Aelburn (WATTY'S 2020)

.four. °°

"Tears shed for another person are not a sign of weakness. They are a sign of a pure heart."

José N. Harris; MI VIDA: A Story of Faith, Hope and Love

December 2nd, 2199

WILLOW

When I woke next, the canvas fabric and metal rods of the main tent greeted me. Every muscle in my body ached and my head screeched in agony at the dim light from the torches sat by the door.

"This is exactly why I didn't want to allow these two to stay! Exactly why I thought we should leave. Look at them!"

"Wesley, please keep your voice down." Guen's voice was soft and I turned my head slowly, blinking to clear my vision and wincing when pain like daggers stabbed the back of my eyeballs. Jai sat beside me, a large bruise having formed on his jaw and the remnants of dried blood crusted the side of his mouth. His head was turned away from me and I noticed Aeraf laying in a bed just past him, his dark eyelashes fluttering against his cheeks.

"This is no thanks to them. My wife is missing! How am I supposed to lead and take care of my children?!"

"You could ignore them like you have since they were born. They wouldn't know any different." Nathan sat next to Aeraf, watching as Aeraf's mother, Cara, ran her nimble fingers through her sons hair. His voice dripped with malice, his eyes darting to Aeraf's face as his breath hitched with a soft whimper.

"I don't ignore my children. Amai does everything and doesn't give me a chance. I don't know how to take care of them, Maev." Wesley snapped, Nathan rolling his eyes before turning them towards me. His aging features split into a warm smile.

"Well, look who decided to join us." He said softly, Jai's head whipping towards me. Concern claimed his eyes as Guen rushed to me, dropping to her knees and running her fingers over my shoulder.

"Oh sweetheart...how do you feel?"

"My head..." I managed to say and Guen nodded, shooting a glare towards Wesley. "Lavender?" My question made Guen visibly freeze, her bottom lip trembling as she moved her hand to my hair, softly brushing my curls back. Her fingers snagged in a knot but I paid no mind to that. The tears brimming in her eyes had my full attention and I felt Jai wrap my fingers in his hand.

"She was gone when we found you." Guen murmured and the damn that'd been standing tall against my emotions exploded and tears bloomed. "Oh, Willow..."

"No..." The word escaped as a pitiful hiccup, my tears running down my cheeks to harbor in my ears. "No, that can't..."

"I tried." Jai's voice was soft, remorse deep in its tone as his fingers tightened around mine. "Will, I tried so hard."

Placing my free hand on the mat I lay on, I pushed myself up to a sitting position, a wave of nausea hitting me and causing my hand to tighten up even harder around Jai's.

"Willow, you should rest—"

"No!" My voice was harsh, Guens eyes widening as I looked to her. "I promised her she would be safe! I let her down! I..." My voice cracked and, pleadingly, I raised my eyes to find Jai's, his filled with even more remorse and worry. "I have to save her."