Academy Island

Tending

Punky twitched the material back and forth over the tops of my shoulders, the shirt seams not lined up with how narrow mine were compared to the width of the cut. His mouth skewed to one side as if it wasn't good enough. Luke hadn't stopped staring ever since the bow had been tied, his head cocked to the side as he scanned everything that was on me. Did it look that bad? I shrugged my shoulders in, waiting for the verdict from them both. Punky scowled at the way the movement made the fabric bunch and dropped his hands away from fussing with it.

"Well, it'll do, for now. Stop scrunching in like that, it's already too big on you."

He began folding the unused shirts and shoving them back in his duffle. I lifted my shoulders, letting them out with a sigh and shivered. I could feel the night coming on through the material, the mugginess cooling my skin as the sun eased away, taking with it it's yummy heat. I rubbed at an arm, missing the warmth already, even though it could hardly be called cold. Punky's eyes strayed back from returning everything to his bag to my attempts to warm myself.

"We should probably get her over to the fire before night falls."

He dropped a black shirt with flames down over the top of the bag without folding it and took the coat I'd borrowed from where it had dropped at my feet, brushing it off and inspecting it before draping it back over my shoulders. Luke woke from whatever daydream my bow had given him, bent and offered his hand. I took it, thinking he was going to help me to my feet, but he only pulled me up on my knees so he could scoop me up under them. I shook my head, eyes wide, nervous my stomach wouldn't like being lifted in the air again. He shook his head back at me, his brown eyes half lidded and reproachful.

"Come on Cream Puff. You're not getting out of this."

I glowered and latched on to him, pressing my lips together tightly to keep myself silent as I was lifted easily up against his naked chest. My cheeks prickled with heat, eyes darting back and forth, not sure where I should look and failing at keeping my glances off the rise of lean muscle nearly brushing against my cheek as he flexed it to lift me. Punky came around to the front, a welcome distraction, adjusting my borrowed shirts and coat so that my legs were covered. His bright eyes continued to dart here and there over the clothes as they both began to walk with me to the center of their camp, all their structures tinted orange from the brilliant hues fading above the volcano's peak.

It wasn't much of a walk, just a few yards or so and we were at a large circular campfire setup, complete with over-sized logs surrounding a blackened fire pit, all of it smelling sharply of dampened charcoal. Fresh wood had been set up in an organized fashion over the top of the ash, all ready to be lit. I was gently set down on top of one of the logs, Luke's hand set reassuringly on my shoulder for a brief moment when I caught myself from toppling. I froze at the contact and nodded, grateful for his concern but still unsure why any of them were being so careful with me. I wasn't going to break, at least not in front of them. I cast my eyes down to my feet, newly wrapped and treated, clean, the swelling going down on the side that had been injured. It had been so long since I'd been taken care of in such a way by anyone. I was becoming painfully indebted to these men more and more the longer I stayed in their company. My stomach clenched at the thought of owing so much. I wouldn't be a charity case. I wouldn't. Luke chaffed at my arms for me for a moment and went over to inspect the waiting logs with Punky. They both moved several pieces of wood around and then hollered toward one of the huts.

"Hey, Nathan. Are you going to start this up, or do you want us to do it?"

I looked behind us, taking a cue from where both guys had their attention, on the hut I'd heard talking from earlier. Nathan's russet head appeared a moment later, eyebrows arched in interest at the two inspecting the kindling. His attention flitted to me a moment before shaking his head, holding up a bunched handful of dead grass that shedded as he waved it around.