Dragonsoul

Chapter 37

"You brought a Gatherer to our house?" Leonie screamed, forgetting all about her plan of not alarming the girl.

"Don't you remember what they did the moment father died? Don't you care that they stole from us before our father's spirit had even had a chance to reach his final destination." Leonie yelled.

Rimar came closer to her trying to calm her down with his warmth, but she was beyond reasoning. For the first time in years, her carefully constructed mask fell, and everyone could see how raw her emotions still were.

"Leonie, she is my friend, and you are scaring her," Nald said with pleading eyes.

Leonie was furious. Those people were the very ones who dared dishonor their home, they hurt Nald, and there he was looking at her as if she was the one who hurt him.

It broke her heart to see tears gathering in his usually smiling eyes, and she had to look away. She had to find a way to extinguish the fire of rage that was burning in her heart.

For a moment, it felt as if the Gatherers were not only responsible for the theft but her father's very death. Though she knew it was illogical, she could not stop herself from thinking of them as the enemies. Not the evil that they were supposed to fight but the corruption that was worse in its ignorance, in its inability to see the pain it was causing.

"Besides, she had nothing to do with what happened. She was still a child when that happened, Leonie, just like we were." Nald said.

"How can you be so naïve? She must be here to hurt us again." Leonie said.

The girl flinched those words and completely hid in Nald's comforting hands. Yet, she did not attempt to defend herself. She was too frightened by the venom in Leonie's words, and she was not the only one.

"Leonie, I know I've taught you better than that. That's not the way to treat your guests." Amitola said, coming towards them with quick worried steps.

"But mom..." Leonie said.

"No excuses, young lady. You are scaring this poor little girl who has done nothing to you. Go and think about what you have done." Amitola said.

It was one of the rare occasions when Amitola was strict with Leonie since her father's death, and that made Leonie realize that what she had done was truly bad.

"I am sorry," she said to the little one who was fighting off tears.

The only response she got was a small nod as Autumn was too scared to find her words, holding on to Nald as if he was her anchor in the stormy sea.

"And bring Rimar with you," Amitola said as Leonie started moving away.

She looked him in the eyes, and only then realized how urgent their leave was. His enormous eyes were blazing with fire. It was only a matter of time before flames burst through. Leonie was ashamed to note that it was her rage that burned through his heart, and that she almost caused him to unleash his fiery wrath on an innocent little girl.

"Let's go to your cave," Leonie said, advancing towards the house since they had left the house portal active.

Rimar, on the other hand, used the outside one being too large to fit into the house.

"That. Is. A. Good. Idea." He said, barely restraining himself from letting out the blaze that bubbled at the tip of his tongue.

Then they hurried away eager to reach the safety of the cave before they could hurt someone. The cave that would keep others safe from them. It was a terrifying idea to face that they were a danger to others.