Going Under

3

Your earlier speech pushed everyone to speak to Dabi, their interest in the man only increasing when you mentioned him being close to you.

" I'm sorry that you've been given this responsibility of looking after him, I know how free spirited of a person you are." Your friend whispered in your ear as the chilled night air grew and hoots of owls became louder. Your friend was rather beautiful inside and out, her brown skin complimenting her thick, straight black hair. It cascaded past her bottom as she refused to cut it, it held to many memories for her to want to destroy something so precious to her.

" It's nothing, he's a very sweet person and listens eagerly." You told her, feet swinging on your bed as you both looked at each other fondly.

" Really I went to speak to him earlier and he seemed very dismissive of everyone, I would not go as far as to say he was rude but there was a hint of disinterest in his actions." She told you.

" Leilani, I promise you he is just nervous, before afternoon prayer he was very scared of what everyone will think of him. I am sure he will warm up to everyone in due time." You leaned forward holding her shoulder in an attempt to make her feel at ease. Leilani loved seeing new things, her curiosity as strong as yours even if she didn't show it you were sure she was offended by the man's lack of response.

" I am sure he likes you, I can tell that man has something in his heart for you."

She was also very perceptive.

" What makes you believe that?" You asked, feeling those strong feelings of lust stirring in your chest once again, conflicting everything that you had learnt over the years, even fighting with the love of your religion for it's spot on your priority list. Did he feel it too, the pull?

You glanced at him quickly and he was indeed looking at you from across the room. He stood tall at the door as children bombarded him with questions of the outside. He ignored them though they didn't stop their torment, pulling on his arms in a strong attempt to get him to listen. You smiled fondly before looking back at Leilani.

" He will not stop asking about you, everytime you would attend to your duties he would ask for you."

" I am his mentor and he is my responsibility it is only reasonable he tried to find someone he finds comfort in when he is out of his element."

" Of course." She grumbled before laying on her bed, she was extremely tired, she spent her days on the outside of the wood looking out to make sure we were not invaded, she had gotten a very good grilling today for allowing a man to enter her supposedly impenetrable trees.

She turned away from you covering herself in her bed and drifted off before you could even say good night. Touya had now wafted the children away, them running out of your cabin to their own before Maame saw them and punished them justly. He walked towards you looking at your long pyjamas that resembled that if a Victorian and held in a chuckle at the comparison.

You noticed he hadn't changed, probably scared of what people would say about his dry skin.

" Where do I sleep?" He asked now standing at the foot of your bed the corners of his eyes crinkled as he looked down at your smile. He'd die happy if he saw you smiling at him like that everyday for the rest of his life.

You leaned forward pointing across the room at were the boys had spread themselves.

" You sleep there, I believe there is a spare bed, let me check." You shuffled your body and jumped off your bed, walking past him with bare feet. You smelled nice he realised, even if there was a hint of weed there was also the fresh smell of pine and rain, it was different and it made his heart jump to be embraced by the smell.