Sorry about your arm," Torin finished, awkwardly.

Alex waved away Torin's worry. "It's all right, man. Stuff's just been getting crazier by the second around here." With that he quietly left.

Torin settled down in the chair. He looked over the girl, wondering what her name was.

Torin found it hard to rest. Every time he dared close his eyes he was assaulted with the images of Latainia's destruction. He would jump up with a start, the cry of alarm stuck in his throat, only able to smother it in the last second. He leaned back in the chair, breathing hard.

Finally in the early hours of the morning Torin managed to fall into a restless sleep.

As the warm sun streamed into the room through the light curtains, playing on the girl's beautiful face, her green eyes lethargically fluttered open. They flickered around the small room until they rested on the handsome young man asleep in the chair by the window. His golden hair shined in the sunlight. His eyelids flickered. He stretched his arms and yawned. His eyes opened revealing them to be a striking brown. They settled on her. His face lit up at the sight of her awake.

He smiled. "Good morning."

"Hello," she said, weakly.

Torin jumped up from his seat. "How are you feeling? Would you like some water?" he said.

"Where am I?" she asked instead.

"You're on Earth, did you know that?"

The girl nodded. "I knew that already. Where exactly am I?"

"On an island. Did you come through the Pathway?"

Again she nodded. "How long have I been here?"

"We found you yesterday in the forest. Your wound looks about a day old," Torin said.

She was quiet.

Torin smiled. "Don't worry, you're safe here. I'm Torin. What's your name?"

"Avian." She frowned. "Where's the doctor?"

"Are you Latainian?"

"Where's the doctor?" she asked, this time her voice firmer.

Avian rested her head back against the pillow and closed her eyes.