War from Under the Bed

Cold and Alone

"Sadie!" Henry cried as Popi and her came lumbering toward the glow of a fire. In the span of them getting back, it had grown dark and even colder than before. Popi didn't seem affected by it, but Sadie was freezing. Her brother came rushing over and swooped her up in a warm hug. Sadie burrowed herself into his embrace, both because of relief and the cold that had seeped into her bones.

"I'm sorry for being so mean Henry..." she said as she began to cry softly, "I was so tired...I was scared...I'm so sorry,"

"You're okay," he said as he checked her for injuries and spotted her still bleeding arm that had swollen slightly, "Or maybe not, we need to clean this up." He looked at Popi and saw her back as well, "You both need treatment."

"Is Sam okay?" Sadie asked, his grief still as strong as ever.

Henry pressed his lips together and looked back at the fire. Sam was staring into it, his face slack and his eyes unfocused. He looked like a statue, the only sign of life being the rise and fall of his chest. "We'll leave him be...for now, you're getting the old fashion treatment."

"I'm tired though..." Sadie murmured.

Henry chuckled as he led Popi toward the warm fire, "Don't worry, you can rest while I work." He laid Sadie on a pad that was free and inspected her arm a bit closer. Sadie decided to take a look at it as well and instantly regretted it. The skin was crudly torn, large strips hanging loose off her arm. Blood pooled and slid down her arm, hiding anything else that was exposed in the deep wound. "Don't look..." Henry said, averting her gaze with a gentle hand. Sadie couldn't help but begin to cry softly, clutching her locket like it was her life line. Courage warmed her chest in comfort.

There was a clink of beads and shaking hands on her arm before the pain in her arm subdued.

"Sam, are you sure?"

"She would have scolded me if I left them like this..."

"...you're unstable...grief doesn't mix well with healing magic..." The magic that flowed into her arm ceased and she braved another look to see that it was completely healed.

"Thank you..." she said as she flexed her fingers, glad it didn't hurt anymore. Sam looked at her with empty eyes, red and swollen from what she guessed was crying. She sat up against the protesting of her tired body and hugged him. "I'm sorry." The angel sat there for a bit, not moving, until her arms encircled her, accepting her hug.

"Can we help him?" Sadie asked Courage.

"No...grief is too potent...must heal naturally..." She sighed at their response and let go of him. Without another word, he turned his attention to Popi. Sadie laid back down and fell asleep in seconds, too exhausted to worry about his well-being.

"Henry, hurry!" Nick's face was hard with determination as he lunged for Fenris. He was pinned to the ground in seconds, the monster's jagged mouth inches from his face.

Sadie's father's last words rang in her head as she woke. She lay there for a second, trying to still her buzzing nerves. She noticed that her hands had started to melt and she quickly gained control. Why now, after so long, was she having nightmares about them?

"I'm sorry..." Sam's quiet voice reached Sadie and she sat up to see him still sitting by the fire, staring at the flames with nothing in his freckled face. She spotted Popi sleeping with Pang under her arm.

"Why?"

"You had a nightmare about your parents."

"How......"

The fire sputtered slightly and Sam turned his gaze to her, "Grief doesn't mix well with healing magic..."

Sadie took a moment before she replied, "I...I don't understand..."