Page 65 of Framed and Forgotten
“Wh-where are w-we?” I couldn’t resist asking.
“The first shelter I could find between Whispering Hills and Azure Smoke,” Koen replied. “Nerine and my brother are dead, but she warned someone…” He paused, pressing his lips together as if afraid to finish the thought. “…About you.”
My heart thumped. Even through the fog of my grogginess, the truth crashed into me with brutal clarity.
My kind’s secret had been exposed.
Before I could let the weight of his confession sink in, he added, “We couldn’t stay there, but I…I wasn’t strong enough to get you to Azure Smoke.”
At that moment, I set my terror aside and glanced at him. A wave of pain washed over me as I noticed for the first time the many scars covering his body. His wounds - from the battle with his brother, I assumed - had begun to heal, but they still looked raw and brutal.
It prompted another question. “How long have we…?”
“Four days,” he answered blankly.
I took a breath. Then another. And another. With each beat of my heart, the fear for my people grew.
“T-hey’re in…danger,” I observed, already trying to get myself up, but Koen promptly stopped me.
“You’re still too weak to make the journey. Even if I carry you,” he deadpanned, and I was forced to accept the truth. Tenderly, he added, “Rest, and we’ll get there as soon as you’ve regained enough energy.”
I managed a quiet nod. At last, my body started relaxing as I surrendered to slumber. My eyelids began to flutter shut, but before they closed completely, I decided to voice the last question echoing in my head.
“Koen?” I called, and he squeezed my hand to let me know he was listening. “H-how did you…s-save me?”
Silence followed, long enough for me to wonder if he’d heard me at all. Then, his thumb gently brushed over my knuckles, and he let out a quiet breath, like he was struggling to find the words.
In the end, he just shrugged. “I don’t know.”
That wasn’t the answer I’d expected. My brows knit together weakly, though I was too tired to press him further. He must’ve sensed my confusion, because after a moment, he continued, his voice almost reverent.
“I thought you were gone, Avril.” His voice broke, just slightly. “Your blood was everywhere. I held you, and you weren’t breathing. You were so cold. I…I begged the Moon Goddess to take me instead. I begged her not to take you from me.” His voice faltered, disbelieving even as he said it. “And then…something happened.”
I forced my eyes to stay open just a moment longer, so I could look at him. When I did, I found his eyes full of emotion. Awe. Faith. Love.
“There was this…light. It came out of nowhere, and it wrapped around you, so bright it nearly blinded me. When it faded, your wound was gone, and you had a pulse again.
“I don’t have an explanation. I’m not a healer. I didn’t do anything, Avril. I couldn’t,” he went on, shaken, as if still trying to convince himself of what he’d seen. “It was a miracle. That’s the only way I can describe it. The Moon Goddess must have heard me, and she answered my prayers”
My breath hitched at the image, but I couldn’t fully grasp it before my senses started fading. Still, I held onto a single belief: if this was the Moon Goddess’ doing, then she had deemed it wasn’t my time yet. And I took it as a sign - she wished me to finish my mission in this world.
For her, and for all of my kind, I would free the Ashen Wolves.
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A V R I L
A day later,I finally convinced Koen I was well enough to travel back to Azure Smoke. Ever since he told me the secret of the Ashen Wolves had been exposed, I’d felt anxious about being away from my family. Our hidden haven wasn’t easy to find, but once the hunt officially began, they wouldn’t rest until they found us. So how could I?
I was also worried about Koen. His wounds were healing slower than they should have, and he wasn’t taking care of himself properly. He only drank enough water to stay alive and refused to eat at all, leaving only long enough to hunt food for me. I knew his attitude wouldn’t change until I was back home and safe.
Too weak to shift myself, the only way to make the journey was on piggyback. Col was visibly tired, all of his energy devoted to helping heal his counterpart’s human body. Still, he carried me the entire way home without a break, ignoring my pleas for him not to overexert himself.
The ride was tough on me, too. Col did his best not to move too fast, afraid I might lose my balance, but even just holding on proved a challenge. Whatever miracle had kept me alive had surely taken its toll.
Against all odds, we made it home on determination alone - his to carry me to safety, and mine to ensure my family’s survival.
