Illinois [#wattys2016 Writer's Debut]

Chapter Thirteen

He jumped on me and I wasn't strong enough to stay levitating. so in a way, he took me down with him.

We crashed to the ground, good thing it wasn't that high, and he was laughing as I punched him in the shoulder.

"You could've just told me that it was you up there and you needed some help to get down. No need to jump on me and make me your safety mattress, Dustin."

"Aww, but that wouldn't be too fun, would it?" he smirked.

Cole coughed and it took me a moment to realize that I was below him and his all down on his fours and Will has an unpleasant look on his face. I flustered red as Dustin got up to dust away pieces of straw that had collected on his pants.

"Anyways," I muttered. "You should get a bowl of Lara's stew. They're amazing and they hit the spot," I said looking back at Lara who has a big smile on her face.

"Umm... Yeah, sure. That will be great."

Lara gave a slight nod as she stood up and walked to the kitchen, beckoning Dustin to come with her.

I sat back in my spot on one of the couches and Will gave me a glare as Cole paid his attention back to his delicious bowl of warm stew.

"Sierra, thanks for healing me back there," thanked Robert.

"It's no problem. But how can you be sure that it's my doing? You're an Aerona yourself. There's a chance that you probably healed your own wounds."

He shook his head. "I was out of breath and energy. I couldn't have done that."

I nodded and decided to accept the statement.

"Well, I guess I wouldn't have to teach you of how to develop the skills of an Aerona then," Robert said with a grin.

"Actually," Cole said, placing his empty bowl down as he looked around, making sure to be discreet around his own crew. "What happened back there? Why the sudden ambush?"

"I was looking for a species of herb that is known to be a cure for the brainwashing substance in the shots. We had camped there for a couple of days and we must have stayed in the same place too long. I set out with a crew of five, including myself because I didn't think of the Polko Forest as a threat. They're all killed by those soldiers," explained Robert in a lower tone.

Cole nodded. "Well, I guess we should stay here for the night and continue our journey to Scathorne tomorrow."

Will, Flint, and Pearce seemed to agree.

"Besides," Dustin said, appearing from the kitchen. "The sun had already set."

*****

I woke up even before the morning sun rose. Everything seems quiet and everyone seems to be asleep so I felt free to get on my feet and march outside through the back door.

There was something like a little porch in the back of the barn, it looked out to the wide variety of stars in the sky and little did I know, someone was already there.

"Hey," I said in a raspy voice before clearing my throat.

Will didn't move to turn and see me at all. His head was buried deep in his palms.

I walked over and sat next to him. "Will?" I asked in a small voice.

He finally let his arms droop over his knees and looked at me.

His eyes were red, probably from crying but then he rubbed them, expecting them to look okay.

He tried to mask his broken expression but he's broken inside out and anyone can see that.