“Healer! Someone get the healer!”

  “Healer Alma! Clan Leader Corwin! We need you!”

  Alma felt her heart stutter as she sat up in her cot at the sound of banging against the front door. Her little brother stirred beside her, the toddler growing fussy because the noise frightened him, and her aunt and uncle also rustled from the other side of the room. “Healer Alma! Please, wake up! Healer!”

  “Why all the commotion?” Alma questioned after she wrenched the front door open. A fellow clansman, Rodrick, greeted her. He is one of the village's border patrols, a group of able-bodied men established after the Ethospar war who watch over the village day and night. They have never come into the village in the dead of night, sounding the alarm for a healer. Alma was visibly shaken, yet her mind remained focused. Healers were expected to face all kinds of situations, so she could not let her nerves win.

  “We found two older children and a young baby with them. They are all in poor condition.”

  “Take me to them.”

  Rodrick ran, and Alma followed after him. As they traversed the streets of the village, the man gave further information regarding the children. The older children were two males, their clothing ragged and dirty, but the color of their fabric was still distinguishable. They were children of Heartsease, and upon hearing that, Alma immediately thought of Cian. He should have returned home by now, and word had been spread all across the continents that he had become the heir to the patriarchy. It was an unsurprising development considering Cian’s talent and skill. She had never once doubted his abilities. What was curious was why he would come to her clan's village.

  Alma's questions multiplied once her eyes finally landed on the small party of three. They were wrecked things, clothing smeared with dark brownish stains that were not mere dirt, hair tangled and wild, and their faces haunted. Cian seemed to be worse off. As the village people fussed over them, he wincingly protected his right shoulder from being jostled. Keegan, on the other hand, was very quiet, holding Dove, who was beginning to grow fussy because of all the commotion. “Everyone!” Alma yelled, drawing all eyes to her. Clan Leader Corwin had not arrived yet, so it was up to Alma to take control of the situation. “You two,” she said, pointing to two strong-looking men. “Help the Sons to the Clan Leader's clinic. I will carry the baby.”

  She had to be cautious when approaching Keegan because she could sense something off about the boy, and she did not want him to suddenly attack her. “Keegan, will you allow me to grab Dove from you? She must be as tired as the both of you are.”

  “Alma?” It was not Keegan who responded to her voice. It was Cian; it was a mixture of disbelief and relief, and the girl felt her heartache when he offered her a smile. No matter the circumstance, Cian would always try to be the lightener of moods, and she always thought it a testament to his strength. “ Keegan, it’s all right. Allow Alma to care for Dove.” This time, Keegan complied, and Alma held the small child close, gently shushing her to ease her fussing, though she knew the child needed food and rest for the time being, which had to wait as Alma needed to examine the children.

  They all followed her as she led the way to the village clinic. Since the clan leader had not intercepted them, Alma assumed he was already there. Her assumptions were proven correct when they walked in and found the clan leader messing about, having prepared three cots for his newest patients. “Alma, I want you to care for the babe, whilst I tend the Sons.”

  Dove was thin, alarmingly so for a babe her age. She had a rash; her diaper was neither soiled nor properly changed. By Alma’s recollection, the two brothers had only visited her village twice. Depending on what route the siblings took, they would have had difficulty finding a source of water to clean Dove’s diaper, and must have done their best. It was a miracle they remembered the direction at all because one wrong turn and they would have wandered further into the wilderness.

  Alma undressed the babe, piling her clothing to the side with the intention of burning them as no amount of cleansing would make them well again. She promptly bathed the child, using the water from the large jug she and Clan Leader Corwin always kept stocked. The water had been cooled after boiling, so it was clean when she poured some into a smaller bowl. With a cloth, Alma wiped away the grim from Dove, then afterward she applied a gentle salve to the rash. She had no extra change of clothing, so Alma swaddled the babe in a blanket.

  It would have been better to keep the babe close, but after a quick discussion with her clan leader, Alma decided to take Dove to her aunt. Dove needed the comfort of a motherly figure, and Alma trusted no one more. When she returned, she joined Clan Leader Corwin at his side, taking stock of the wounds procured by each brother. Cian was undoubtedly the most injured. There was a wound on his right shoulder that Cian explained was from an arrow. He had removed it with Keegan's help and bandaged it with torn pieces of clothing. The area of flesh looked a bit alarming, the flesh knitting together jaggedly, yet there were no signs of infection, to which Alma was grateful. By the end of their ministrations, the two boys were near nodding off, their fatigue having caught up with them, and they were allowed to rest with the promise that tomorrow would bring a bath, fresh clothing, and proper nourishment.

  “We will take turns watching over the Sons, but I must ask you to take the first watch while I return home,” the clan leader said. “It’s pertinent that I send a letter to the tribes of Halo and Noctua. They must know what has become of Heartsease, and the threat their tribes might also face.”

  “Understood,” Alma responded, voice strained and eyes glistening.

  “And Alma… I want you to refrain from telling anyone else about what we’ve learned. This includes your aunt and uncle. Everything else must be sorted first, and then I will call a clan meeting.”

  They had gently prodded the boys as to how they came to be in such… worrisome states, and Cian had been the one to answer. Their entire clan was slaughtered, their family—Heartsease’s patriarch—they were all gone. Alma’s parents… She had forced herself not to crumble, to keep her hands steady as she wrapped proper bandages around Cian’s shoulder, but tears began to escape the corner of her eyes as her clan leader looked at her with pity. “I will… keep my lips sealed.” The clan leader nodded once before taking his leave. Now alone, with only the sounds of light snoring filling the air, Alma quietly wept.

  Her mother, her father... It will be devastating news, and Alma’s heart is torn further at the thought of telling her little brother. If this weight was how she felt, Alma wondered at the last children of Heartsease. Cian had been supposed to take over the patriarchy, yet did his heirship still hold water when there was no longer a tribe for him to lead? Alma may have lost her parents, but she would not be alone. Her aunt and uncle still lived, and her clan was intact, but for Cian and Keegan, they could not say the same. All they had now was each other and Dove. Where would they go? The Tenshi Clan and the tribe of Heartsease have always had good relations, so the children could remain in the village. Alma is certain her aunt and uncle would open their homes to them, or that her clan leader would be accommodating and start construction on a home for them. Unless the other tribes had their own thoughts on what should become of them…

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  “Alma.”

  Alma looked up at the sound of her name and saw Cian standing before her. She hastily wiped the tears from her eyes, and she tried to make her face stern. “You should be resting, Cian.” She did not intimidate him, and his lack of obedience almost caused her to click her tongue at him, but she had no time to respond before she was engulfed in a hug. The act was simple, and Cian’s arms were steady. It was enough to cause Alma to weep once more, as she allowed herself to be comforted by the boy who deserved just as much. They stayed like that until Alma’s eyes could no longer shed tears, and her breathing became less stuttered. Cian let her go afterward but did not return to his cot; instead, he grabbed a stool to sit with Alma, keeping close to her.

  “I need to ask a favor of you,” Cian said once Alma wiped away the last of her tears. “It’s imposing, but I have no one else I trust or know.”

  “What is it?”

  “I need you to take care of Dove for me.” Cian’s words are enough to cause alarm to wrack through Alma’s body. “I can until you recover,” she replied, her wording intentional. “I was going to offer my help anyway.”

  Cian frowned, and his pointed look made Alma frown as well. “What are you planning, Cian?”

  —————

  They had put a sizable distance between them and the ruins of Fallen Petal. Cian was able to catch his breath, even if the action made him grimace, as each inhale lightly pulled the skin of his injured shoulder, not to mention he still held his sister against him “I don’t want us to stop, but we can at the very least walk from here on out,” Cian said as he readjusted Dove, attempting to put less pressure on his injured side. “We must find a village. From what I remember, the Tenshi Clan is the closest, but they are still a month’s travel away.” He thinks he knows how to find them, though he has traveled in that direction only twice. It would have to be enough.

  “I can’t boast confidence, but I’ll do my best to lead us true,” Cian said, already beginning to forge ahead.

  “I’m not going.”

  Cian turned around and stared at his brother, whose face was set in an angry scowl. He noted the twitch in Keegan’s hand, and for the life of him, he did not understand why the other boy would turn back now. Had he not realized why they had to flee? Was the arrow in his shoulder not enough evidence that they needed help? What about the… bodies of Bedisa and Destin? “Don’t be a fool, Keegan.”

  The twitching in Keegan’s hands grew worse. “You and Dove are safe now. I’m not hurt like you are. I can still fight.”

  “You will die,” Cian retorted. “The enemy is more powerful than you. If you were to go back, then that would be you forfeiting your life. It’s reckless and inconsiderate to the sacrifice our parents made!”

  He can see Keegan’s jaw clench, can see how his eyes begin to water. “I need to do something,” Keegan said, clutching at his chest. “My chest burns. There is heat within me that will not die unless they do first. I have to… and I want to.”

  Cian bit the inside of his cheek. This is much different than all the other times he ever had to calm Keegan down. There is no true way to distract him, and Cian doubts he has the words to change his brother’s mind, and this leaves him frightened. All he can do is delay the inevitable. That would have to be enough. “I can’t make it to the Tenshi Clan alone. The pain in my shoulder is nigh unbearable and will only grow worse once my body has time to come down from our brush with death. If you must do something, then help me, Keegan. Get myself and Dove aid and afterward… I will join you. Your need for requital will be met, but you won’t have to do it alone.”

  “Do you swear on God?”

  Cian’s legs buckled at the question. Tribes and clans know never to swear so frivolously. Better is a man to keep quiet, saying nothing, than to make a promise and not keep it. “Keegan,” he said, his voice constricted, yet he saw no remorse from his brother. Keegan wanted, and Cian was tired. “I swear by the Lord our God with Christ as my witness, that I will help you obtain retribution against those who have wronged us. This will be done after we meet the Tenshis… and are able to entrust Dove to them.”

  Keegan began walking after that.

  —————

  Cian did not deserve a friend like Alma.

  Word had been sent by Clan Leader Corwin, and the clanspeople were gathered together the two days after, so that he could inform them of what had taken place in Fallen Petal. The news created a buzz of whispered panic. The villagers were fearful. A tribe had been brought to ruin, and should the same force come against them, what could they do? The fear was accompanied by sobs, not only from Alma’s aunt, uncle, and brother, but also from a few others who had family or close friends among the tribe of Heartsease. They became a congregation experiencing the tail ends of what Cian and Keegan had. It made Cian feel burdened. Even more so when nightfall came.

  The two of them carried a pack each. Insider was provisions, water, bandages, healing items, blankets, and spare clothing. They had also both been given swords. Cian did not feel well-rested, but Keegan would not allow them any further days to recover. He was eager to depart, so they decided to leave the village under the cover of night. They had their doubts that the clan leader would have let them free. The man was a healer and a clan leader; he had a responsibility to the tribes. As the surviving sons of Heartsease, their safety was paramount. Alma had to lie on their behalf, informing the clan leader that she would be with them in the clinic during the night, as the man wanted them under continuous watch until he was sure their health had recovered. Alma was never one to lie, but she did so for them, and now she was the only one to see them off.

  “You will return?” Alma asked, her eyes holding worry. She lost her mother and father, and now the girl was anxious that she would lose them. It did not help that Keegan had grown aloof, and Cian attempted to make up for it by maintaining an air of casualness as though what he and Keegan were about do was merely an escapade like the ones he had done before. “I have to. I can’t leave my baby sister amongst strangers forever, can I?”

  Alma lightheadedly huffed through her nose. “My family is not strangers.”

  “Not to us, but to her, most definitely! I’d be a terrible person to abandon her like that.”

  “Then act as a good elder brother and come back to us safely.” Cian wanted to add another jesting comment, but his words fell short when Alma embraced him. Her hug was strong, a squeezing desperation, that Cian returned more gently. “We will return,” he said, and he prayed that he could keep his word. “Watch out for each other, and don’t be so hasty in decision,” Alma said when she pulled back, but her eyes cast toward Keegan. Usually, it was Cian who inspired weariness, but this time, it seemed the brothers' roles had been reversed, yet Keegan gave no response.

  The sons of Heartsease soon departed from the village, unknowing when they would see it again.