Neoma (7)

About three days after Dmitri’s voice had disappeared, it returned. It was late evening, and Rachel was already asleep by the fire. Natty was sitting on her mat calmly as she threw the now wilted lily into the fire. She was too busy thinking about Cot to notice that Charles had saved the lily from the fire.1

“Natty!”2

Her thoughts stretched to when she first met Dmitri, and how he always had a smile on his face, even if it ticked her off
more.3

“Natty!”4

“Huh?” Natty shook herself, turning to Charles.5

“I gave you this lily nine days ago.”6

“And?” Natty was getting ticked now.7

Charles turned the brittle lily over in his hand and watched it shrivel into dust. He stared at Natty, obviously confused. “And you gave it no water. Only three days ago was it beginning to wilt!”8

Dmitri turned his head abruptly in Charles’s direction. He had been reading a very thick book, but it was no longer the center of Dmitri’s attention. He opened his mouth to say something, but closed it quickly. Dmitri’s eyes danced with a new light.9

Oblivious to Dmitri’s prying eye, Natty sighed. “Don’t you have anything better to do, Charles?”10

Charles turned his face away, and stared into the fire. Dmitri grinned wickedly to himself and grabbed Rachel’s pack. She always carried a stick of charcoal and pressed parchment for writing and drawing purposes.11

He picked up the first page of paper and almost choked. In Rachel’s handwriting and drawing style was a clear illustration of Charles and Natty. Dmitri narrowed his eyes and looked up at the two, who were now bickering, and back at the picture.12

There was a lily in the center of Rachel’s drawing and on the left of the lily was Charles, and on the right was Natty. The lily shared both their hands, like a bridge from the dark side of life to the light.13

Dmitri’s eyes widened, the fire dancing across the camp. Underneath the picture was Rachel’s neat handwriting. ‘She will bridge, He will comfort; Natty will cross, Charles will welcome.’14

“Natty!”15

Charles’s sudden outburst ruined Dmitri’s thoughts. Abandoning the artwork, Dmitri looked over in Natty’s direction.16

Natty was slumped against Charles; her face was visibly pale despite the firelight. Dmitri quickly stood up.17

“What’s wrong?” he asked, glancing at the book he was reading.18

“I-– I don’t know.”19

Dmitri looked at the sky, unable to see the moon, which should have been at its highest point. A smile worked its way across his face.20

“Put a damp towel on her forehead, try and wake her up again.”21

Dmitri impatiently waited for a half hour while Natty remained unconscious. His train of thought lingered on Rachel’s odd drawing. He had never seen so much talent and effort put into one of her pictures before… it was strange.22

“Natty! Are you okay?”23

Charles’s sudden input startled Dmitri. Natty was sitting upright, cursing under her breath. “What…?”24

“Has this ever happened before?” Dmitri questioned.25

Natty looked up at Dmitri and her vision faltered. She squeezed her eyes shut and covered her mouth.26

“Nat?”27

Faster than lightning, Natty punched Dmitri clean in the chin. He swore loudly, glaring at Natty with a new hate, all of the concern was gone.28

“Don’t you ever call me that!” she seethed. “I don’t care if you died now, bastard!”29

Dmitri backed away, keeping a safe distance from Natty before asking his question again. “Did this ever happen before?”30

Suddenly feeling queasy again, Natty shut her eyes, shaking her head wildly.31

Dmitri nodded. Turning to Charles, who was staring at where Natty punched him, he advised him to get some sleep.32

Everyone was asleep an hour or so after Natty had punched Dmitri. Natty was still up against the tree, and Charles was curled up on his mat. Dmitri, however, was leaning against the tree, sleeping next to Natty. He had been the last one to fall asleep after putting a blanket around Natty’s shoulders.33

Dmitri wasn’t the type of person who could easily comfort someone, but he tried his best in Natty’s case. He had lessened the fire to a pile of embers to Natty’s rising fever. His hopes only soared higher after today’s incident.34

When Rachel woke early the next morning, she quickly sketched a not-so-detailed picture of what she saw across from her. On the other side of the hearth, Natty slept with her head on Dmitri’s shoulder. Dmitri looked peaceful, and Rachel smiled. Her eyes twinkled as she tried to remember the last time Dmitri ever had that expression on his face. He was happy.