Once Upon A Fae

Chapter 29

"Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace."

Buddha

Chapter 29

Faith pulled the dorm room door closed. The young were finally sleeping quietly in their beds. With a weary sigh, she leaned against the wall while gripping her hair in frustration.

All she wanted was a long shower and her mates arms around her. Knowing that was impossible she wiped the tears from her eyes and straightened her spine. In the living room she checked on Luch and the young Solaris Pack teen. With the help of Ebon and the council's man, both teens were well on their way to healing. For now they were resting comfortably.

Entering the kitchen, Faith froze. Looking around at the ravages of war, the broken windows, the charred walls. The little reminders that they had all lost so much. The males had cleaned up what they could, but they had a more important task to fulfill.

So as the young slept fitfully and the males completed the somber task of honoring the fallen, Faith cleaned. Tears streamed down her face as she scrubbed the blackened walls, small sobs breaking from her chest with each broken piece of furniture she drug out into the waning sun.

Each task reminding her of her first day. Her arrival, her fear, her hopes, and then the building of her new family. Now like the room, her family was broken. The charred remains unrecognizable. No matter how hard she tried it would never be the same.

Two arms encircled her chest. Turning into her brothers comforting embrace, Faith began to sob.

"Hush, Faith. It's going to be alright."

"How Luch? How do I make this right? I don't know if I can stand strong. I don't know if I'm enough to make this better."

"This doesn't fall to you, sister. You don't stand alone. This effects all of us and it will take all of us to heal."

Nuzzling close to her brother, Faith found some comfort. She knew she didn't have the power to take everyone's grief, but she wished she could. Taking a calming breath and pulling  away she looked up into Luch's pale face.

Faith could see the lines of pain etched across his face. His beautiful eyes dulled. Even while trying to comfort her he was unconsciously guarding his side and back.

"And what of you Luch? How is your side?"

"Good enough that I can be of some use."

Faith crossed her arms in front of her. Looking at her baby brother with disbelief. With a wry quirk of his lips, Luch carefully pulled up the side of his shirt. The blood had been washed away and his wounds stitched closed. The dark thread standing in stark relief against his pale skin. Each meticulous x marking the story of his bravery in the face of battle.

"That little brother is not 'good enough' for anything but resting. And you," gently placing her hand upon Luch's cheek, Faith stared into his pain filled lavender eyes. "have done more than enough for one day. Go and take your rest Luch."

"What of you Faith? Take your own advice. This mess will still be here tomorrow."

Turning from her brother Faith stared tiredly into the forest. She could  just make out the gentle glow of firelight cutting through the falling darkness of the night.