*POV* Cassy Iris Aleera
When the steel blue eyed boy rushed out of the tent leaving me with my wrists held out in front of me waiting for the cuffs to be taken off, I almost pouted in disappointment.
Emmie looked from me to the door then sighed and came over to pat my hand. Now that her cuffs were off, physical contact didn't hurt so much. I appreciated the touch and smiled.
They soon left, Doc entered not seconds after with a bowl of steaming soup in hand, while I ate he sat watching then he sighed. "Can you walk?" He asked. I wasn't sure, but was up to giving it a try.
I nodded, he let out a hefty sigh as he moved to help me from the bed. I wasn't sure, but it seemed like he hated me a little, like I was a big burden that he had to deal with. I didn't know what I had done to make him feel that way.
But he still came in daily to check on me and to give me meals, and to see how I was doing. It had been 2 days since I had come that I was fully conscious of, I had to admit I was feeling a lot better.
No more excruciating pain plagued my bones. He helped me off the bed and out of the tent, after a couple steps the strength returned to my legs. I was able to hold most of my own weight as I clung to his arm and shoulders, I stopped to look around.
We had stepped out into the afternoon sun that felt filling on my weak body, he led me down neat rows of tents and towards the tree line, all the while Seal stayed on my heels as we entered a large blue tent right next to a tree.
There were no beds in here, only blankets that lay on the floor and a couple bags that lay at the end of them. Doc helped me sit, there was nothing to lean on so I sunk down into the blankets.
He knelt beside me and started talking as he stared at Seal who was staring back at him from her position at my feet. "You can sleep here, and I will come check on you like usual. If you want to sit outside just tell me and I will help you out for a bit."
I nodded my head slightly then closed my eyes to regain my new found strength. He left and I stared up at the ceiling for a while before Seal came to settle by my head and I placed my hand on her for comfort.
So much had happened over the course of the past week, I wasn't sure what day it was anymore or if I would again to be honest. I just hoped I could get back home, I could only imagine the shock when my parents returned home to find everyone gone.
I felt like crying but I was so drained, I knew sleep would be the best thing now.
I awoke to not-so-hushed voices, and a stitch in my back, rolling over I caught some of the girl's conversation.
"It's not your fault. you did what you could." A young female voice said, sounding sympathetic. There was an audible groan.
"You are just saying that Mari, plus we have to move camp now."
"It isn't that bad, I have been needing a change in scenery anyway." I heard movement as the girl got up.
"Get some sleep, we will be leaving the day after tomorrow." Then she left, I was about to fall asleep once again when I heard the girl that lay only feet away from me crying.
It was hard to ignore but I didn't know what to do so I just let her cry. And focused my mind on something else, like petting Seal as she licked my arm. After some time I was able to sleep.
I awoke the next morning, with the noise of people entering the tent, voices raised in excitement. I turned blinking in the sunlight, my eyes focused on the two girls of strong builds in the door calling to the one in the other bed.
She sat up. "What's going on?" She asked, blinking sleepily, she looked like I imagined I did.
"We got to pack up Mink, this tent too." She stared. "Where is Destiny?"
Just then someone else pushed past them. A tall slender dark-haired woman entered. "Sorry, Mink. We are leaving in an hour, they are closer than we thought."
Mink fell back onto her blankets groaning. Then gave them a thumbs up. "Give me two minutes." They disappeared outside, Mink moved slowly to sit up again grabbing a shirt from the floor, she pulled it on over her undershirt.
Then our eyes meet. I turned, realizing that I had been staring.
"Yeah I know it's dirty, but no one will know. Do you need help up?" She asked, I turned to look at her as she smiled, putting her feet into her boots she gave the ties a great pull and then looked around.
I wondered for only a moment, then realized she was looking for a way to tie her laces. I scooted up and slowly made my way onto my knees and reached for her ties.
"Wha-. Ohh yeah, go ahead. Wasn't sure how beat up you were." She smiled, as I tied the knots.
Once I had finished she looked down at my dress, shaking her head at the tattered dress that hung around my neck, its neckline no more the torn threads.
"Let's see what we can do about that." She went to rummage in a bag and came back with a white shirt and a pair of soft leather leggings. I took them gratefully, she left and I dressed quickly.
The shirt was a tad baggy but otherwise, the clothes fit well enough. I moved carefully out of the tent, having enough strength to move out of there but soon felt tired as I stood outside wondering where to go next.
When I spotted Benson sitting on a stump with Seal wagging her tail at him I moved farther over to the edge of the forest, to sit gingerly down beside him.
I bent down to pet her wondering why the cuffs didn't shock me from the contact, for they did before. I gazed down at them now, realizing now they had chafed at my wrists, they were red and swollen with black and blue bruises. I looked at Benson for help.
Holding up the cuffs. He contemplated a moment before mumbling something under his breath, water slowly rose from the damp forest floor and made itself into a thick stream in the air.
It slowly moved through the air with a motion from his hands and lightly caressed the chapped sores as it went beneath the bonds. The coolness made me start and grit my teeth to not squirm.
The water slowly expanded beneath the iron, putting pressure on it and stretched the iron warping and cracking. The water slipped back into the ground, I closed my eyes in relief then slowly worked the cracked cuffs of my wrists sighing when they hit the ground.
"Those must hurt." Benson leaned into my arm as he studied my wrists. I flexed my hands rounding my wrists to help with the circulation, wincing. The pain was worse than I when the cuffs were on, I had to get Doc to look at them.
The thought stuck in my head. I tried to stand, but halfway up I gave up and sat back, rubbing my thighs. Benson sighed. I looked over and questioned him silently.
He was looking at the ground, tapping his knee rapidly. "Do you think we will ever get back home? Emmie says to not worry, mum is looking for us. But.." He paused. "I just wish.."
"BENSON!! Oh good, Cassy." Faylie and a woman came running in our direction. "What's happening?" Benson said, jumping up. I got to my feet feeling the urgency but proceeded to crumple to the ground.
I awoke, and when my eyes focused, I felt the rocking motion like that of the sea. My face looked up at a blue sky scattered with white fluffy clouds.
Seal's face came into my view, her tongue to the side panting in the heat. Even though the sun beat down on me, I was surprisingly cool.
I twisted a bit and looked down. I was floating in mid-air atop a wind current. But I wasn't the only one, others followed behind laying on their backs.
I sat up slowly so as not to fall. "Don't worry Dear, I won't let you fall." I look up to meet Mink's smiling eyes. She floated alongside the invisible air sled.
I gave a shy nod and swiveled on my knees to get a look at the possession of people moving on foot down the winding forest road. I wasn't sure how far we had gone from the camp.
I needed to question someone and looked around for the twins. Not seeing them I sighed, moving to stand up and steadied myself, looking over the heads of the others.
Though I had never stood on air magic before I wasn't scared and felt better than ever. Standing on my tippy toes I spread my arms wide. "Whoa, there lass." I turned to grin at Mink, she raised an eyebrow.
"Suit yourself." She shook her head, I turned to search once more. Seeing nothing I plopped back down, sighing.