the ISLE

Tempers and Apologies

As Jati continued to watch the ever-closer hunting party, he also provided food for the small family, hunting cautiously in the area around the valley. Lantern spent much time explaining how to sneak up on various types of prey, where to find them when the best time was to hunt, and the surest way of killing the animal without injuring oneself. Jati learned well, grateful to the man he looked at as an older brother. It showed in the continued success of his hunting trips.

One morning after Jati left, Lantern sat up slowly and forced his body to his knees, then grunting in pain he climbed slowly to his feet. Hot spasms of pain sparked along the edges of the still-healing wounds, but each time got a little easier. Nuri lay sleeping as he took a short step forward, almost bending double as agony tore through his knitting muscles, but gritting his teeth, he moved on. Shortening his steps to the cave entrance he collapsed against the entry wall, trembling, sweat pouring from his body. Looking back to where Nuri lay in their bed, he frowned at the depressingly short distance, but he must start somewhere.

When Nuri blinked open her eyes she jerked up, looking around for him, only to see Jack standing at the cave's entrance, supporting himself on the wall, looking out over the valley. Coming to his side, she wrapped gentle arms around his arm and leaned her head on his shoulder. For a long while, they stood in silence, and then she looked up at him, admiring still the strong jaw, and perfectly carved cheekbones. His eyes slid to hers and she smiled tenderly.

"You should bathe before breakfast."

"That bad?"

"Worse."

The trip to the water took a long while as he had to stop every couple of yards to rest, but he would not turn back. Determination filled him, needing to get back into active life. Finally reaching the water Nuri unwound the bandages, Lantern seeing for the first time the full extent of the damage. Before now, he had looked away when the bandages were changed. The ugly scabs turned his stomach. With the stitched recently removed, his sealed wounds were sore, still swollen, and angry. Five parallel scars would forever grace his torso, from his breastbone to two inches past his belly button.

Taking a deep breath, Jack looked at his wife for her reaction. Those expressive amber eyes were looking deeply into his, completely ignoring the marks that blazed across his body. She smiled and gently traced her fingertip across the scar that ran from his brow to his ear.

"Our scars are what create us, Jack. They mold us into the people we become. Carry them proudly, and never be ashamed of them. You lived when so many would have died. It is an honor to bear the mark of such a powerful creature."

Taking her hand and pressing her palm to his lips Lantern forced back a rush of emotion.

"I owe you my life, woman. I can never repay you."

"I think I enjoy the idea of your being in my debt."

He smiled when she slid up next to him, but firmly shook his head when her eyes started sparkling.

"You just stop right now. Walking wounded here, and I demand humane treatment." Nuri laughed and kissing his cheek helped him undress before they waded into the cool water.

The summer days lengthened, bringing warm weather and pleasant evenings. Lantern walked freely now, having to be careful with how far he went, and still unable to join Jati with hunting. He made himself content with simple tasks, helping Nuri around their dwelling, mending baskets, sharpening the spears and blades, and even stitching patches into their summer clothing when needed. Nuri still rubbed the oils into his skin, wanting the healing to progress as fast as possible.