The Kazcta

Chapter Thirteen

Thirteen
Attor

My wings wrapped around him when the wind started picking up. I almost fell to my knees when I saw him. Starved thin, swollen eyes, bloody mouth, one of his eyes sewn shut. I nearly panicked with the need to turn back time, to undo all the pain he was feeling.

My chest rose and fell unevenly with frantic breaths-breaths I didn't deserve. He was hurt-bleeding- all because of me. My brother.

I had needed the Petrynn flower but I couldn't bear the thought of shooing Estrel away to go get it, never seeing him again. With him in front of me, I regretted it. If we had parted ways, he'd be healthy. Safe. Upset but he wouldn't have an eye sewn shut. I gritted my teeth. He didn't last five minutes in my arms before going out cold. If I had arrived any later-

I swallowed.

It never occurred to me that they would take him out of the facility...Why him?

I pushed the train of thought to the side, gently grabbing his face and pushing his head to my chest after it had lolled to the side. He whimpered, eyes screwing shut.

He had been maimed. Then they had undone whatever they'd done to his precious mouth with no care. I carefully slid my hand under his coat, he had two new incisions.

I cursed and hugged him closer. Bitter tears of frustration threatened to spill. He was emaciated, wearing the Orc's coat. That's all he had. He'd been shoved in a cage with no clothes. A growl ripped out of my throat as I softly closed his coat back up. His skin was practically frozen, clammy, and colder than ice. I placed a hand over his heart, it beat slowly, quietly. I covered his face with the hood of the coat and took flight. We were leaving this facility. Far, far later than we should've.

/\:./\

I had flown to the outskirts of the tribe's camp, choosing a random cabin, and settled Estrel under thick furs. I needed to rest after two days straight of flying.

I had already gotten his meal for when he was awake. It wasn't anything heavy, especially when he was being starved. Some fruits and vegetables would do.

He was healing nicely from the herbs I had put on his incisions, stitch sites, and pierced mouth. He hadn't woken up, not once. He had only been in a state of half-consciousness a few times to ask for water. I had started to get him beneficial herbal waters instead of river water. He was still thin but his skin wasn't as dull. I had bathed him once, and even though I wanted to prevent infection, I also didn't want him to be cold. The cold water helped with the swelling and the bruises had faded to black spots.

I had managed to take out the stitches in his eye. He'd shuffled around but I held him down, even though it pained me.

It made me relieved to see him so healthy and vibrant after what he'd gone through. It made my hands twitch just remembering when I first found him. The desperate banging against the iron bars as if he was afraid I wouldn't notice him.

Of course, I would, how could I possibly miss him, he was all I could hear, smell-feel.

My heart hadn't stopped aching for a plethora of reasons but mainly the face he made while he slept. I kissed his forehead, shocked by how hot it felt under my lips. I stared at him...did he look more flushed than usual? I swept hair from his beautiful face and sighed, he did look a bit pink on his white patches of skin. An uneasy rumble reverberated in my chest before getting up to the kitchen. Luckily this cabin still had running water. I grabbed a dishcloth quickly and soaked it under cool water. The sound of shuffling sheets and a soft mumble made me jump into action. I turned off the tap, draping the cloth over my arm, and grabbed the plate of soft steamed vegetables. I hurried over to the door, ducking my head to walk into the room. Estrel looked around wildly, still keeping his eye closed wanted to crumble and apologize until my lungs gave out that would be selfish.