We, who Survived
Chapter Twenty-Six

We had hurried back to the base and now occupied the kitchen. Jacob and Zed, after arguing nonstop with Spark, were now with us. I held the Rock Cat, which I had come to calling Gem since her eyes looked like green jewels, to my chest where she purred and snuggled closer. Even though she looked or seemed to be made of rock and heavy, she was light as a feather and fur soft.

“Do you have anything I can use as a grinder?” Fern asked Charlie, who was white in the face and probably would have been anywhere but with us if I had not dragged him along. Dean was staying with Maria, smartly keeping his distance.

“Uh yes, in that cupboard to your right,” Charlie replied softly, sizing Fern up. The hunters, compared to us, were taller and fitter for obvious reasons. To add to it, they had all taken off their jackets in order to be more comfortable in their sleeveless tunic tops. All of which just helped exude confidence and power, making them unapproachable and threatening. To me, they were just being themselves around strangers. Once we were alone, they were more joyful and relaxed.

“Hey, Nate, can I talk to you in the hall? It won’t be long.” Charlie forced a smile while glancing nervously at Zed and Jacob.

“Sure.” I shrugged my shoulders, internally laughing at how these guys made everyone shake in their boots. The only two who had not really given them a fearful glance was Jae and Joon, both having introduced themselves while Spark fumed behind them.

“What do you want to talk about?” I asked while leaning against the wall. Gem was watching Charlie intently as if she was waiting for him to start talking too.

“I know Jae filled you in about Spark, so I am not going to talk about that. What I do want to talk about is if we can trust these guys. You were with them unwillingly in the beginning but now you seem so comfortable around them and are...dating one?” Charlie crossed his arms over his chest, leaning against the other wall. “We can’t afford to trust the wrong people right now. Not when we are so weak and unfamiliar with this terrain.”

“I understand where you are coming from. Hell, I hid from Fern for the first day and managed to get sick. If he had not nursed me back to health, I would not be standing here. These guys, they want to help. If they did not, Jacob would have left and Zed and Fern would have followed. The other leaders are probably going to want to have a meeting about this anyway. We can trust them.” Smiling, I kissed Gem’s head. “Plus, Fern and I are not dating.”

At my last words, Charlie began smirking, returning to his old, mischievous self.

“You sure about that?”

“Shut up.”

I went to go hit his shoulder before remembering I was still holding Gem. Settling on narrowing my eyes, I stuck my tongue out which Charlie copied. Shaking my head, we went back into the kitchen. Zed and Jacob, with one glance, noticeably relaxed.

“Are you almost done?” I asked Fern as I placed Gem on the counter and leaned over to see him adding in some freshly picked herbs to the crushed flowers.

“I just have to mix it all together. The amount should be enough for everyone but the real problem is if it will take. Your immune systems are still very different from our own.” Fern gave me a side glance before smiling. “But I’m sure it will work since the herbs worked on your back.”

Returning his smile, I leaned into his side. A warm feeling bubbled up in my stomach just from that little action. Fern grounded the last bits together into a paste of green and pink before adding water to a large bowl from his water skin. With a spoon, he stirred until the mixture turned dark pink.

“Done, we can begin distributing now. Each person needs a half cup but if needed, I have enough flower petals to make more.” Fern looked at Charlie who nodded with a sheepish smile. His fear had obviously disappeared. “I am going to leave you two in charge, help this guy and Maria out. Nathan and I are going to get the rest of his stuff.” Jacob and Zed nodded. Jacob smirked at Charlie as he slung an arm over his shoulders. A tic formed on Charlie’s jaw. I looked up at Fern, confused.

“We can do that later, this is more important Fern,” I said, taking his hand in mine and squeezing. Fern pursed his lips before nodding.

“People will feel better knowing that Nathan is back rather than seeing random strangers walking around offering them a pink liquid. A lot of us really missed you, especially Carly,” Charlie said, shrugging off Jacob’s arm.

As we were all in agreement, we hurried to the main room. Nothing seemed to have changed luckily, but more people were vomiting into buckets and hiding under their covers. One person had a blanket pulled completely over them. Dead. When Maria saw us, she came jogging over to crush me in a bear hug.

“You are not leaving my sight ever again,” She whispered into my ear, squeezing me before letting go.

“Maria, we need to hurry. This sickness is more advanced than our medicines. Fern has made something that will help but we need to be fast before we are too late and more die,” I explained as fast as I could. Her eyes widened as she glanced at the bowl in Fern’s hands. A determined look came across her face as she nodded.

“Tell me what to do.”

Fern told her the same things he had told us back in the kitchen. Maria took it in as quickly as it came until we found ourselves each taking a line of sick people and distributing the flower and herb mixture to everyone. When we were done, all the sick were laying back in their beds, asleep. The child that had passed, was hefted up in the blanket and taken out the room.

Back in the kitchen, we were talking to each other about what to do next when two small arms came around my waist. I laughed for the first time since returning when I saw a half-asleep Carly behind me. Moving in her arms, I hugged her back, pressing a kiss into her hair. She smiled smugly.

“I missed you,” Carly mumbled into my chest before looking up. Her doe eyes were innocent and curious. “Who are the weird people?”

At her words, I grinned and glanced at Fern. His expression was blank as his eye twitched at being called weird.

“How the hell are we weird looking? If anyone is weird looking, it’s you, missy,” Jacob said, crouching and pointing an accusing finger at Carly who pulled herself closer to me so she could hide. She curiously gazed at him, smiling sheepishly as he walked to stand next to me.

“This is Carly, the little girl I was telling you about. She is a bit shy around new people.” I ran my hand through her hair, her eyes closing as her smile became one of happiness, just like her brother. “Why don’t you explain the reason why you think they look strange to you?”

“Can’t, too sleepy.”

“Then go to bed.”

“I want to stay with you though.”

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At my words, Carly’s eyes snapped open to glare at Fern, then Jacob and Zed. Her delicate features creased into uncertainty before she shook her head.

“You can walk me to Maria’s room then. I know she won’t mind me staying with her for the night,” Carly mumbled, meeting my gaze. I smiled and tilted my head to the side.

Carly did not waste time taking my hand and leading me down the hallway connecting to all the bedrooms. I felt a bit nervous walking down there while knowing mine and Spark’s old room was at the end of it. Jae and Charlie’s words were echoing in my head with how much his personality had changed. But, when I glanced over my shoulder, I saw Fern following us, absentmindedly studying the floor and walls. At that, I felt more at ease.

“Hey Nathan, is the guy following us like your boyfriend? Max was saying that the people you were with most likely are special to you. You did stay with them for almost a week so one of them must be closer to you.”

This was the first time I had heard Carly speak so much in one go without pausing. I could not really respond to her because I did not know yet. There was something happening between me and Fern but I just couldn’t name it. It was something to do with romantic feelings but could it be called love?

“I guess in a way but we haven’t given our relationship a name yet,” I tried to explain, feeling embarrassed with having this talk with a ten-year-old. Carly nodded as we came to a stop outside of Maria’s door. She gave me another tight hug and opened the door, leaving me in the hallway with Fern.

Sighing, I walked up to him and studied his face. The stubble on his cheeks and head had grown. His eyes were still their hungry grey-green but now it was joined by that unknown gleam. What was it? It only showed when he looked at me or at least that was when I noticed it the most.

Closing my eyes, I felt so tired. For once since coming back to Earth, I felt the weariness in my bones and the fatigue from worry setting in. When I opened my eyes again, Fern’s arms were wrapped around me, his warmth and earthy scent making me sigh in bliss.

“I think you need to rest, Kitten. Onyx has given us a room to stay in.” Fern rubbed my back soothingly as he spoke. I leaned forward until I was flush against his chest, smiling as I heard his heartbeat. I did not want to let go of him, the need to have him this close was so strong that when he chuckled and held me to him, I grinned. He felt the same.

“You can carry me to the room. I’m too tired to walk,” I whispered, gazing into his secret holding eyes. “Please.”

“I can’t really say no to that face.” Fern pecked my lips before picking me up in his arms. My head rested on his shoulder as I yawned and allowed my eyes to drop closed. Without even thinking about it, the words slipped out.

“You’re the best boyfriend a guy like me can ask for.”

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