Chapter 6

There trek was slow and painful. Anya did the best she could hiding her pain from Derek’s watchful eyes. She stopped her self only when the sun was high in the sky to eat and check his bandages. She was happy none of them where bleeding through, she however didn’t like the look of her own knees. They where swollen and painful. She was starting to think they left to soon.

Alaska was worried about he mommy. She could fell the pain she was in but there was nothing she could do. When they stopped she would find a way to kiss her moms cheek whom would laugh and smile. She knew it wasn’t much but it was something. When they walked she would help push with her little head. Anya was happy for it, it allowed for the slightest pressure to be taken of her knees. It wasn’t much but it was something.

Derek watched as Anya worked hard to get them to safe. If it wasn’t for him they should have to be moving. They could be resting in the last clearing. He knew she was hurt but he couldn’t figure how where or how. He could see he slight discomfort and wished there was something he could do to help her. All he could do right now was stay quiet, even in his own pain and discomfort. He had nothing he could complain about. He put them in danger, but she was getting them out. He needed his pillows adjusted but she was pulling him. She didn’t even have and ounce of comfort like him. His pain was just the annoying pain as things where healing. She had pain somewhere that had the constant weight of himself and her as they moved.

The wagon hit another root causing Anya to groan. She didn’t know how many more of these root she could take. He knees where barely holding her up never mind he lifting his weight and the wagon. She sighed knowing it was no use. She had to plow on, even if that meant more pain on her. She could take it. He however couldn’t, he had to stay out of there hand.

Taking a deep breath she knelt down and lifted the wagon over the root. Her knees screaming blood murder at her. She ignored it as she got up. Pushing the little red wagon slightly ahead she walked around to the back of the other wagon. Bending at her knees once again she lifted the back of the wagon. As she got the back wheels over the root a sharp pain ran up her thigh and unfortunately everyone heard it.

Alaska wasted no time as she ran to her mom. She stuffed her nose right up into Anya’s neck whimpering unhappily. She wished she was bigger then she could have taken her mom to someone for help. But she wasn’t, she was big enough to snuggle and that was it. She barked gently was Anya put her arms around he and held her close. She knew how her puppy felt and appreciated it. Just her in her arms was helping the pain.

“Anya.” Derek cried as he tried to move. His body was to weak causing angry to rise. Never before was he so weak he couldn’t get up even with his wounds. Now, when he really needed to rise, he just couldn’t. She was injured, and he couldn’t do anything for her. Anya quickly reached up her left hand and placed it on his shoulder ever so gently. It was enough to send a gentle wave through him, releasing all his anger and worry.

“I just need a moment and we will keep going.” Anya smiled gently as he eyes fell on her knees. They are swollen and the pain was terrible but she knee she had to keep going. This was no place to camp.

“No.” Derek replied though the same thoughts where running through his head. He could just sleep in the wagon she couldn’t.

“We just have to find a place to camp.” Anya gently smiled as she tried to rise. Her knees would not take the weight causing her to fall once again. Taking I deep breath she tried once more but no good. She sat down comfortable and waited. She had to think of something.

The forest came to life as the forest creatures made themselves known. The birds gathered light things as the deer and wolves helped pushed the wagons. A mama bear gather Anya onto her back and kept close. Alaska tuck between them safely. The trees lending the branches to help lift the wagon up over roots that could not be moved. There queens disperse there own as they helped the situation.

Derek smiled happily as his gaze fell on the sky. It was mostly pine trees, maples and a few others he didn’t know. His Anya would, just like his Anya knew they where in trouble. Only she could control the forest like this. Her love for every living thing was the same love they returned to her. Not only land animals, but the sea animals as well. She was loved by all.

As the sun began to set, the first opened up to a small clearing. The Ray’s of the sun rippling off the small lake. It’s clear glass like look called out happily to the weary travelers. The forest surrounded most of the opposite side as a short distance of green lushes grass on the other. Small yellow, orange, purple and pink perennials scattered the field drawing in butterfly’s and honey bees. The crickets gentle chirps, the slight breeze whistling through the trees, the bugs gentle buzzing sound and the birds chirps sounded like a mini orchestra really making this place special.

Anya couldn’t believe how much beauty could be squeezed into the small space. She had to rub her eyes once or twice to make sure she wasn’t seeing things. She had though she had seen beautiful lakes before but this was beyond them. She didn’t know if it was the peaceful atmosphere, so far away from human anything, or what she was going through right now. She didn’t care however, she was happy to be here.

Derek’s eyes couldn’t be pulled away from Anya's face. The beauty that radiated off it in this space was indescribable. No one had ever looked as beautiful to him. Not even his Anya could compare to her. He couldn’t figure out why, maybe it was because this one was grown up. Or maybe it was because he hadnt seen his Anya in years. Nor would he ever, and he had to learn to get over it. The one thing that confused him however, was how his heart beat for this Anya. It was the same way it beat for his Anya. He has met many people that look similar and his heart never beat like this.

Anya carefully slid of the bears back, gently landing on her feet. She was happy her knees took the weight, though she knew it probably wouldn’t last for very long. She happily kissed the bear before she began to work around. Derek smiled happily, she was almost so light on her feet she looked like a fairy without wings. Her fingers working quickly with the new tent and then with the making of the fire. Derek swore at one point looked like a fluttering of wings on her back. He passed it off as hunger.

“Alright the last of the chicken.” Anya happily exclaimed as she carefully sat down beside Derek. He smiled up at her not even a care for what she said. Anya began to blush as she looked away, he chuckled gently.

“Sorry.” Derek spoke causing her to look back at him. He had to say the next part slow, and you could hear the struggle in his voice. She patiently waited for him to finish. “You just look so beautiful in the dim light.”

“Thank you.” She gently whispered taken back. She didn’t feel pretty, she felt gross and broken. He didn’t see any of that. He was looking past that. The branches carefully lifted him from the wagon and laid him in the tent. He huffed a few times due to pain but he would not say anything. He was trying to be strong like her. Anya only smiled for she knew, but she didn’t want to say anything. She made sure he was comfortable before she began to remove and clean his wounds. Some of them where weeping bit other then that all looked good. She took care of the weeping ones carefully, following her notes to a t.

His slow even breaths told her he had fallen asleep. It was her touch, he couldn’t figure it out. Whenever she touched him for long periods of time it coaxed him to sleep. She just thought it was his natural reaction to the healing process. The fact he stayed asleep meant her touch was gentle enough not to wake him. He needed the sleep to heal.

Gathering the old bandages, Alaska and Anya walked to the lake. She had to reuse as many of the bandages as possible. The gauze she used was useless. She disposed of it in the fire before walking over. The other where cloth. She could clean them and hang them to dry. Her friend gave her anti-bacterial soap that most doctors used before surgery. Taking only a pea size she cleaned each cloth carefully. She didn’t want the water stirred to much or the dirt would get on  the cloth and she would have to start over.

She carefully hung them up on a line she tied between two trees closest to the tent. She knew the air wasn’t the cleanest but it would have to do. She moved back to the clear water with a smile. Her eyes fell on the silent tent. With a deep breath she gently moved her fingers to the hem of her pants and help them off before hoisting the sweater over her head. Folding them carefully she waded out into the water. When she was chest deep she quickly undid her hair, allowing the beautiful curls to cascade down around her face. They where perfect, sometimes she wondered why she always braided them up.

Letting the thought disappear she dunked running her fingers through her hair. She came up for air shortly after with a smile on her face. The cool crisp lake cleaned off her body leaving a natural clean. She had never taken a dip in anything so clean. Running her fingers through her hair, taking out the excess water, she turned gently to walk out.

Derek couldn’t believe it. She was a fairy. He could see the wing mark’s on her back. Maybe his Anya wasn’t gone. The only thing that he didn’t see was her mermaid mark. All mermaids have a mark, some it’s almost like a tattoo. It’s hard to say as many aren’t very obvious. Anya had never shown him when they met so he didn’t know her mark. He knew she was a mermaid though because she could swim in the ocean with him. Only mermaids could pass the wall, and with her being fairy she could pass back.

The moon light glow bounced over her face like a mirror. His jaw dropped as her green eyes gently glowed, her red streak catching the moon light. He was shocked at how close it was to Anya's mermaid tail. Her eyes caught his watching her. She squealed in fear as she hit the ground crying as her now happy knees hit ground. The swelling slowly starting up again as Alaska came and jumped onto her back. Derek began to worry causing poor Anya to sigh. He couldn’t see anything but her face from where he lay, and here she though he could see everything. Though in reality he could but his eyes where so fixated on her glow he didn’t realize that.

“Anya.” He said as loud as he could. She gently giggled knowing he was probably worried.

“Its okay Derek.” She gently cooed to him. It worked for he calmed down quickly. Just the way his name slipped off her lips, just made him feel like jelly inside. He would never tire of it, nor complain. Anya just smiled as all was quiet. She loved how her voice set him at ease. He trusted her even though she new she was not fine. Quickly wrapping a towel Alaska brought to her she walked up to the wagon and dressed into some pajamas. Towel drying her hair a raccoon slipped from the bush. He crawled up Anya's leg before resting on her shoulders.

He made short work of her hair, making sure it was French braided to perfection. No hair out of place. She smiled happily passing it an apple. He happily carried it away in his small black paws. She couldn’t believe how so many people though they were vermin. They have always been so helpful for her.

“Anya.” Derek called gently. She sighed as her feet grazed the soft grass. Each step perfectly planned and light. The grass gently tickling her toes causing a peaceful calm to etch across her body. The tension in her shoulders and back, sliding off like smoke. This was the first time she felt so peaceful since the divorce. She smiled knowing it was even before that. After the first year of marriage the tension started to grow. Her fingers falling on the problem as the pain came back.

Anya wanted to be a mother more then anything. She wanted to carry her past lovers baby but her body deceived her. Though she knew it was for the better even though a part of her wondered if that would have changed the outcome. For her it would have but his love had already began to die before she found out she couldn’t get pregnant. The marriage was him holding on to the last threat of love but even that snapped for him. It was not meant to be, and she was glad. She had never felt so at peace then right here, with a complete stranger in the middle of no where. Never in a million years would her past lover do this with her.

Derek saw the happiness radiate of her like the suns Ray’s. She swiftly laid beside him and curled up. Her body heat warming him nicely as his body heat doing the same for her. Her gentle breathing told him she was out as he called to the magic he had forced down years ago. The one thing the scientists wanted from him that he would never show.

A frown formed as his heart felt the pinch. He felt the pain in her knees and knew that was why she collapsed. Pushing the blood around he began to heal it. Derek has the ability to control the elements. There is water in blood there for he was able to make it move. If he concentrated enough he could force a person to move. He also can heal wounds, breaks, or swelling.

His other abilities include earth, air and fire bending. Things he was very good at, though no one but Anya would know. He kept them very well hidden as most of his kind could only bend a single element. Water and air being a few of the popular ones as bending fire underwater was almost impossible unless you had an air bender make a bubble around you.

Anya snuggled closer to him, causing a purr to escape his lips as he melted into her touch. He didn’t believe this wasn’t his Anya but till he could find out for sure he would keep it to himself. She asked him to, and right now her happiness is his top priority.