HER KIND

Teach Me

'Chapter 22'

─── · 。ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

"We're running low on supplies," Katrina's voice echoed through the dinner table, laden with concern.

Dria looked up, her gaze meeting Katrina's. "Already? We just got here."

"Dria, honey, there are six males living with us. I'm surprised we survived two months," Katrina said, her words causing a rumble of laughter among the men in the room.

"Well, we had to go into town at some point. We can't hide up here forever," Jared said, his tone casual as he dug into his food.

Dria watched him eat, her worry deepening. She turned to meet Katrina's eyes. "Is it safe, though?"

Katrina sighed, her gaze reflecting Dria's concern. "We can't stay isolated forever. We'll have to be cautious. Alucard and Jared are going to town together. Strength in numbers, right?"

Dria nodded, but a knot of unease settled in her stomach.

The group had decided that the two would venture into town first thing in the morning. Due to the considerable distance, it would consume the entire day for them to return by evening.

In the room, Dria had just put the boys to sleep, changed into her pajamas, and was now observing as Alucard pored over the various journals they had found in her father's truck. He had grown attached to them, absorbing every piece of information the books could offer. Every night for the past two months, she had watched him, opening the leather-bound tome, reading a few words, and studying various images before going to sleep with Wrex nestled by his side. He would drift off content, having learned something new, while she would lay awake, feeling like she hadn't accomplished enough, always waiting for the other shoe to drop, uncertain of when it would.

They were up before the sun rose above the trees. Katrina and Dria stood on the front steps, observing as Jared and Alucard strapped bags to the horses. Dria couldn't help but admire the two animals, both shades of black, one smaller than the other, but she could sense their strength.

"We'll be back before sunset, latest an hour after. Edrick and Kane know what to do if something goes wrong or if we don't come back. Stay in the house and don't open the door to strangers," Jared asserted as he mounted the horse.

"We're not children, Jared. We know what to do," Katrina retorted with a wry smile, her black eyes filled with annoyance.

"Just being cautious, Aunty Kat," Jared replied, his eyes twinkling with amusement as the horse shifted in place.

Alucard approached Dria, his gaze locking with hers, a solemn expression on his face. "Don't dwell too much in your thoughts, okay?" he said, his voice gentle. "Don't worry, we'll be back before you know it, alright?"

Dria nodded, and they embraced, her squeezing into him before releasing her grip. She watched as he mounted his horse, and they both rode off into the woods, disappearing amidst the shadows.

"Come on, let's get breakfast ready," Katrina said after a few minutes of watching the boys leave.

Dria hummed, her eyes hesitant to look away from the woods, but eventually, she did. The morning unfolded with the twins inquiring about the whereabouts of Alucard and Jared. Everyone congregated in the backyard, observing as Edrick, Kane, and Marcelo experimented with their powers. Marcelo had mastered summoning ice cubes, which Elliam enjoyed chewing, and he could create snowflakes that melted against Kane's flames.