A Sprain

Blaire's Pov

"You are still here?" A familiar voice interrupted my thoughts and I raised my head. I feel disoriented as I look around, trying to figure out where I am. I am still sitting in the swing, with it swaying back and forth. Looking up at the sky, I realize that the sun is sinking into the sky in a brilliant mix of colours very quickly. I turn my eyes to the owner of the voice but am unable to see the face very clearly. Still feeling very lost and confused, I peel my eyes off the person and focus them on my laps.

"Tell me you left earlier and came back." Jamil exclaimed then whistled as he came closer and picked some leaves out of my hair. "No, you did not. Did you turn into a tree for a while then?"

My eyes finally clear as they settle on him. My eyes fill with tears as I recall what I had just seen.

"Hey! Hey! Are you okay?" Jamil questioned, alarmed at the tear drop that rolled down my face. He covered the distance between the door where he is still standing and the swing. Reaching me, he holds me in his hands, rubbing his hands over my back rhythmically.

"I'm alright." I try to say but it comes out as a choked cry. I cannot overcome the horrible thing that I saw just now. Jamil looks down at me with compassionate eyes and for a moment, I think about telling him what I had seen then thought better of it. It might just be a random nightmare. Sure, it came in the middle of the afternoon and from the looks of it, had kept me busy for the better part of the day but I had been stressed out these past couple of days which would explain it. I shut my eyes and inhaled deeply. When I opened them again, my eyes were much clearer and my heart, clearer.

"I'm fine." I repeated, my voice much calmer and clearer. Taking in the scene, I noticed Ulo being his usual self, standing by the door, staring at us with an inscrutable look in his eyes. I looked up at Jamil and sighed, knowing I had something coming. His ginger coloured hair is spiky and his eyes look tired, his vest hugs his chest tightly, still wet with sweat from his having exerted himself all day. I try to ignore but he reeks of dried sweat and grime as well. Stray water runs through his hair, down his face before slipping through the tiny stubs on his chin.

"Aren't you supposed to go rest or something?" I muttered, hoping he would take the cue and let it go but I had no such luck.

"We were supposed to do that until we saw you sleeping out here in broad daylight with your head swaying back and forth very dangerously." I swallowed but did not volunteer any information so, he continued. "Now that we are all here, we have to talk to you. About your dangerous escapade from last night."

I sighed in exhaustion. "Haven't we gotten past that already." I muttered halfheartedly. I had been telling the two of them about Indrik's situation in there when we had been interrupted by the arrival of that woman. I had thought they had been bought over but the opposite was apparently the case.

"No, Blaire. Ulo, come over." He waved, when the latter would not move from his perch by the door. "You see, Blaire, you tend to be rather impulsive. While what you have done might have been good, it was also incredibly dangerous. Have you thought about what could happen to you if you were caught?"

"I don't care." I snapped. "All that matters to me is caring for Indrik. He does not deserve any of these. Why am I the only one that sees that?" I cried indignantly.

"Come on, B. Of course, we see and we care for Indrik too. We just have to be careful about what we do to avoid getting him into much more trouble. You know there are people who would gladly call for Indrik's head if you are caught bringing him supplies, don't you?" Jamil continued and I shook my head as I jumped out of the swing. Too fast, I learnt too late. Having been seating in that seat for hours on end, my legs had gone to sleep and so, the sudden weight on them was like suicide as I crumbled to the floor with a cry. My right leg was the first to go with a very awaful twist.

"My gosh, Blaire. Are you okay?" Ulo finally spoke as he appeared before me in a flash and helped draw me to one of the benches as he knelt to take a look at it. He twisted it a little and I cried out in pain. He turned to look up at Jamil who had joined us. "You think it’s a sprain?"

"No, it isn't." I groaned, slapping his hands away as I tried to rise again only to collapse once more with an even greater cry.

"You should relax and let me take a look at it." Ulo muttered softly as he picked my leg up again.

"Don't think you are going to get me bedridden so I won't be able to go see him tonight." I warned, referring to the injury about as much as I was referring to the men before me.

"How about you allow us help you then?" Ulo muttered to which Jamil's eyes lit up like a hawk's.

"What are you talking about, Ulo?" He asked, his voice heavy with disbelief.

"I'm saying," Ulo turned his upper body so he was looking at him, "since we can't dissuade her, how about we help her instead and prevent her from getting into trouble?"