Healing The Beastworld

Ch 20: a tearful reunion

The searing heat accompanied by Kaden's hand on her cheek jolted Karee awake. Her eyes snapped open to find him, his face contorted with worry, his voice hoarse with urgency. "Wake up, Karee! The huts on Fire!"
Before she could register the meaning of his words, the stench of smoke choked her senses. A thick, acrid cloud swirled around them, obscuring the familiar shapes of their hut. Panic clawed at her throat, but Kaden was already dragging her out of bed, his strong arms pulling her towards the doorway.
"Follow me, close your eyes! Breathe through your mouth," Kaden barked, the panic in his own voice barely concealed as he held her firmly to keep her close. The fire crackled and hissed, its orange flames licking at the wooden walls, hungry and relentless.
As she struggled to keep up his strong hands clamped around her waist, lifting her effortlessly, and she felt Kaden's lean, muscular frame pressed against her. The heat from the inferno was intense, the flames dancing with an ominous beauty. The smoke, thick and choking, threatened to engulf them.

"Kaden!" she choked out, her voice barely audible. "The sculpture... Rontu's gift..."
Kaden, his face grim and determined, pushed through the flames, his eyes blazing with a fierce protectiveness. "Theres no time Karee," he growled, his voice rough with urgency. "Focus on breathing. We need to get out."
He ran, his long strides carrying them through the suffocating smoke tryingto avoid fallen debris. They burst out of the burning hut, the cold night air a welcome reprieve. Karee gasped, clutching Kaden's arm, her eyes stinging with the smoke. The flames were now dancing on the roof, threatening to consume the entire hut.
Villagers rushed towards them, their faces etched with concern. Unnoticed by the panicking villagers, the only person not helping was Misty, a dark smirk on her face as she saw the hut in flames as she turned to return to her own home not bothering to help. The night air was filled with the roar of the flames, the panicked shouts of the villagers, and the desperate attempts to contain the fire. Karee spotted the familiar faces of her neighbours, their eyes wide with shock and sympathy.
"My sculpture..." she croaked, tears stinging her eyes. "Rontu... He will be so heartbroken."
Kaden, his face contorted with frustration and worry, wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "It's ok love." he promised, his voice low and reassuring. "He'll be ok as long as your safe."
The fire raged on, a monstrous beast consuming their home with hungry flames. The villagers, their faces stained with soot and sweat, fought tirelessly to contain the inferno. Water buckets were passed from hand to hand, forming a continuous chain of hope, while others tossed sand and dirt trying to smother the flames, a desperate struggle against the fiery blaze.
Karee watched with a heavy heart, the warmth of Kaden's body a small comfort against the cold night air. The fire, a cruel and unforgiving force, had devoured their home, their dreams, and the memories they had carefully woven into the fabric of their life.
"Rontu... when will he be back?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Kaden's grip tightened around her shoulders. "Soon, Karee," he said, his voice filled with a quiet strength. "He will be back soon."
2 weeks he's been gone, 2 weeks Karee waited for his return so they could continue growing together. They had been building their life together as a family, brick by brick, bord by bord, and this fire, this senseless tragedy, had ripped all their hard work away.
The fire eventually was mostly extinguished, the panic of the village subsiding, the hut destroyed with nothing left to save. They stood next to the charred remains of their home, the air heavy with the smell of ash and smoke. Karee felt a pang of sorrow, the emptiness of their loss echoing in her chest. "We can rebuild," she said, her voice firm despite the tremor in her heart. "We can build a new home, a better one, a stronger one that can fit us all comfortably."
Kaden nodded, his eyes filled with a quiet determination. He held her close, the warmth of his body a beacon of hope in the desolate landscape of their loss.
As the remaining flames wete extinguished by the remaining villagers a familiar figure emerged from the forest. Rontu, his face haggard but his eyes filled with concern, rushed to Karee, his arms enveloping her in a warm embrace.
"Karee," he whispered, his voice filled with relief. "We were almost back when i smelled smoke, I ran as fast as i could. Are you alright?"
Karee clung to him, tears streaming down her face, a mixture of grief and joy. "I am alright, Rontu... but we lost everything.i couldn't even grab the sculptureyou made me."
Rontu squeezed her tightly, his heart breaking for her. He knew the fire had destroyed more than just their home, it had ripped away a the safety she felt in the village they called home."
"Dont worry about the figure, I can always make a new one for you. Look I brought something for you," he said, He reached into the pouch he tied around his waist, his heart pounding. He had brought her a treasure, a gift he’d carefully preserved, hoping to surprise her. He drew it out and handed her the gift wrapped in a soft fur cloth.
"I know its not the same as the gift you lost, but I got this for you while I was away."
Karee untangled the cloth and saw an iridescent seashell necklace, strung on a length of hemp twine.
Karee's tears dried, her gaze drawn to the shimmering shell. He watched as her face softened, a small flicker of a smile touching her lips. "It's beautiful, Rontu." she breathed.
"I saw it and thought of you." He carefully took the necklace from her hands and fastened it around her neck, the shell resting against her skin.
She ran her fingers across the smooth, cool surface, its beauty a soothing balm to her wounded heart. She looked up at him, her eyes glistening with a new emotion, not just grief, but hope, a blossoming reminder of their love.
"Thank you, Rontu." she whispered, her voice choked with emotion. The seashell couldn't replace the statue, but it was a symbol of his love for her, and the hope that they would rebuild their lives together. He held her close and felt the tremor of her body against his.
"We can't do anything else here now, we should head to the doctor's hut to rest the remainder of the night." Kaden said looking at the two infront of him. Karee glanced to where their home once stood and saw the remainder of the fire had gone out. "Ok, that sounds like a plan." She said as Rontu lifted her up holding her close to his chest. As they began to walk to their temporary home she took one final look at the ruble before placing her head back on Rontu's chest as they walked away.