The haven had remained the same when arriving back, and as it was so late in the evening the Zeahev tribe would be staying the night here. I had not heard any news from the woman and child I had witnessed getting attacked by a bear yesterday, as Seanne knew nothing but only that they both survived. The person who would have known the most would be Zachan, but still I had not seen much of him since last night.

I had wandered back to our tent, greeted by Jaida and a hearty meal that beat roasted rabbit. I had remained in the dining area for the rest of the evening, drawing my poor sketch of an orka whale. I was still there when daylight had vanished, and my eyes were forced to squint by firelight.

When it came to the point I could barely see straight let alone draw, is when Zachan appeared. He looked tired as he stepped into the room, I noticed a slump to his shoulders. His clothes also looked like the ones from the beach the other day, the seawater had dried but left patches of white salty dust in its wake.

He eyes me sitting at the table before joining me. He pours himself some water and fills his plate with now cold food.

I find myself watching him, wondering what he was like as a little boy. Was he always so reserved and... in my mind, pig headed? Or did this become him after he witnessed his mother being attacked by a bear, and then taken by a wolf.

"-Aleenia?" his voice draws me out of my thoughts. My daydream clears to see him giving me a curious look, a piece of flat bread half way to his mouth.

"Yes?" I was hoping the darkness in here was hiding the blush creeping onto my cheeks. Hopefully it was not obvious I was thinking about him, and mulling over what really should be a secret, I shouldn't know.

" I asked what you were drawing?"

"Oh..." I look down to my open sketchbook, the black and white whale nearly finished. I spin my book around so he can see." An orka."

He raises an eyebrow peering over the drawing." You have drawn the tail too short."

I stare at him god smacked with my mouth falling open, but I knew I should not be surprised by his remark. I drag my sketchbook back to me, a pout on my lips. " It is hard to draw something you can only see parts of at a time."

"It is the truth." He says back simply, neither unfazed nor apologetic.

I grumble to myself, restraining the obvious part of me that wants to stomp out of the room. But I thought drops into my mind... two can play this game.

" You smell of rotting fish." I tell him, face straight. It wasn't as bad as I was saying, but I wanted to see how he liked to hear the honest truth.

He stops eating mid chew. He certainly wasn't expecting me to be as straight forward as he was.

"What?" I ask innocently." It is the truth."

He swallows forcefully, but his face remains neutral." If you had been standing on the top of Orka point, you would have seen the orka better."

I sigh, a part of me hoping Zachan would apologize or recognize that I didn't like my drawings criticized, even if it was to make it better. I was just not use to such bluntness." I suppose your right..."

I go back to aimlessly shading, knowing there was no point in finishing this drawing now. I would start anew if I had time.

"Do I really smell bad?" I hear Zachan ask, his tone had a slight worrying waver to it.

My mouth quirked to the side in a smile as my eyes had remained on my drawing. Lifting them, I see my husband waiting for an answer.

I let out another sigh, this one more humored." No... not really, I mean... if you came any closer I would probably step away."

I said it to tease him, but I should have guessed he would take it more literally. He sniffs the sleeve of his shirt. He winces, nose scrunched and eyes squinted. " You are right, I shall leave to the baths later."

I furrow my eyebrows as he takes a sip from his clay cup full of water. " You may go now if you wish?" I found it odd he was waiting, firstly the bath we used was private, only for us. Secondly I was seeing no reason for him to wait, he had finished his meal and never before did he sit here to spend time with me... deliberately.

He eyes me, seeming unsure if to speak or not. But he does. " Cohan is using our bath, he is tending to his wife's wounds."

"Wounds?"

This time Zachan eyes me with confusion." Yes, you saved her from the meda-"

"The bear?" I question.

He nods in response." You also saved his son."

I look away from him, realization dawning on me. I was a little taken back by of all people, I saved Cohan's wife." Will she be alright?"

"Yes...Thanks to you Aleenia." He tells me.

I shake my head." I did nothing, if it weren't for the warriors I would be hurt myself or...dead." The thought makes me shiver.

"Lidan, Cohan's wife said you threw a rock at the animal, you risked your life for hers." Zachan says, which has me turning my gaze back to him. His expression seems genuine." You were brave Aleenia"

The word 'brave' draws me back to my fathers parting words to me. 'Be brave Aleenia'. Had I been? Or would he take look one look at me now and not recognize me, think me silly? After the trip to Orka Point, seeing my homeland I found myself thinking more frequently about the people I left behind. Desperately wanting to know how there were.

But I push those thoughts away, knowing it will leave me in a place harder to get out of. "I doubt a single rock can change anything..." I say, thinking that Cohan's opinion of me would remain, the same as his fathers.

" It might..." Zachan sounds optimistic, a tone I am not use to. I raise an eyebrow and he elaborates." A rock saved a life... and you have proven a rock can change everything. You took a single rock and painted on it, made something of little value, valuable. A rock changed the opinions of our tribe, and I believe a rock will change the opinions of the Zeahev tribe."

A deep blush had brightened my cheeks at his words... dare I think, Zachan had admitted he believed in me.

I looked away not really wanting to show the effect his words had on me. It had also left me speechless.

Zachan clears his throat, and by the time I felt my cheeks had cooled down a considerable amount I looked back up. He was standing from the table, his dirty clothes coming back into view." Cohan must be done by now..." he moves to walk out of the room, but he halts at the door as if forgetting something. He turns back to me ." Goodnight, Aleenia."

I force a smile on my face, as I had felt the awkward air between us. It was like both of us noticed the lack of tension and frustration we normally share, leaving us in unknown territory.

He pulls a smile to, before leaving.

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-..-

A cold breeze swept through the haven during the middle of the day. The Zeahev tribe was leaving, and I longed for the tension that was constantly cramping my body to vanish with them.

I stood again beside Zachan, facing the dirt path leading them out to the haven. My mask was back on, and so was everybody else's. The Zeahev tribe had gathered their people, some on foot and some on horseback. I had watched as Chief Sharnoo mounted his pinto horse, his face forever stern as he surveyed the tribe's people behind me with his one eye. I didn't receive a glance from him, which I was still working out if I was annoyed by, or relieved.

On a dark horse beside Chief Sharnoo's I noticed his son, Cohan. When everyone looked ready to leave, he leaned over to his father, sharing words I couldn't hear. Chief Sharnoo looked appalled by whatever came out of his son's mouth and steers his horse to turn fully around, leaving. Some follow him, others stay with Cohan, who eventually slides of his horse approaching Zachan and I, particularly me.

My husband takes a step forward, shielding me from view... as if to protect me. Cohan notices this as his eyes pierce under his shell mask and his mouth turns to a frown. " I would like to speak to your wife." He states in their language.

Translating the words I look up to Zachan, he is unmoving and as silent as stone. I doubted Cohan would have the nerve to do anything in front of the entirety of our tribe, so I saw no risk. I take a step around my husband, eyeing the man who wished to speak with me.

Our gazes' hold steadily for a few moments, his eyes squinted as if I was a puzzle that he was trying to solve. But he then looks to his left making eye contact with someone else, a quick jerk of the head indicates for them to come forward. A small young man, with lanky limps walks forward, head bent down to the item he is carrying out. A large folded fur.

The young man presents it to me and I carefully take it, the brown course bristles tickling my fingers. I look back up to Cohan for an explanation.

"A gift." He says, as if that simply answers it. But I look back down to the fur in my hands, the brown color seeming familiar. The wave of recognition sends a wave of nausea to my stomach. This fur belonged to the bear that attacked his wife, and was killed shortly after. I worn and slept amongst furs before, but I found it easier not think about where they come from. The sick feeling I was getting, and the chills down my spine just showed the oblivious part of my mind.

Swallowing bile in my throat back down, I look back to Cohan his eyes wavering as if he is unsure of my response. But I smile, nodding my head. "Thank you."

His face remains indifferent to my words, he only nods back before turning to his waiting tribe. On his way to his horse he slowly passes a lady mounted on another, her back to us. He looks up to her, softly brushing her leg in recognition with his hand before moving on. The lady's horse trots to the side, revealing her face, one I vaguely remember from the other night. A small child mounts the horse in front with her. Our eyes lock and her lips form a small nervous smile, one a can not help but give back.

Cohan had already mounted his horse when I looked back to him, and the rest of the Zeahev tribe followed.

"You should wear it with honour." I hear the words murmured behind me. I look back to see Zachan, his head craned down in my direction. A quirked smile was on his lips. I was a little taken back by what just happened to do anything but stare. He turns and walks with the rest of the tribe's people going back to their daily lives.

Hello everybody, sorry for the long wait. I have had a hectic couple weeks back at Uni, but things seem to be settling down again. So hopefully I will be writing some more.

So tell me what you think of this chapter? Also do you like the little quote poster I made, I really liked the line ( if I do say so myself ;).

So please Comment and Vote, I love it when you do!

Love U all!