Braxton POV

Chills were finally subsiding since the ice wall around camp was melted down by the adventuring party this morning. A lot had happened this morning that I was still processing. Silas and I had all but given an oath to protect these girls that we have been nursing back to health since a dragon rampaged through the Evergreen Forest almost a week ago. Time had flown by as Silas and I had altered healing the girls with our magic over the last day in the hopes they would be able to travel soon. We were overworked and exhausted with depleted mana reserves. It would be a whole night before we could cast any more magic, but we had pressing matters.

“Eriz mentioned that his boss would be here by week’s end, Silas,” I say as I stoke the fire between the two of us. Eriz, the dragon, Myrra, and her adventures left only a few hours ago. They left the girls in our care since they had a date with the Gleaca Council. “We are going to have to move soon.”

“You’re stating the obvious, Braxton.” Silas draws his words. I hear his exhaustion coming through in his voice.

Almost two days have gone by since the two of us turned into medics. It took until dawn for the redhead girl to let go of Silas’ tunic. She’s finally healed enough that her wounds were starting to close. Emera has been out of danger for a while. She couldn’t stay awake long enough to eat or have a conversation yet. The Guildmaster Myrra was very insistent and protective of both the girls in our care. There was some secret Myrra shared with these girls that she quietly entrusted us with although we have no idea what the secret was.

“What do we do then, Silas?” I question him.

Silas gave me a look that said he didn’t want to discuss this now. “Braxton, you’re the general, right?” I nod. “Come up with a battle plan.”

“So, we are going to follow my lead now?” My headache was pounding from the low amount of mana in my system. My best friend was pushing buttons I didn’t have much control over at this point.

“Isn’t that what I said?” Silas retorted.

Daylight was fading around us. We both wanted and needed sleep. Silas has a bad habit of letting his attitude get the better of him after a few restless nights. “Okay, Si. The plan is to move the girls in the morning. So go get some sleep. I will take the first watch.”

Silas glared at me. “Fine, Brute. You’re the one who got us into this situation anyway.” He got up from his spot next to the fire and entered the tent with the girls.

My head fell between my hands. These sleepless nights were wearing on me too. I got Silas and myself mixed up with these girls, sure, but he hasn’t left the redhead girl alone for long. He agreed to stay with them a day ago. I can’t go back and neither can Silas. We are the girl's only hope for now.

My newest problem was deciding on where to go. Emera had mentioned going south before, but I don’t think that would be wise. These girls need protection and a place to hide. There’s only one place we could go where we guarantee their safety. “We need to go home.”

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“You need to go home?’ A sweet little voice whispered.

My body jumped at the sound of her voice. I had my knife in my hand ready for a fight when I saw the look in her frightened eyes. Emera looked smaller than she had before. Was she scared of me leaving or was she scared of being left? My heart was thundering in my chest at either possibility. A possibility that the fluffy little monkey might need me.

“Emera, you're awake,” I kept my voice low as I lowered my knife. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

Her amber ears were neatly tucked back exposing her vulnerability. “You said you needed to go home. Are you leaving now? Because, I came out here to thank you for saving my life, and I am thinking what ass leaves an injured person in the woods alone.”

Emera looked as if her hope was fading by the second and slowly turning into anger. I fastened my knife back on my belt and walked toward Emera. “I said ‘we’ need to go home.”

“You and Silas, right?” She almost shouted. “Um, could you wait a day? I understand if you need to get back to your life, but I need help for a bit. Ro, she’s not ready to move yet. I. also, need some more rest before I can-”

I pull Emera in for a hug. It was the only way to politely shut her up. Her body was stiff and uncertain of my intentions. It wasn’t a bone-crushing hug, but it was hard and comforting at the same time. Her fur against my calloused skin was soft. Emera began to relax in my arms. The hug was my attempt to convey empathy without overwhelming her. “When I said ‘we’ I meant all of us, Emera.”

“As in, Ro, Silas, you and me?” Her voice was small again and unsure.

Slowly, I lessened my hold on her to see her face. I swear this monkey girl has the cutest face. Her eyes looked up at me, and I swear she was trying to make all my defenses melt just like hers were. “Yes, all four will be going to my home.”

“I guess you came up with a plan then, Braxton.” Silas’ interruptions caused Emera and I to pull away from each other. “You want us to take them back to our home?”

The sun had just gone down on the day, however, instead of sleeping, Silas was giving me an incredulous stare. I hadn’t had time to think through an entire plan before Emera had come out of the tent, so I wasn’t sure how to explain anything. Sighing, I returned to my seat by the fire with the anxious eyes of Emera and Silas on me. “You asked me to make a battle plan, Silas. Taking them to a place where they can hide with people protecting them is the best way to get away from the big, bad boss.”

Emera looked between with a questioning look. She was probably wondering whether she should talk or just listen to this impending argument. Silas huffed but waited for me to continue. That was out of character for him on his best days. He liked to talk over people and argue his point until he put his opponent in a state of speechless submission. Why was everything backward since we went to that library the other day?

“Silas, the dragon was working for this guy so he must have a good chunk of power behind him. Even if we were at our best, I am not sure we could take him head-on. I can’t create a battle strategy with no intel on the big boss. As far as I know, this guy could be a giant or a grand fairy or another dragon in disguise. I know nothing about the enemy, so the best course of action is to retreat.”

Silas’ jaw tightened. “I hate it when you are right.”

“Look, I am sure your sister will be happy to have you home after so long.” I tried to ease into the conversation about his sister.

“Ha, that’s rich. My sister was the one who sent me away in the first place, Braxton. I doubt she will be happy to see me after only a few years. She expected me to be gone for decades.” Silas said, coldly. “She made me leave.”

“Yes, but your temporary exile was over last year,” I replied.

Silas walked away from the tent and passed Emera who was engulfed in listening to our conversation. He settled by the fire again, pulling out his canteen of water. His drink was brief. “Why can’t we go back to the guild for help?”

“I can answer that.” Emera cut in. “Everyone will be looking for a wolf folk hybrid. My familiar would be a target.”

If glares could injure someone, Emera would have died at that moment. “So, you admit the woman is your familiar then, yes?”