Cave

I grabbed Ye'ye's hand and let go of Luiz, his hand is welcomingly warm and I wish to never let go again. In front of us is a black hole that keeps circling in the air.

"I'll never let you go"

I muttered making a promise to myself.

"Let's go, they're all waiting for us, dear Anya."

Ye'ye addressed, he smile broadly and we walked into the black hole, the next step we make, we were in a different place, like a door, the surrounding and our clothes were completely changed, I was now wearing a white full gown with white roses decorated on it, like a fairy, Ye'ye was wearing a plain white long dress, and so was all the people there were dressed in white, each of them were busy eating the banquet in front of them. I followed ye'ye hand in hand and we entered a room where petals were falling from the sky. I grabbed one and smelled it.

"Paradise." 

I murmured, I'll finally meet you, mom, dad.

Nyla, Nyla, Nyla, Nyla.

I heard a distant voice calling my name, I turned my head searching for the voice, but couldn't see who.

Nyla, it called again and I opened my eyes. This time I was not in the white room with Ye'ye's, but, I couldn't see much, because of the peaks of sun rays beaming on my eyes.

"Nyla."

My brain took minutes before it processed the voice, Luiz, it was his voice I blinked my eye to adjust the light, and saw his face, staring at me above with a relief smile, he held a bowl in his hand. 

"Sit up and drink this you'll feel much better."

He added and gently helped me sit upright, passing me the bowl.

"Where are we?"

I asked, as I sat upright, checking out the place, we were in a cave and it's about nine in the morning from the morning rays.

"Drink first, we'll talk later."

Luiz demanded and I collected the wooden bowl with greenish fluid in it. I bring it close to my mouth to drink but the awful smell makes me want to puke.

"Eeww."

I made a disgusting face, closed my nose with the other hand, looking at Luiz with an 'I can't drink this' face.

"Drink up, the lion grass I put in it will help you heal fast."

An old bearded man spoke as he entered the cave, with some herbs in his hand.

I looked at Luiz for an explanation, but the next thing I knew, the man was already standing next to me, grabbed the bowl and he pinched my nose and made me gulb down all the medicine at once.

"Lie her down, let me check her foot."

He addressed Luiz as he walked to sit by the floor near my foot, where I was lying down.

Luiz did as he told and I wasn't myself after gulping down that awful portion at once. It makes me feel sick. How is this gonna make me feel better? I mentally rolled my eyes.

He untied the rag that was wrapped  on my foot, checking it, and I didn't feel pain. 

"Good, the poison is almost gone, she'll do good for now.

The old man confirm, he looked like some old wizard that lived in the woods alone, from his white long beard, and his clothes.

"Thank you."

Luiz thanked him and the stand up and walked to the other side of the cave where his things were kept he sat there and started to crush the herbs he brought in his hands.

"What happened? Where are we? How did we end up here? Where are the rest? And who the hell is he?"

I said all in one go, without breathing and whispered the last part while looking at the old man.

"Calm down Nyla, we are safe."

He chuckled at my childishness, then answered.

"We are in a cave, somewhere in the desert that we can't exactly say which or where it is. That man you see there saves us during the sandstorm, and brings us here. We had been unconscious, Dryl was the first to wake up, be wake up the day after we were brought here, and his guards and I woke up yesterday. They were out searching for something to eat"

He explained to me and my stomach rumbled at the thought of food.

"How long was I unconscious?"

I asked Luiz, feeling this hungry, I bet I was unconscious for about a week.

"Three days ago, the scorpion bite was deep, but thankfully the man treated it as soon as he could."

Luiz answered with a smile, three days ago, I remember flashes of the incident in the sandstorm, I recall seeing a strike of green lights in the sandstorm, and a blurry image of a man before I blanked out.

"Here, eat this and have some rest." 

Luiz demanded as he unwrapped the grilled meat and handed it to me with a bottle of water.

I nodded my head and chewed the meat, while he left to help the old man with crushing the herbs.

I finished and laid back, staring at their backs. I couldn't hear what they're talking about. My eyes became blurry, I feel sleepy after I just got up from three days of sleep. It must be the effect of the smelly herb.

********

I wake up to the smell of grilled meat, making me drool. A yawn escaped my lips and I sat up, I had to go answer the call of Mr nature, and I needed to stretch my wings after three days of bed rest . 

Luiz and the guard were busy with grilling the meat. If I tell him, he'll insist on going with me, so, I'll sneak out and do my business. Living with in male is hard. I can't just do my business in peace. I'm used to my own privacy. Alone at home.

I managed to escape from the cave by leaping with the other leg.  Heaving in a sigh, I stumble against someone trying to enter.

"Watch it."

I grab my chest with both my hands as I heard Dryl's grumpy voice when I step on his foot, like a thief been caught red handed. 

"Ohh, sorry." 

I apologized and quickly walked beside him and was welcomed by the fresh air. The sun was in it's peak and burning hot. It's good to be out in the open. The last time I was in the open, I thought it was my last, but god had other plans. I stretched my arms letting my skin absorb the heat. 

We were still in the desert but somewhere safe, I could feel it, I walked to find a convenient place, but noticed someone following me. 

I ignore it and continue to walk, from the vibe I could sense it was Drly. He normally don't talk much and he is the only one that wasn't doing anything. I bet he never cook in his entire life.

At first I thought he was just going to get some fresh air but, now I know he's following me after taking a different route behind boulders to avoid him.

What did he want? I know we are not on good terms but I apologized for ruining his car tire, didn't I? Is he going to finish me off once and for all?

I mustered the courage and turned to him.

"Can you for the love of whatever that is you love, stop following me?"

I was gonna say creamy cheese chicken, but I don't think he loves that.

"Oh, I see the runaway finally speak."

"I'm not trying to run, I'm just here to ppppppe."

I stopped not wanting to say it out loud, making him arch brown.

I hump and turn away, why am I even trying to explain to him?

"I'm not following you, I just happened to go the same way with you."

He spoke, trying to prove me wrong, I rolled my eyes, even an 5year old can pull a better lie than this. I don't know even Drly can be this funny, my lip curves into a small smile. Wait, why am I even smiling?

Ignoring him, I continue walking away as fast I could, all I want is to get away from him as I remembered the morning I wake up next to him, my heart poundered, what if he's trying to do something indecent, I pick up my pace and my foot began to hurt from this much walk. I didn't expect to go this far, and Luiz is definitely gonna scold me. The sun is hot and my head start to hurt.

After going different rounds of boulders, Drly was still following me, I paused thinking of the way to return to the cave. 

'Good, just good Nyla, now I can't figure out which way I followed.'

I figured he won't stop following me, so I mustered the courage to explain to him, to give me minutes to ease myself.

He stopped when he saw I stopped. I breathe in deeply and walk towards him, praying not to get embarrassed.

He leans towards the boulder, one leg against the wall and hands in his pocket.

I stopped next to him but he pretended I wasn't there, making me want to punch him.

"I need to ease myself, so please can you not follow me everywhere I go?"

I said in one go and turned as fast as I could.

"Wait, that's what you came to do?"

He asked in amazement, and chuckled. I ignored him and walked fast

"Hey, you don't have to go, you can just do it here."

He teased, laughing in between and I glared at him.

"Nyla, you just need to say that since, do not escape like you're going to do something fishy, It's not safe out here alone. I'll stay here, until you're done."

He explained, this time his voice was gentle and calm. I paused and nodded, so this is this way if protecting me,  I went behind the boulder to do my thing, I've never seen this part of him, so, he can actually laugh, well, this was the first time I saw him laugh and the first time he called my name.

Wait why am I noticing the first thing he does. And, why was he blaming me for sneaking out, I don't want anyone to go with me, him being the last one I thought he'll come with me.

I finished and returned to him and we walked in silence, I hope he knows the way back. Well, he spent most of his time out, I think that won't be a problem. I hardly take a step, my foot hurt, hungry and my head ache.

"Can you walk a little fast, we don't have all day."

I heard Drly called out through the distance.

"I… I'm."

I couldn't voice out what I want to say I'm seeing double, and I feel like the world spinning, I'm falling.

Oh no, falling. I was about to hit the hot sand, when I feel two arms around me. I opened my eyes to see Drly caught me before I fall. And carried me on his arms, bridal style.