Isolation

Chapter Three: Trenton

They had suffered a devastating loss.  So many lives were lost, and several had been captured by Jasper's men.  They had withdrawn with their tails between their legs.  It was degrading and overwhelmingly tragic.  The hardest part was telling the spouses, parents, and children that their family would never return. 

A thick cloud of grief hung over their hideaway.  Everyone was somber; comforting the desolate and healing the injured.  It was a dark day for their camp.  One that would not be forgotten for years to come.

Robert laid in his bed, exhausted, watching the stars peek through the crack of the rocks.  Beyond his space, he could hear the muffled cries and voices of his fellow humans.  It had been two days since the battle, and they were recovering the best as they could. 

Seth was running around, tending to the injured with Javonne.  Thomas was trying to lift their spirits, but no one wanted to be  happy.  Kai had retreated to an isolated area to work through his grief.  It was his plan after all that caused this devastation.  They wanted to grieve. They wanted to be angry.

Like Seth and Javonne, Robert had been busy trying to repair the little bit of technology they had at their disposal.  This included the security system that protected their fort.  An extra precaution if any of Jasper's army had decided to follow them. 

Robert would have kept working if it wasn't for Thomas insisting he got some rest.  He wanted to keep himself busy.  If he was still, even for a moment, his thoughts drifted back to the forest. 

Robert cautiously closed his eyes.  He dreamt of black hair and hazel eyes.  He saw blood smeared on her pale skin.

Robert jerked awake. 

Damn it!

He needed to talk to Javonne.  She was always so levelheaded.  Maybe she could help him sort through what he was feeling. 

Quickly, Robert jumped out of bed and crept out of his room.  It wasn't really a room.  It was a crevice carved into the stone with a large piece of fabric as a door.  It wasn't much, but it was his.  He was lucky to have a room to himself.  Not everyone had the luxury of having their own space.  And Robert did not feel comfortable sharing a room with others, so he fought hard for his privacy.

"Hey Jae," Robert greeted, stepping into the makeshift infirmary. 

Javonne was kneeling next to a young man, redressing his leg.  Her dark black hair was pulled back in a bun, and her bangs covered her forehead in their own separate strips.  Her clothes were stained with blood and other bodily fluids.  She looked tired and defeated.

"Hi, Robert."  Javonne's usually upbeat voice was soft and full of sadness. 

Robert sat next to her, watching silently as Javonne worked on the young man.  He was in a restless sleep.  His chest rose and fell with labored breathing.  The pain was imprinted on his features as he moaned.  Beads of sweat rested on his forehead and the top of his lips. 

Robert's stomach sunk at the sight of his suffering.  Maybe this wasn't the best time.  It seemed so trivial.  And what would they think of what he did.  Robert had a hard time coming to terms with it.

"Did you come here to tell me something?"

"Ugh, yeah.  I...  I saved the Water Witch."

Javonne froze for a moment.  It was like she was trying to carefully select her words. 

Robert fidgeted nervously.  He didn't mean to blurt that out so casually. 

The Water Witch was one of Jasper's companions.  She had destroyed Robert's home and countless others'.  Out of all the elemental nymphs in Jasper's ploy, the Water Witch was seen a lot more and done the most damage.