Anger

It was dark when we got back and there was no sign that Orpheus had yet to return. When I got close to the ground Ranald let go landing on his feet. As he headed into the house I set down dinner before landing and letting Dawn step off and to the side before shifting back. Ranald returned with two dresses handing me the black and tossing the glaring Dawn a brown one.

"Thanks, how about we get a fire started and get these cooked up." I put my dress on and then went with Ranald to grab some wood from the back while Dawn sat down on one of the logs by the yet to be lit fire.

As we rounded the corner Ranald let out a large sigh. "What's her problem? All she does is give me that stink eye. Last I checked she's the intruder, not me."

I thought about how the moment she saw him she had become hostile. "Are you sure you two haven't met before?"

Ranald stopped his mouth hanging open "I know you didn't get the best first impression from me but come on." I tilted my head at him, giving him my you think look. "Okay it was the worst but I never met this girl before."

I nodded knowing that he would be hard to forget a girl like Dawn. I signed and rolled my shoulder to get the tension out. "Let's get this wood so we can get some meat cooking. I don't know about you but I am starving." I smiled burying his shoulder before grabbing some wood."Once we get back I will ask her straight out what her issue is. No reason to beat around the bush." I headed back ready to confront the issue to get rid of the odd tension. Ranald rushed to grab some more wood so he could catch up. He almost dropped some as I laughed.

We were still laughing as we rounded the corner to see an anxiously waiting Dawn who rushed to me when she saw me. I almost dropped the wood with the force she knocked into me with. I looked behind her to see my very confused Dad. "All I did was say hi and ask if you are home." He looked at dawn clinging to me. "She told me that it's none of my business and then you rounded the corner."

I looked down at Dawn who was not saying anything and had buried her head in side boob. I could feel more now than ever that she was going to be a handful. "Dawn this is my Dad and he doesn't mean you any harm." I set the wood aside while trying to get her to look at me. I was starting to notice a pattern with her actions. "Do you have a problem with men?" Dawn stiffened but didn't let go or lift her head. I turned to Ranald. "Could you get things started here I am going to take Dawn inside for a bit?"

Ranald pushed his chest with a wink. "Leave it to me. I will have your mouth watering before you know it"

My Dad chuckled "If we leave it to you we will be lucky not to be eating charcoal."

Ranald rolled his eyes as he walked over to the fire. "You never even had my cooking old man."

They continued to banter back and forth as I took the clingy Dawn inside.

Once in the hut Dawn let go and once again was smiling as if a switch had been flipped. I stared at her wondering what this girl was really thinking. "What's your problem with men?" Dawn's smile vanished and her face got dark. I hit the nail on the head but the look on her face gave me chills.

When she finally spoke her voice was full of anger. "They are all nothing but pigs. All they want is for us to give birth to their children and have no regard for the raising of them. I refuse to only give birth and raise my mates' children all my life. They take what they want from women and act like taking care of us makes up for it." She growled "I refuse to take a mate so my village tried to sell me but I ran. They chased me for months before they finally gave up."

Behind the anger, I could see the hurt and sadness in her eyes. I wrapped my arms around her tightly. "They can't get you here." Those words opened the floodgates as she began to sob into my chest. We stood there until my father yelled for us.

Dawn pulled away, whipping away what was left of her tears. "Can I have a second alone?"

I nodded knowing she probably just didn't want the boys seeing her puffy eyes. "Come out when you're ready." I left her to compose herself and join my Dad and Ranald for our very late dinner.