Emerald Seas

Chapter 21

Kate slowly opened her eyes. It was quiet, she remembered the rushing sound of the palm trees. Her sight was resting on an off-white canvas with the sun shining through the fabric. Once she lowered her head she recognized it to be a tent. Her head was aching but when her hand moved to her forehead it felt at a normal temperature again, the fever had subsided and she was happy with it. Kate's heart made a jump once she remembered what happened before she lost consciousness. The face of Cutler's worry was printed on her mind, the blue eyes she had longed for months to see staring into her very soul.

Moving up her torso Kate's sight went through the tent. It seemed like she had been taken care of, wearing a clean under dress she once again remembered how dry clothes felt and her fingers moved some strings of hair out of her face. Her hand reaching for a ribbon on the wooden crate next to her bed she moved her long red locks into a ponytail, her eyes rested on the EITC logo on the crate while she wondered how it, and everyone else, ended up on the same island. Her hands resting on her lap still covered by the sheets her sight moved to some fresh water beside her bed. Taking the bowl she was relieved to finally lust her thirst.

After moving down the bowl back onto the crate she heard a sound. A hand moved the fabric of the tent's entrance to the side. It was Cutler appearing from behind, holding some documents while staring at them, his mind was somewhere else. Once he fully entered his sight moved upon Kate and his surprised face lid up.

'You are awake' his voice spoke brightly as he moved down his documents onto the small table next to the entrance and he quickly made way to the side of her bed, where he moved down slowly. Kate could not contain a smile as he reached for her hands. Slowly moving her arms around him she felt the warmth of his body, it was all she needed. After holding each other for quite some time without saying a word her eyes moved upon his again.

'I hope you feel well?' Cutler whispered when his hand reached to the side of her face, his fingers diving into her hair where he held part of her neck within the palm of his warm hand, it made her shiver when he touched her like that.

'A lot better' Kate whispered while his thumb softly caressed her lips.

'You have no idea how many times I entered this tent to see if you were awake. Your fever was high this night.. I thought.. I thought at one point I might lose you' Cutler spoke underneath his breath. Kate had no idea, but she had been dehydrated and she very well knew what it could do to you.

'It takes a lot more than a fever to bring me down' Kate grinned while her hand moved to Cutler's messy wig, trying to correct it, but it seemed in vain. Cutler moved his eyes down trying to contain a grin.

'That's how I know you' he whispered and quickly moved his arms around her waist to pull her forward and kiss her on the lips gently.

'What happened?' Cutler whispered after some time as Kate had moved up from the bed. Her hands reached for the gold ribbon on the table after putting on a goldish yellow dress. Like a gentleman, Cutler took the ribbon from her and helped her tie it around her waist. After he finished she felt his hand touch the skin of her neck softly before he moved in front of her again, his face serious.

'I.. escaped' Kate hesitated, she had no idea where to begin, he would declare her crazy once hearing the story.

'At one of the ports? But how did you end up here?' Cutler's confused sight did not move away from her.

'No, by water' Kate whispered.

'I hope you mean by ship?' Cutler rolled up the documents he took from the table again and folded them to fit them into the pocket of his coat, his eyes did not leave her. Kate slowly shook her head.

'I jumped from the Dauntless once I got the chance' Kate spoke underneath her breath. Cutler's hands froze midway lowering them from moving the parchment into his pocket.