As they arrived in town they couldn't see anyone, not even Rahul, they ran through every house, and went a head running towards the Manor, when they couldn't find anyone in town.
Again they hear the horn sound coming from the sides.
"That's in the forest." Morathi said. They changed direction to the forest.
"Rahul !!" Yelled Yanos . They were ready to charge and Rahul screamed back.
"They are back... They are back."
The Alana group stopped for a moment when they started to recognise the ones that Rahul and some other people were carrying. Everyone was helping carrying them back.
"Brother ..." Staggered Tobiah towards a man that was walking slow almost like a zombie, dragging his feet. "..you're alive! How??" He was almost crying grabbing his brother who collapsed in his arms.
"They are back from the campaign. Help us carry them back to the Manor."
Alana was surprised after so long, months even the knights, warriors that left with husband were back. Her heart from some reason grow heavy, if they are alive and back is also her husband, the master also alive? What would happen to her. Even though this was running through her head she grabbed some staggering warrior and carrier him back.
Everyone in the Manor was busy treating wounds, cooking and feeding the one that were already conscious.
Even the little ones were helping by fetching water in the snow, carring the water bowls where it was needed.
Some had frostbites, their members that were exposed were red, their faces swollen, same were still trembling from extreme cold.
Alana never used Tera's powers in a human before, she was reluctant do to in front of everyone, too.
Rahul, the Doctor, Eustace, Yanos were taking the ones with extreme frostbite to the other room, they had to be amputed, their screams could be heard all over the Manor.
Malaica would run around bringing warm milk to the ones that were awake, warm towels, blankets. Others were in need balm applied too their faces and lips.
Later when everyone was treated, everything was more calm. Everyone that earlier was very focused and running around, that they didn't have time to even process what was happening, some came to the realisation that their loved ones were back, dad, husbands, even sons had returned, everyone that left , except for the young Master.
Around 50 people returned. Alana was worried that many people would make their little ecosystem out of balance. She was in the wintergarden using Tera's power to give a boost to the food.
Her unseasy feeling hadn't disappeared, she could still feel something was coming.
Tera was also silent.
Everyone had be sitting next to their familiares, some were outside in the hallways, even though the main house in the manor was not like the other places, it was still big enough fit everyone in and accomodate in a room, some had to share, but noone dared to use the Master's room.
Alana gave up her room to fit some too, she went the conservatory, where the glass ceiling let her gaze at the stars above, even though it was cold, it was the only place she could be alone.
'Tera ? What would happen if I used your power to heal some of them'
'it could improve their situation, but anything dead is just out of my powers reach.
However would you be okay? '
'what do you mean?'
'you seem to care what they think of you'
'I...' Alana wanted to say that she would be fine, but she was not so sure anymore, their warmth had made her feel things she never had felt before. She didn't know if she would be fine letting go of everyone admiration and warmth.
Later at night Alana sneaked in the first room, she could see Tâmiah, holding the hand of the man in bed, he was her Father Claus, he was strong looking, he was one of the lucky ones even though he had frostbites, it was not severe, but his limbs were swollen. Alana was trembling, she had cold sweats running through her body as she approached the bed. Tâmiah was still sleeping with her head in her arms.
'breathe.... Everything is going to be fine' said Tera comforting Alana.
Alana put her hand on Tâmiah's father leg and let her power flow out to heal his wounds and swollen members. His face that was twisted in pain and discomfort, his mouth was moving as if he was muttering something, started to slowly change and became softer, and his face relaxed.
She left slowly, and went through the other rooms some were severer than others, some were still moaning in pain and trembling, they were also muttering, she would take longer on these, but she couldn't make sense of what they were saying.
She managed to lessen their suffering, most of the cases.
There were a few rooms left and Rahul, that was sleep sitting in a hallway, eyes suddenly opened once Alana entered another room.
This one room was full with 3 families lying in the beds and floor, Alana breath deeply, went forward, in one of the bed was one of few amputee, he was sweet and trembling, everyone was afraid that he may not survive. Trembling she reached to his leg was gone, he was muttering something... That couldn't be understood. Alana came to his side slowly reaching his arm, healing him, Alana slides close to his mouth and his speech was a little bit stammering but she could understand the word 'sorry'.
She help the other two very quietly left the room.
As she closed the left a sight out. Her body was getting used to use Tera's powers and she wasn't fighting against it either. In the past she used to refrain to use it because she didn't want the people to call her a monster. She already stood out with her white hair, she would hide as much as possible from the people as she was growing. She could barely remember the incident that made people treat and call her monsters, or any other demeaning names.
She entered another room, slowly closed the door.