Chapter 249: A natural function
"Is it a big and strong animal? Like a great beast?" Remus opened his hands and arms wide to demonstrate his words.
"No!" she squeaked, a bright smile on as she shook her head from left to right, "It was a teeny tiny animal that dug at the foot of trees for refuge," with her right hand, she mimicked the act of digging in the dirt.
"So small!" the boy’s eyes widened, "What was it then?"
Eyebrows furrowed, she focused her sight on one specific page, "If I read these correctly, it’s a squeaddle. No other animal matches with the description,"
"We don’t hunt squeaddles because they are small and feeding the entire pack requires hunting bigger animals," he explained.
"Well, your ancestors advise adding squeaddles to your diet for your own good," she chuckled, "Here is a map that I’ve copied and tried to match to today’s landscape," she added while Remus kept on staring at the letters in front of him, "That way, it’ll be easier for your father and your people to find the caverns in question. I’ve also added a small dictionary of basic and common words translated from this language. This one, I believe should be handed to Cherreka. She’d know better what to do with it and she’ll know to ask for help when needed,"
"Understood," the boy nodded, his eyes still soldered to the lines.
"Good," she sighed.
"Hey! You are not sad anymore!" his attention snapped onto her all of the sudden, his little nose drawing tiny sniffs from her.
"Oh!" her hand hovered over her heart, "That is a relief!" she chuckled again, "But yes, I tend to forget the rest around myself whenever I speak of history and things that I love,"
"So, you do admit you were sad earlier," he half asked, those azure irises studying her features.
"No, not exactly," she fumbled, awkwardly pinching at the skirt of her gown. Upon finding an out, Arabella grasped it with both figurative hands, "Remus," her eyes locked on his, "You really told me the truth, right? Nobody hurt you when you went back to the forest,"
"No, but father did his angry eyes at me and told me I had to train to shift starting from the next day," the boy looked down.
"Angry eyes?"
"Yes! Angry and scary eyes he does when he is angry with someone," he nodded profusely.
"And nobody else hurt you?" she pushed.
"No," he shook his head, "Ayyura was more upset than usual, but she talked to me less, so I did not complain,"
"You do not like talking to Ayyura," Arabella smiled as she half asked.
"No, she’s always following father around and she’s mean to everyone,"
"Ah... I see,"
The young woman leaped to the conclusion that stared her in the face all along about Ayyura; she had feelings for Cynric, but for some reason, he didn’t seem all that interested in her.
Perhaps it was her attitude, or he simply was not attracted to her... In any case, it did not concern her.
"She refused to cook me meat," he pouted, "She said it was for the weak and that i should be ashamed to act so weak,"
At that sight and his grumbling, Arabella lost control over her laugh and let it out, "You poor thing," she held her sides, "Tell you what, why don’t I ask the cook here to make some for you?"
"Really?" his face lit up.
"Yes, of course!"
The sheer sight of the sparkles in his eyes warmed her heart. Although, the joy did not last as the smile on him gradually dimmed until it disappeared altogether.
"You are bleeding," he said simply, but the seriousness on his face took her aback.
"What?" her hands instinctively wrapped around her arms.
"Yes! You are bleeding! I can smell it!" his nostrils flared as his upper body leaned further towards her.
Contrarily, she leaned the opposite way, "No! I am not injured,"
How to explain the natural functioning of her body to a child?
"Oh! Do you bleed like Ayyura and mother used to?" he tilted his head.
"Did they get injured every so often?" she asked sheepishly.
"No, they bleed every month. Father doesn’t bleed like that," he shook his head.
"Did you ever ask your mother about it?"
"I did," he nodded, "She said it was how she brought me to the world and that it meant she was healthy,"
"Yes, that is true," she smiled.
"Does that mean you will bring someone to this world?" his curious eyes glistened with the need for answers.
"Hopefully, someday, yes," red in the face she was, looking at everything that wasn’t Remus.
Both of their attention snapped towards the door when Silas cleared his throat before speaking, "Hasn’t this meeting lasted for long enough?"
"No, it hasn’t," Remus grunted, scooting closer and hiding his frame behind Arabella.
"I wasn’t asking you,"
It was incredible that a little boy was all it took to break through the nerves of ice Silas had sculpted and sharpened.
To the best of his abilities, he let as little of it show but it seemed Arabella had learned to read some of his features and tones already.
"It is alright," Arabella spoke in a softer tone.
"We have other things to discuss," Silas retorted, eyes strictly on Remus, "It is time for him to leave,"
Both Arabella’s and Remus’ faces fell a little, but the young woman turned to the boy and squeezed a smile out of her features, "I’ve given you everything I’ve got for now. All you need to do is hand them to your father and don’t forget, the dictionary goes to Cherreka," she looked him straight in the eyes.
"Right," he nodded once, "Do I get to see you again?" he seemed apprehensive of the answer.
"Yes, of course," she chirped, "As soon as I gather more information,"
Fifteen minutes after that, Remus did not run but walked towards the tall trees, turning from time to time to take peeks at Arabella who stood in place, waving goodbye at him as he went.
"The color has drained from your face," Silas stood beside her and broke the silence, "Is the bleeding causing that to happen?"