The pigeon that escaped from Shan's hand in shock would be the topic of their conversation. Because of that, the three of them had now left the house to look for game for dinner. Shan was still busy with the pigeon, while Leon wouldn't spend any time with it.
What about Gretta? She remained silent, sitting in the shade of the tree in front of the house. Her focus on the forest below, no matter how long she looked at it, never seemed to get bored.
The wind that blew occasionally ruffled her hair until she closed her eyes.
Gretta leaned her body, she took a deep breath and let it out slowly. There was relief and also a sense of worry that arose within her.
She glanced at the wound on the back of her hand, she had cleaned it as soon as she arrived at the house and re-bandaged it. Now she opened it slowly again.
No longer surprised, the wound had not been there since she had cleaned it a few hours ago. Gretta curled up her head. She was confused but didn't know what to do.
"Father, mother, if you were still alive, I just want to ask you one question. Who am I?"
Gretta's right hand tightly grasped the bandage of her injured left hand. She hugged her knees to alleviate the sadness in her own heart.
In such a state, Gretta felt someone holding her hand. Spontaneously, she pulled her head back and turned her head, trying to figure out who was touching her.
Shan was there looking at her with an inexplicable gaze, his hand still on the back of Gretta's hand which was not covered by the bandage as before.
"Your hand-,"
"What's going on?" At the same time Leon also arrived.
Gretta wrapped her hand again as Leon walked closer to them.
"It's nothing," Gretta said with a smile.
Unexpectedly, Leon approached her. Leon grabbed Gretta's hand.
"If there's no wound, why do you keep bandaging it?" He unwrapped the bandage on Gretta's hand. The girl silently stared at Leon.
"I know your wound has healed, even faster than usual." Leon squatted down in front of Gretta. "Why didn't you tell me?"
It was foolish to try to hide things from people who could know your thoughts. Gretta knew that, but she did not think she could tell him. It would be her own personal problem.
Leon had known about it since they were at Luke's house. It was just that Leon didn't ask about it, didn't discuss it, because he knew Gretta wanted that.
Unlike now, it seemed to be something that needed to be discussed. It was no longer Gretta's personal problem, because that could be the reason Rhys had pursued Gretta to that extent.
Gretta didn't know what to say, she lowered her head.
"Hey." Leon lifted Gretta's face, looking into the girl's now teary eyes. "We'll figure it out together, you've already entered this world and I've already entered yours."
Yes, now their relationship was no longer just about Gretta's revenge for the death of her parents, but there were many other things. Having gone so deep, Leon and Shan must continue to protect Gretta. They had to find out who she was, her relationship with Orlin and Rhys, and how to bring Rhys down from his current position.
At that moment, Gretta could no longer hold back her tears. They just spilled down her cheeks. It felt miserable to be in that position, but she was also grateful for the two people who were always with her.
It is said that to ease a girl's anger, sadness, and crying, you just need to hug her tightly. Reassuring her that you are by her side and will protect her.
Leon took Gretta's body into his arms. The girl's cries were so pitiful, Leon had to muffle them.
"But I hate those furry creatures," Gretta said between her cries. "I would never want to belong to them." Her crying intensified.
"But I'm also a furry creature, Gretta, and you've slept with me twice."
Gretta pushed Leon's body, she paused for a moment and hit the man. "Your words make people ambiguous, you fool. I'm just lying next to you, not sleeping with you!" She burst into tears again.
"Oh, isn't that the same thing?" Leon said with an amused laugh.
Shan smiled along with him, and then stepped away from the two people. As for who Gretta really was, she had doubted the girl from the beginning, now it was just a matter of finding out why she was in the situation she was in.
*
"I don't think we need to cook this," Shan worked hard to clean Leon's game, a fat deer. While the pigeon was now just a name, Shan didn't manage to catch it again.
"This is a bit troublesome, how about eating it raw?" suggested Shan stopping his activities and looking at Leon.
Leon didn't say anything, he just looked back at Shan and the man resumed his activities. Leon couldn't resist when he was in such a state. Just do it.
"I'll help." Gretta extended her hand, squatting down with Shan.
And under these circumstances, Leon would relent. He asked Gretta to stand up and leave the deer, Leon would continue. Of course Shan felt very grateful for that.