EMBER

UNBECOMING ME

I am floating.

Grey blue eyes are looking at me.

A woman with eyes almost like mine and blonde hair with black streaks stares at me.

She smiles sadly at me cupping my cheek gently a tear running down her pale white skin. She is very timelessly beautiful. Almost like.....who? My memory forsakes me.

"Not yet time dear. There's still so much to come."
She pulls me in to a fierce hug. I open my eyes instantly.

I am in a room, in a tent room to be precise. It is green with two metallic beds and other messy meager things that look like belongings but am not sure.

I am lying on a table. I try to sit up but I am all stiff and one of my legs is paralyzed though I can't tell which one... yet.

I have to get my bearings, I find I have had to get my bearings a lot lately.

Where am l? Last I remember was jumping into a portal Artemis created but why? I have no clue and ......passing out? I sigh in frustration. I don't remember.

I try to move again. So stiff. I sit up and stretch.

Note to self, tables make uncomfortable lying surfaces ouch. Maybe I'll apologize to Artemis for putting her on one. But it had a sleeping gear so that doesn't count. A noise distracts me.

I turn to see Karim get up from a chair in the corner stretching while yawning. He looks beat. He looks at me and evident relief spreads all over his face then worry, then joy, then anger?

"You are supposed to be lying down?" He grumpily strides over and starts fussing about.

"The table is uncomfortable."
It's half a complaint and half excuse. I pout, stretching my stiff limbs that crack to illustrate my point. He chuckles a bit. Am forgiven.

"Only you can complain of discomfort in such a situation"
He further examines me. I want to ask what situation but he indicates for me to wrap my arms around his neck and he carries me effortlessly to one of the small metal beds and gently lays me down.

I notice I am wrapped in a soft pink blanket. Now this is ironic.

It is a bit chilly in the tent though. Karim adjusts a pillow behind my head to make me more comfortable. He even wraps the blanket more around me to make me warmer. He's such a care bear.

"Better?" He smiles obviously pleased with himself.

"Better." I sigh in contentment.

He brushes silver strands that have escaped the braid he did from my forehead with gentle tenderness and my heart soars.

"I should have let you go first." His tone is laced with guilt. I am confused. I stare at him blankly.

I don't remember. I am hoping he gives me an explanation though but he looks at me with that worry again and I can't help but feel something is very much amiss.

"You don't even know where we are?" He eyes me warily.

I think hard. My head hurts a bit. I frown, I really don't remember.

Shaking my head I try pulling myself up. A sharp pain shots through my nearly numb left leg which I have figured is the paralyzed one. I scream in pain. Karim is immediately up to helping me adjust my position.

"What happened?" Tears prickle my eyes as I breathe through my mouth trying to keep them at bay. I hate pain. I have a low tolernce for it.

"Don't move around much, you are nearly healed but there is still bound to be pain. The wound was deep."
He explains as he pulls the blanket around me more at the same time revealing my left ankle wrapped tightly in a bandage.