The Bird and the Bee

Chapter 15

The ymbrynes made it safely home before the time Alma usually would start dinner. Jenny landed in the yard first, too tired to shift back as she felt her eyes begging to close but wouldn't allow it, going to lift herself up when she felt the falcon fly down next to her. Alma shifted back first, her gaze tired and arms badly aching, going to lift Jenny but the little bird shifted back so she wouldn't. She should be tending to her first.

The brunette slowly stood up, her vision tilting for a moment and she fell sideways against the woman, Alma grabbing her arm and keeping her upright. When she did, she seen the bandage that was on her injured hand was gone and the cut had reopened through the stitches.

"Jenny, your hand." The ravenette states but the brunette shrugged it off.

"Don't worry, you need to lay down." She whispers, too tired to speak up louder.

"So do you."

"I can start dinner."

"No, you will not be. I can handle it."

"No, you will be in bed whether you want to be or not." Jenny says, forcing her voice to be more firm as she looked at her. Alma was too tired to argue, her bones aching and sighed.

"Fine."

"Matilda can always help me too." Jenny states as they made their way to the door. Emma answered the door and threw her arms around her ymbryne, Jenny softly scolding her to be careful. The children were about to crowd them before Miss Honey spoke up.

"Children, please. I'll let you see her soon, but for now your ymbryne needs to rest." The younger woman says, but her voice came out breathy as she tried to force it to be louder.

"What about reset?" Fiona asks and both ymbrynes shared a look.

"I can wake her when it is time. Matilda and I will handle supper tonight."

"Are you sure? You don't look a bit better than Miss P." Emma states and Jenny managed to raise an eyebrow.

"Thanks." She mutters sarcastically, the humour in her voice gone when she suddenly felt someone push her down, her back hitting the floor. When she went to catch her breath, she felt the point of a crossbow against her neck, a foot standing on her chest.

"Mr Portman." Alma goes to scold, managing to school her features into their usual self.

"Jacob, ease off! She's Miss Honey if you haven't been paying attention!" Enoch snaps, the boy digging the arrow further against her neck.

"She could be a wight who came back."

"Mr Portman, enough." The ravenette says, forcefully moving his hand aside and tilting the crossbow down. She held out a hand to help the younger woman up, Jenny sitting up slowly when a pain split down her head and she let go of her hand, sitting on the floor instead as she tried to ease it off. Matilda peeked out of the parlor and ran over to her mother, colliding into her arms but pulling back when Jenny winced at the pain.

"I missed you too, little bee." She manages a smile, Matilda looking at her and the ravenette worried.

"You both should lay down, you don't look...great." Matilda says gently, Jenny softening her features.

"I just need to get a start on dinner." She says, about to stand when Matilda caught her hand.

"No, please go lay down."

"It's alright, little bee."

"We can handle the food." Emma speaks up, drawing an uneasy look from her ymbryne. "Matilda can help."