People of the Sun

Chapter 6: Yue

Arun was not in the cave when Yue woke. She was stretched out along his coat his pack propped under her head. The fire was just a few embers sizzling in the distance. The temperature inside the cave was dramatically cooler without Arun close to her and she was sure nightfall would be coming soon.
She noticed a pile of wood stacked against the cave wall near the fire and dried fruit in a small container in front of her along with a cup of water. Yue reached out to sip the water and took a few bites of the fruit.
"Yue, your awake." Arun entered the cave carrying a slender long stick. "I found a crutch about the right length for you and twined some vines and leaves along the top to soften it so you can put it under your arm. Its still going to be rough on that ankle. I'm willing to take an arrow and carry you."
"Arun I will be okay. Slow and steady I'll be careful."
"What if you come across a night beast do you have a weapon?"
"No but it will be fine tho don't worry."
"How will I know you're okay? Can I see you again?" He didn't want her to leave.
"I don't know. How would that even work?" She didn't want to leave him but she didn't know if it was a good idea to see each other again.
"We'll meet there's an ancient city if you follow easither trail all the way past the spine there's a small river. That river will lead you to the ancient city. We can meet there camp out there are old structures that could keep you safe from the sun." He was hoping she would say yes. This couldn't be goodbye for them.
"Arun I don't know what to say. Yes I want to see you again but is it a good idea for us to see each other again? What could come from it? Our people are mortal enemies and have been at war for centuries. I don't see that changing anytime soon."
"Yue all I know is I don't want this to be goodbye. I've never felt this way about someone. I'm pulled to you."
"I feel the same way, but it could be disastrous if we continue to see each other."
"Then just think about it in fourteen nights after your ankle has time to heal I will be there. If you come you'll make me the happiest man in the world. If you don't I will never forget you but I'll understand." Arun touched her face and memorized it. "Take my knife it will make me feel better knowing you have something to protect yourself with."
"I can't take it what about you? How will you get it back?"
"You can return it if you meet me and I have my sword. Please take it."
"Thank you Arun for everything." She knew it wasn't smart but she couldn't just leave especially if they may never see each other again. So she leaned forward and kissed him. A quick soft kiss on the lips. She felt the electricity between them but pulled away before it was even harder to walk away from her hero.
Before she could second guess herself she took the crutch and knife and left the safety of the cave. She couldn't look back or she would be tempted to just stay the night with Arun. Then he would want to stay another day and it would create an endless cycle of never wanting to leave each other.
It was rough to walk she was in pain and moving very slow. Yue knew how to get home though and just stayed on the path. No way she would have made it without a crutch she could barely put any weight on it, but she just kept putting one foot then crutch and foot in front of the other.
Her heart surged with joy when she heard hoofs in the distance and she increase her pace. The pain was more bearable hearing a horse. "Hello! Over here." She called out.
"Yue?" A familiar voice called back and the galloping sounded closer and faster. "Yue so glad you're okay." It was Kyler and he dismounted his horse and was at her side quickly. "We were so worried Vesperus and Orion sent out a search at sundown. We almost lost hope when you weren't home before sunrise. Orion refused to believe it. What happened? Selena said you were chased by a night beast and were separated?"
"Yes. I fell and broke my ankle and was lost."
"How did you possibly survive? How did you hide from the sun?"
Yue did not want to give away her story of Arun and his cave away and the truth was more ridiculous than her lie which was also ridiculous. "I ended up in the spine. I knew I wouldn't make it very far on my ankle so I found myself shelter with rocks and tree spines and made sure no light would sneak through. I sweated it out through the day and made myself a crutch at sundown."
"And what an impressive crutch and survival skills. Yue that's amazing here let me help you up on the horse. No more walking for you. Orion will be so proud of you for your smart and quick thinking."
"If he doesn't kill me for being out in the first place."
"Nah Vesperus is pissed enough for the both of them. He reamed Selena out for being out with you and gave her extra time at the kitchens. Selena took the blame telling both of them that you didn't even want to go but wouldn't let her venture on her own."
"I'm sure we're both to blame and I will tell my brother and Selena's when we get back. Hopefully they'll go easy on me since I'm hurt."
"They'll go easy on you because you actually survived."
"YUE!!" Orion screamed galloping towards his little sister his only living family. He was much to happy to see her alive to be mad. He scoped her off her horse to his. Took her back to their city. Yue saw Vesperus riding back behind them.
She had survived her crazy outing Arun's knife hidden and tucked under her side. She had to repeat her story of survival to her brother and Vesperus then again to Selena and then again to the healer. All the while thinking of Arun and how crazy she was for wanting to see him again.