"Ayla."
"Hi, Jake."
His voice broke the silence, and tears welled in my eyes again. I had been awake for less than an hour, yet grief and relief had already wrung two rounds of tears from me. Jake closed the distance between us in a heartbeat, enveloping me in a crushing hug. I rose onto my tiptoes, wrapping my arms around his neck, and he pressed his head into the crook of my shoulder. I rested mine just above his collarbone, feeling the tremor of his sobs against me. The sound of him crying melted my heart, the rawness of it making everything else fade away.
"I thought I lost you..." he whispered, voice small, fragile, fractured.
"Never," I murmured, pressing my palms against his cheeks. "You could never lose me, Jake."
I wiped the tiny tracks of tears from his face with my thumbs and leaned forward, brushing my lips against his in a slow, reverent kiss. He returned it with fervor, and it felt like breathing fresh air after being trapped in the deep, dry desert of our separation. When we finally broke the kiss, we rested our foreheads together, savoring the simple weight of each other's presence.
"Are the kids okay?" I asked after a long, quiet moment.
"They're fine," he said with a small, reassuring smile. "Jittery at first, but they understand now."
I nodded, gripping his hand tightly. "Let's go see them."
⸻
The marui was nearly empty when we arrived. The children sat quietly on the floor, an unusual stillness surrounding them. Jake stepped in front of me and spoke softly, "Hey, kids."
They spun around, eyes wide, fear and hope mingling in their expressions. Neteyam blurted the question that had been pressing on everyone's mind: "Is she awake?"
Jake didn't answer immediately. Slowly, he stepped aside, revealing me. A collective gasp filled the hut, loud enough to carry beyond its walls. The children jumped to their feet and rushed forward, throwing themselves into my arms.
Spider, the human boy, hesitated. His gaze flicked between me and the others, uncertainty written on his small face. I crouched down beside him, smiling gently.
"Why did you save me?" he asked quietly.
"You mean something to Jake, and Jake means something to me," I said softly. "I couldn't leave my mate's child to die."
His mask hid some of his expression, but I could see the softness in his eyes. "Thank you," he whispered.
"You're welcome," I replied.
Tuk clung to me like glue, holding my hand and wrapping herself around me whenever she could. Ao'nung and Tsireya arrived shortly after, out of breath, their astonishment plain.
"You're alive!" Tsireya shrieked, throwing herself at me. I laughed as I felt her tackle me to the floor.
"'Reya! She just got out of a coma—don't give her another one!" Ao'nung scolded gently, though his eyes were alight with joy. When the chaos settled, I motioned for him to come forward.
He approached cautiously, hugging me with gentleness, almost afraid he might hurt me.
"Don't be scared," I teased. "I won't die on you again. Give me a proper hug."
Relief flooded his expression as he embraced me tightly.
⸻
A month passed since I'd awakened from my coma. Jake had initially planned to return to his homeland, but after seeing me alive, he and the children remained in my hut, never leaving my side. I slowly resumed my old routines, though both Tonowari and Ronal hovered warily, ensuring I didn't push myself too far too soon. I insisted I was fine, and eventually, they relented.
The village children thrived under my renewed guidance. Many of the older boys peppered me with questions about the battle, but one young girl captured my heart. Kanul, small and sharp-eyed, reminded me of myself as a child. She was endlessly curious about fighting, asking if I could teach her. I couldn't refuse.
Kanul's parents worried for her, wishing her path would be gentler—healer, not warrior—but I took her under my wing. I taught her to fight, but also everything I had learned the hard way in life: resilience, courage, and the strength to stand for what mattered. Jake adored her presence, delighting in recounting tales of his days as Toruk Makto. Watching him share his stories with her, and seeing her eyes light up, warmed me to my core. She had become part of our family, welcomed wholeheartedly by my children and the others.
Tuk and Kanul bonded instantly, their laughter and chatter filling the hut. Kiri, Lo'ak, and Neteyam all adored her, accepting her into our circle without hesitation. I paused for a moment, letting it all sink in. Once outcasts, now this—my family, my world, my little universe of love and belonging. And I had come back from the brink to witness it all.
