CHAPTER 4
Arlana awoke suddenly to a strange sound. When she opened her eyes she felt disoriented and wondered where she was. She then realized she had fallen asleep by the waterfall. "I wonder what time it is," she mused aloud.
She heard a reply, "Much too late to be out in the woods alone." She turned and saw Kellam walking towards her. He gently sat down close to her. Feeling uncomfortable at his nearness she sat up abruptly and scooted a few inches away.
"Kellam, what are you doing here in the middle of the night?" She felt like she had been caught.
"The question is what are you doing here? I was sent to look for you by your worried sister when you left without even saying goodbye. What happened?"
"It was nothing, I was just tired."
"I see, you don't want to talk about it, if you ever change your mind I'm always here to listen." Kellam gave Arlana one of his winning smiles."You sure chose a strange place to take a nap, it's kind of cold out here, would you like to borrow my coat?" he started to shrug off his coat without waiting for her reply.
She suddenly began to shiver as soon as he said the word cold. "If I borrow your coat you will freeze, I don't want to take your coat from you."
"Don't be silly, you know I'm warm blooded," Kellam laughed as he helped her slide his jacket on and then started to rub her arms.
She let him warm her for a moment and then slid a space away."I'm fine now, thank you," she looked up into his eyes and gave him a weak smile. His blue eyes were mesmerizing in the moonlight. Although he was a dear friend, his handsome looks and the way he stared back at her with adoration made her heart flutter in her chest.
"You'll have to smile brighter than that if you want me to believe that you’re fine," Kellam smirked. He put his right arm around her and this time she leaned in laying her head on his shoulder.
"You shouldn't have come all the way out here Kellam, I am fine. I mean I'm sorry you had to come find me. Avalynn shouldn't worry about me so much"
"I can see that you are fine, though I wonder what in the world your protector was thinking, he is lucky you are fine. I guess Cole isn't very good at training and supervising, maybe someone else should be in charge. And Arlana," Kellam looked at her meaningfully raising her chin so her eyes met his, "your sister isn't the only one who worries about you." For a moment they just sat there staring into each other’s eyes, their faces only inches apart. Arlana closed her eyes and leaned back in confusion. Feeling overwhelmed by the intensity of Kellam’s closeness. She opened her eyes took a breath and looked at his hand which he had let fall into his lap. She took his arm and slowly traced the pattern that was a shade lighter than the rest of his skin. Kellam shivered under her touch.
"Kellam," she said looking up at him once again, "your birthmark is so intricate, it is amazing that you have one like this, you must be special," she smiled and looked back at his birthmark. He had a birthmark of a star on the inside of his left forearm. All of Diokles’ children had a star birthmark that was a shade lighter than their skin on the right side of their neck. Kellam was not Diokles’ child but he had the same birthmark except it was in a different place. He did seem special to everyone in the camp. He had a charm that could make almost anyone like him; everyone did seem to like him, everyone except Cole. Kellam's mother was pregnant with him when she crossed through the Mangrove forest into the camp. Diokles didn't realize that she was pregnant when she came across. When Kellam was born with the birthmark they knew that he would be gifted. They still watched and waited to see what gifts might develop as he grows. Diokles had always treated him like a son. Often he would travel with the family beyond the mangroves. Diokles has the ability to take them through the mangroves to any era and country they wished to go.
Arlana gently put Kellam’s arm down, "Let’s not talk about Cole, he protects well, he wasn't even there."
"As you wish Arlana, but I will be having a talk with him later."
Arlana sighed and quickly shrugged away from Kellam. As she stood up she peered down from the boulder and started to take a step to prepare herself to climb down.
"Oh no you don't Arlana, I will help you down, take my hand, I don't want you to get hurt."
Arlana reluctantly gave her hand to Kellam. She felt too tired to put up any more of a fight. She knew that there would be only a couple of more hours left of the night to sleep once they got back. Every day leading up to their birthday was jam packed and she knew that she needed all the sleep she could get. After Kellam helped her off of the boulder they started to head back to the camp. Kellam wrapped his arm around Arlana's shoulders and pulled her close to him.
Arlana cleared her throat, “Space Kellam, you're in my space and I'm having a hard time walking. I'd like to get back to camp quickly so I can enjoy what's left of my sleep."
Kellam chuckled, “I think it is your own fault you are not in your bed right now. You are shivering and I think we can make it back to camp with my arm around you just fine. Besides, haven’t you considered the fact that I'm cold? You are wearing my jacket you know," Kellam smiled.
"Oh, I'm sorry, you are right, I shouldn't be so selfish," color flooded Arlana's cheeks. She wrapped her arm around his waist and leaned her head on his shoulder. She knew that Kellam was her friend as well as Avalynn’s but now that it seemed like him and Avalynn were dating she wasn't sure where the boundaries should lie. They began to pick up the pace as they matched each other’s steps. It felt good to Arlana to have Kellam close to her. She felt safe in his arms and some of the pain she had been feeling in her chest began to lessen. "Thank you for coming after me Kellam," she said softly. In response Kellam squeezed her shoulder. Kellam stopped suddenly.
"Did you hear that?" He asked.
"Hear what?" But at that moment Arlana did hear something. Something loud coming through the brush and getting closer. She began to think of how neither one of them had a protector with them, and a tiny spike of fear and guilt crept up inside."Maybe we should hide."
"Not yet, let’s try and go faster." Kellam replied as he pulled Arlana even closer to him.
"What if it's a wild animal, maybe we should climb a tree," she spoke in frantic whispers. "I think I heard a growl!"
"Ok, I'm going to let go of you now but hold my hand and don't let go, we're going to run. If the animal gets too close we will try climbing, but you're going to go up first, no matter what happens stay with me, I will keep you safe."
“Kellam I don’t think running will help. I remember Cole once telling me that running makes whatever is hunting you attack. Oh I wish he were here right now he would know what to do. “
Kellam stopped and turned around. “Do you really think I can’t protect you?” Arlana saw a glimpse of hurt cross his face but then he turned and began walking quickly again.
Arlana blushed when she realized what she had said. She could understand why Kellam looked so hurt. “No of course I don’t think that but Cole has been my protector most of my life. I am not used to anyone else watching out for me like that. I know you will keep me safe. I am sorry I panicked and said that hurtful thing.” Arlana said remorsefully. She felt so awful.
Kellam stopped again and sighed, “I understand and won’t take it personally Arlana, but I think I have good news for you.”
Arlana looked at Kellam quizzically.
“I don’t hear anything anymore. Plus the birds are chirping which is a good sign that nothing bad is out there. Maybe it was that squirrel that always seems to play hide and seek with you. You know the one that seems to find ways to startle you every time you visit the falls.” Kellam said with a chuckle.
Arlana grimaced. There was a difficult squirrel out there. It would jump out at her all the time which would startle her and she would scream. Luckily her screams were usually quiet squeaks but still it was annoying.
“Ha, ha. Thank goodness nothing is out there….but I know we heard a sound like a growl. It had to have been something. Do you think it is following us still, just quiet
er?”
Kellam laughed. “Don’t be silly. Like I said the birds are happy. If there was something bad out there they would not be chirping but just in case we will walk a little faster.”
“Ok” Arlana replied still feeling a little nervous.
Kellam grabbed her hand and began walking. He forced himself to seem calm and relaxed. If Arlana saw he was relaxed he knew she would calm down and relax. Kellam believed something or someone was following them but he didn’t want to alarm Arlana. He stayed alert mentally preparing to defend her with his life.