EMBER

INVERIE

I hit hard packed earth but I don't care as I brush the pain aside. I can function again.

I stand up and make for the portal before it closes. Strong hands encase my body tightly effortlessly making my struggles futile.

"We have to get back. We have to help them."
I franctically scream so loudly kicking small rocks and pebbles.

Tears stream down my cheeks.
"We have to go back."
My struggles ebb as the portal snaps shut.

I sink to my knees and wail entirely feeling hopeless. I don't care who is watching. Am in too much pain to care.

My knees get soaked. I hear waves crushing in. That means we are at the beach somewhere, some shore but it's a bit foggy and cold.

Small hands wrap around me. She places my head against her chest as I sob while she gently strokes my hair. Martha's smile is all I can see.

Someone else kneels the other side of me and I hear a crunch. My hand is balled in my mouth to hush the sobs wrecking through my body. It's Jake. He envelopes me in a hug too.

They make a loving cage around me. It's warm and reassuring but the thought I didn't do anything for them crushes me.

Once again. I was powerless against the demons. They have once more robbed me of people I love and I just stared helplessly. I cry more. I bite into my fist. those people raised us.

I hear more crunches. I open my eyes and see Emmeline in front of me with a handkerchief tears streaming down her face too. She takes my hand out of my mouth in hers squeezing it gently as if to pass me some warmth.

"There wasn't much to do Thea." Karim kneels behind Emmeline.

"At least I could have done something" My voice is so hoarse and alien to me.
Karim looks helplessly over my shoulder. I hear more crunches and Thoren with Shen in tow also come before me. I sniffle.

This boy I barely know has seen me cry a lot and vulnerable so many times. But do I care? I just lost my stand-in parents too. He palms my face gently. Stroking my teared cheek softly. I take in huge hiccupping gulps of air reveling in the comfort. All of these people around care about me and am selfish.

I slowly extract myself from the human cage around me removing my bag pack in the process and crawl to him. He puts his arms around me and plants a chaste kiss on my burning forehead.

He rises gently with me. Am weak and drained. He seems to know that as he sweeps me into his arms bridal style. Am grateful because my legs are softer than melting butter.

Temi, Emmeline and Jake's faces are tear stained. I made them sad. What kind of person am I? It weighs on me. Of course they are suffering the same loss but I didn't consider their feelings.

"What next?" Shen's voice rings out as he takes my bag pack.
"We are alone with no clue or guidance what next."

"We get a place to spend the night first." Thoren declares his voice resonating. "We all need a proper rest and grieving."

"We can go to The Old Forge pub. I'll guide." Jake starts walking.

"You are forgetting something.....!" Shen's voice rings out again. Everyone pauses and stares at him. "I mean look at us. Weapons, attire is fine but still, our eyes." Now I give him credit for being smarter in a crisis. We wouldn't want the poor folk here to fall into the black eyed kids frenzy.

"Put me down." I croak in Thoren's ear. He looks at me momentarily and the sets me on my feet gently.

If they gave us bag packs then there must be supplies. I walk to Shen and grab my pack from him. I open it and start rummaging through clothes, notebooks, flasks, first aid kits and I triumph as I discover our savior.