Edan & Hima: The Awakening

Chapter Twelve

Taryl glanced at her brother and gave a soft chuckle as he constantly pulled down the fitted shirt. It was a very tight shirt and accentuated his muscles, which earned constant glances from Yazier, which was his shirt. Yazier looked slightly uncomfortable and rubbed his arms at times as the trio walked out the back door of the ward.

"Okay, how did they not notice?" Victor asked with surprise.

"Trust me," Yazier scoffed dryly, "they choose the most bone-dead guys to stand guard." He gestured two fingers back and forth from his eyes. "They only look for the medical gowns. As long as you're wearing regular clothes, you're as good as free."

"Taryl!" Bennett called enthusiastically.

The blonde ran out from the bushes and bounded towards the trio; she had a short brunette in tow. Taryl looked at the brunette—though her hair was a dirty blonde thanks to the highlights she added in on her own accord; her skin was on the tanner side, but not naturally, and her eyes were bright green with hints of orange highlighting around the pupils.

Taryl smiled with the same excitement as her friend, and she held her arms open when the blonde tossed herself. She wrapped her arms around Taryl for a tight hug. But then Bennett swiftly pulled back and placed her hands on Taryl's arms. "I was so worried!" she said with exasperation. "I-I mean, you just keeled over out of nowhere!"

Taryl snickered while placing a hand on the short young woman's head. "I am fine, Bennett. I've never felt any better!"

However, Bennett only continued. "Oh, and that poor man! He passed out right alongside you. Is he okay, too?"

Taryl glanced to the side, and she finally caught Victor's amazed stare. Taryl bit her tongue to hold back a giggle that threatened to fly out. She turned back to her friend and nodded toward her brother. "You mean him?"

Bennett turned her head, and her face dropped. Taryl noticed a pinkish shade creeping onto Bennett's face as she stared at Victor. "O-oh..." she squeaked out.

Yazier sighed and threw a hand towards Victor. "Alicia, meet Victor—Taryl's supposed biological twin brother."

Now Bennett gasped quite loudly. Her hands flew to her cheeks while she took a few staggering steps back. "You have a twin?!" Bennett reached forward to take hold of Taryl's hands. "Okay, wow, no, we have to show him around the entire village!"

Taryl's face immediately dropped. "What?"

Bennett nodded her head vigorously. "Yeah!" she squeaked again. "If he's your brother, he has to know everything about First Village!"

"First Village...?" Victor carefully asked.

Gale smiled sweetly as she finally got to Yazier's side. The shifter looked down at the woman with a gentle smile as he brought his arm around her waist. "It got its name for being the first shapeshifter village ever built," she explained to Victor. "It's also the longest-standing village, too."

Yazier shrugged his shoulders. "Honestly, I think it's a good idea." Taryl brought her attention to look at the shifter. "Let your brother learn a few things about the place you grew up in." A grin plastered his face as Yazier brought up a hand to extend his pointer. "And I know just the place to start."

* * *

Taryl sulked behind the group as they were nearing the edge of the village. She had tried to argue with them over their ideas of showing Victor around but to no avail. They had already shown him the town square and the many shops lining the streets. It was there that they also purchased Victor some new clothes, and these were more loose-fitting clothes. Yazier wore a content smile after the change since he was the one who picked out Victor's clothes.