---Aaron---
Back at the inn, Edward approached us with concern. "I heard noises outside. What happened?" His eyes landed on an unconscious Katherine in my arms and a pale Indigo and Rachel.
"Oh no. Oh no. You guys need to see the healer. I'll take you guys there." He tried to push past me towards the door but Jason stopped him.
"That's okay. They just need some rest." His firm tone stopped Edward short.
"No! Helen and that other girl are very weak. They used up some of their life force." Edward indicated towards Katherine and Rachel. "Indigo lost a huge amount of blood; it's a miracle she's still alive. You guys need to see the healer right now!" I stared at him intently.
"How do you know?" I asked, a dangerous glint in my eyes. "How did you tell?"
"I—" Edward looked uncomfortable under our sharp, alarmed gazes. "I'm the healer's apprentice," he mumbled.
"Well Edward, thank you for your concern, but we're fine, really," said Rachel. "We're good."
"No." His eyes flickered down to Katherine in my arms and then met my gaze. "Helen's weak. She wasn't supposed to use her—her power—well, not power, but you know—she did something—" Edward stumbled over his words, trying to describe it. I waited, an eyebrow raised.
"Whatever she did, it used up some of her life force. She's weak because she hadn't recovered fully from the first time she did it. I can tell that she almost drained herself completely just from the first encounter," Edward said, eyes full of worry. "She needs to see the healer."
"Jason, shut the door," Ashley said sharply. Slam. Edward turned to look at her, eyes wide. She took a few steps closer to him, and he backed up until his back hit the counter. There was no where to go. We stood around him like bullies to a little kid.
"How can you tell? How do you know?" Ashley repeated my questions, narrowing her eyes. Edward eyed the swords at our hips and swallowed.
"I…it's really weird, but I was born with this ability of sorts," he said, betraying hints of fear on his face. "I can feel the well-being of others. I can tell if they're hurt, or if they've been hurt, and how bad it is. Like with you, I know that you hurt your leg not long ago, maybe a couple of weeks ago?" Edward nodded towards me. Both of my eyebrows shot up.
"Yes, I did," I said slowly. It was when we were escaping out of the Aurora Forests.
"And you," Edward looked at Jason. "You were entirely worn out before, doing something, around the same time he hurt his leg. Kind of similar to Helen there, but hers is worse." Jason looked shocked and exchanged a glance with Ashley.
"Now Indigo, how come I get the feeling that you came back from the dead?" Edward said cautiously. "I see blood everywhere, but you don't have a wound."
"That's none of your business," snapped Ashley. "Do you have any medication to heal our friends here?"
"Uh…I think so, there's a couple potions my grandfather always used…" Edward started. Rachel cut him off.
"Indigo and Ka—Helen—need rest right now. I know some potions that would work. Can you get the proper ingredients for us? And make sure no one bothers us?"
"Yes, yes, of course. I'll take you to your rooms." Like a frightened mouse, Edward led the way up the stairs to the rooms in the inn.
"Are you all in one group?" He dared to ask. We exchanged glances.
"We know each other," Lucian said simply. Edward nodded quickly.
"Would you guys like individual rooms or one big room for all of you?" he asked again. "Or two rooms, one for the guys and one for the girls?" he quickly added.
"Oh. Um…" I looked back at Indigo and Rachel, questioning.
"Two rooms please," said Indigo quietly. Edward opened a door on the right. It was nice and cozy, not too big but not too small. Four beds fit snugly into the room, with enough room left for a nightstand, a sitting chair, and walking space. "For the ladies," Edward said, gesturing. Opening a door opposite the room revealed a room in similar décor. "For the gentlemen."
"Thank you." I walked in and placed Katherine gently on one of the beds. Lucian supported Indigo to another one.
"Um, what are the herbs that you wanted?" Edward asked timidly from the doorway. Rachel looked up, having just sat down on a bed.
"Take me to your storage space and I'll see what I need," she said, standing up.
"I'll go with you," Ashley offered.
"Me too," said Jason. Edward looked slightly uncomfortable but agreed. The four of them headed back downstairs.
"I'll be in the other room then," said Lucian, walking out. "Call me if you need anything."
"Alright." I walked over to Indigo's bedside. She had fallen asleep already, worn out by everything.
After making sure Indigo was okay, I returned to sit at the edge of Katherine's bed. A strand of her hair fell across her face, obscuring her eyes. Without thinking, I reached over and brushed it to the side. My hand lingered on her face for a second. Katherine looked so peaceful in her sleep, her features relaxed and free of her usual worry lines. She looked really pretty, like a princess in an enchanted sleep. I smiled, imagining her reaction if I ever told her that she looked like a princess. A warrior princess, Katherine would probably say. Not the ones with the pink dresses and frills. Ugh.
Suddenly tired, I dropped my face into my hands. We haven't even gone two weeks by ourselves, and so much had happened already. People have gotten hurt. A village had to take up arms against an enemy no one knew much about. Indigo was stabbed and barely came back from the dead. Katherine almost died to save me, and now to save others.
How were we supposed to save the world? How can we save others if we can barely save ourselves?