The Children of the Forgotten

Chapter 7

  Noah made his way down to the river, a basket of his vomit-stained clothes in hand. After the wenches had left, it seemed everyone in town was trying to kill themselves. Tyler being dragged under, Carter being shot, and Ben falling in the river, he would be stuck with three insufferable fools for a while it seemed.

  He kneeled down next to the river as he set the basket next to him, he swiftly pulled out the clothes and dunk them under the water as he worked to remove the vomit. He had always thought it disgusting that they washed and drank from the same place, but he supposed it was deserving that someone drinks the vomit water.

  As he worked to remove the vomit, he could hear the boisterous laughter from the herdsman as they navigated the herd of goats, sheep, and cattle across the fields and towards the barns, surrounded by fields of growing crops.

  He could feel the nighttime chill descend as he finished washing his clothes, the sun already fallen into the lands. As he stood up, a basket of sopping clothes in hand, he walked back up from the fields and into the town. He could see the lights of fire shining through the windows as the townsfolk settled in for the night.

  He had always found the town peaceful at this time of night, with the town lights shining to the sky and the wind slowly moving the rickety windmills. He couldn't help but sigh as he made his way home, not ready for the patients.

  He pushed open the door to hear the snores of three men, and the small scampering of Sage as she made her way around the floor. He couldn't help but snort at Sage as she made her way to his feet, biting at his ankles. Noah quickly shooed her away as he made his way over to the fireplace. He bent down to the small basket next to it, a small bundle of blankets in it that slowly moved up and down. 

  He couldn't help but smile at the small creature, Oregano, as he loaded chunks of wood into the hearth. He had moved the small goat onto the floor after the boom of injuries had pursued, and the small buck didn't seem to mind. Noah had never thought the poor creature would live this long, but Oregano surprised him and surpassed what should have been his demise. Noah fully expected the young buck to make it to adulthood, even with his handicap hindering his full potential.

  As Noah finished setting the wood, he quickly took down the small matches that Wade had crafted earlier in the year. He quickly struck the match against the hearth and sent it into the wood, starting a small kindle.

  He could hear the small honks coming from Sage as she hopped around the fire, obviously not pleased with it. Noah couldn't help but chuckle at her antics, and patted the creature, as he went to check the small buck's vitals.

  Noah could hear the murmurs of sleepy disapproval as the light reflected from the walls of the small room. Noah swiftly and diligently made his rounds, checking the stitching and bandaging of all his patients as their murmurs of dissatisfaction were heard.

  As Noah made work of reapplying clean bandages to a sleeping Ben's head wound, he could hear the hitting of hooves on the pavement as they came to a stop in front of his home. He could hear the delicate steps of boots as they made their way to the door, as an accompanying knock was heard.

  As Noah set back down Ben's head, he made his way over to the door, a hopping Sage accompanying him. He briskly opened the door to reveal a woman with long black hair, and a long blue cloak that covered her trousers and shirt.

  "Ava?" Noah queried, "What are you doing here so late?"

  She gave him a bright smile, "I have come to see the patients, I had just arrived back from the East, where I was working with the small village there, when I had heard a few of our townsfolk had been injured," She stated as she made her way past Noah and inside.

  "Why were you in the East? Has something happened?" Noah once again questioned as Ava examined the patients slumbering peacefully.

  "A group of ruffians had attacked the village, no injuries too extensive for your need, but I had heard and decided to travel through the wilderness to aid them in their recovery," She said as she bent down to scratch Sage's head, eliciting a small honk from Sage.

  "Have you already been informed about the repairs that have started in our village then?" Noah asked as he took a small goblet down from the shelf, and filled it with water from a glass bottle.

  "Yes I had the chance to put my word in with that, Elaina had needed more room to store the food, and heaven knows the dining hall and market could use it, plus the winter is coming and we need to prepare our village," She remarked as she went to sitting Sage upon her lap.

  Elaina and Ava had both been working with Carter for several years, Ava handled most of the town's management and what needed to be where, while Elaina worked by rationing food and storing what is needed for times of need, and even deciding where to plant every spring. They both were essential to the operations of the village.

  Ava released a slow yawn as she stood up, setting Sage down onto the floor. She made her way back over to the door and slowly opened it.

  "I will see you later Noah, have a wonderful night with the three clods," She said as she cracked a smile at him.

  "I'll see you tomorrow, Night." Noah murmured as she made her way outside, closing the door behind her.

  Noah bent down and scooped up Sage as he heard her gallop away, a sigh escaping his lips. She had been one of his best friends so long ago, but it had seemed they had grown apart lately. She was one of the only tolerable people in this village, besides his sister and she still annoyed him. 

  He once again sighed as he set Sage in her small bundle of rags, as she twirled around before settling into them. He gave her a scratch upon the head as he made his way to the door of his room. As he opened the door, he looked back at the three fools peacefully at sleep, oh how he wished he could sleep so peacefully, but it always seemed to elude him. He cracked one last smile before making his way into his room, the sound of a door shutting echoing throughout the home.