Serenity

Kindness Speaks Volumes

|Oren|

"Here." I hold out a bowl of food to one of my injured townsmen. He struggles to raise his head a bit and shakily takes the bowl with his intact hand. "Thank you, Leader Oren." He mumbles with a small smile. A small nod is what I give him before I stand up from kneeling and turn to grab another bowl from the small cart Kit was rolling around with Verde's help.

I... I know this wasn't a whole lot. But it took me so long to convince that... man... to allow me to go from home to home to feed my people. Those who they didn't kill, were placed into certain homes that they deemed, "Containment holds."

Only thing I was grateful for, was that none of the greens who resided in Acacia City, had been killed. So those who were injured, were able to be patched up. But... We already had buried around 40 to 50 steves. If this rate continued...  I...

I push down my thoughts as I go to the next bed over. He was a younger Red Steve, one of our few who lived here, and his chest was bandaged. Seemed... he'd been attacked by the prince himself. I'm quite honestly shocked he is still alive. But... He might not be for long. I just hope one of our Violets can quietly make a potion for him to recover without anyone noticing.

"Here, Abrius." I murmur to the young steve who looks me in the eyes, then over to the next bed. "Oren... how much longer do we have to go through?" His voice cracks as I also glanced over to my left. They had been mauled... It was quite clear from the bandages that seemed to cover their entire body. Not being able to look at the bandaged figure, I turn my eyes down to the ground. "I... I'm trying, Abrius. I'm trying." I whisper. Looking back up into his eyes, I just see such a tired and broken look. He was trying to keep strong... I knew it... But even still he was loosing hope like so many others. A hand grazes mine that were holding the bowl and I glance down. Abrius gently had his hand resting on the side of one of mine.

With a soft exhale, I gently shift the bowl into his hands, then look back into his eyes while trying to keep tears from mine. He just weakly smiles at me. I... Everyone was looking up to me. I had to do this... for everyone. 

I needed to push and be more proactive. I needed to take care of my people. They were my family as well. Perhaps I could... Get a message out. My son- Grace. He and Verde used to play this little word game. Each word they said meant something else. They had to get really creative with it and I know they also used it against Kitrino and I when they wanted to plan something without us knowing...

Standing up, I repeat the same action I had been doing, all the while my mind concocting  up one of their limerics. This would be difficult... but I remember some of their itterations. Let's see...

Oren... cooking... Leading... Lieutenant Time.

Acacia City... Tree house... Lumberjack Shed.

Graceful... Clumsy... Clutzy Sewer.

Family... hive... Bees.

Army... Cult.

Lieutenant Time doesn't need a clutzy sewer in the Lumberjack Shed. He'd disturb the cult of bees there with forks and splinters.

I... I could make a joke of this phrase. Ok. I've got something.

After I hand the last person their bowl of food, I walk back over to Kitrino and Verde. My husband gives me a tired smile, quickly pecking a kiss on my cheek as I come back over. We don't say anything as one of the guards walks over to us.

"Get going. Lovebirds." He growls, glaring at us, then at Verde. With a soft exhale, I help Kit push the cart with Verde guiding, towards the front door and then outside. It was nearly nightfall, but thankfully that was the last house we needed to deliver to. We'd make another round tomorrow... But I could send out another messenger with my message before I do. Then while I make my rounds, I could tell the joke. Make it natural.