FAMILY
1140 Words
Liyana stood quietly inside the house.
Edric closed the door behind her.
For a few seconds, neither of them said anything.
They just stood there.
Looking at each other.
It was awkward.
Very awkward.
Finally, Edric cleared his throat.
“You must be tired.”
Liyana nodded.
“A little.”
He reached for her bag.
“Give me that.”
Liyana held onto it for a second longer before letting go.
Edric raised an eyebrow.
“I’m not stealing it.”
“I know.”
“Good.”
He carried it toward the living room.
Liyana followed.
“Your room is ready.”
She nodded.
“Thank you.”
They sat in the living room.
Another silence.
Liyana looked around.
Edric looked at Liyana.
Liyana looked back at him.
Neither knew what to say.
Finally, Edric gave up.
“So…”
Liyana waited.
“How was the journey?”
“Long.”
“You ran?”
“Most of the way.”
Edric stared at her.
“Alone?”
“Yes.”
He shook his head.
“You really are Maren’s niece.”
Liyana frowned slightly.
“What does that mean?”
“She was stubborn too.”
Liyana smiled.
“She was?”
“Very.”
That was the first time either of them smiled.
Then Edric's expression became more serious.
“How is Maren?”
Liyana froze.
The smile disappeared.
Her fingers tightened around the fabric of her clothes.
Edric noticed.
“Liyana?”
She looked down.
“She died.”
Edric went completely still.
“What?”
“She was sick.”
“When?”
“Not long ago.”
The room became quiet again.
This silence was different.
Edric looked away.
“I didn't know.”
Liyana shook her head.
“She didn't tell you?”
“No.”
“She didn't want me to know about you until after she was gone.”
Edric closed his eyes for a moment.
Liyana told him about the illness.
The coughing.
The healers.
The tests.
The second opinion.
The lack of a cure.
Edric listened without interrupting.
When she finished, he leaned back slowly.
“She really didn't tell me anything.”
Liyana gave a small shrug.
“She wanted to protect me.”
Edric looked at her.
“And you came here because she asked you to?”
“Yes.”
He nodded.
“I wish I had known.”
Liyana didn't answer.
Neither did he.
They just sat there.
Both thinking about the same woman.
After a while, Liyana finally asked,
“Why didn't I know about you?”
Edric sighed.
“That one isn't easy.”
“I figured.”
He gave a small smile.
“Maren and I were separated for years. We went our separate ways.”
“Because of what?”
Edric hesitated.
“There were things between us.”
Liyana waited.
He shook his head.
“Things I should have handled better.”
She studied him.
“Did you hate her?”
Edric looked almost offended.
“Never.”
Liyana nodded slowly.
“She didn't hate you either.”
That made him look away.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Edric quietly said,
“I should have gone looking for her.”
Liyana didn't know what to say to that.
So she simply sat beside him.
After a while, Edric stood.
“Come. I'll show you your room.”
Liyana followed him down the hallway.
He opened a door.
Inside was a simple room.
A bed.
A small table.
A wardrobe.
A window.
Liyana looked around.
“It's nice.”
“It was the only room I had.”
She smiled.
“I like it.”
“Good.”
Edric stood in the doorway.
“If you don't like anything, change it.”
“I won't.”
“You're allowed to.”
“I know.”
He nodded.
“Dinner soon.”
Then he left.
Liyana looked around again.
Nova appeared in her mind.
‘I like it.’
Liyana smiled.
“Me too.”
Later that evening, Liyana went outside.
She needed some air.
Silver Crest was busy.
Children ran through the streets.
A few wolves were returning from patrol.
Someone shouted from across the road.
“Hey! Wait!”
A young boy stopped.
His friend bumped into him.
“Move!”
“I am moving!”
“You're standing!”
“I was thinking!”
“You think too slowly!”
Liyana couldn't help smiling.
Nova chuckled.
*They're loud.*
“Very.”
The two boys ran off.
Liyana continued walking.
Nobody stopped her.
Nobody stared for too long.
Nobody knew her story.
Nobody knew she had been rejected.
Nobody knew Maren had died.
For once...
She was just another wolf.
And strangely, she liked that.
On her way back, she noticed a building.
She slowed down.
A sign hung above the entrance.
HEALERS CLINIC.
Liyana stared at it.
Nova noticed immediately.
‘You want to go in.’
Liyana smiled.
“Maybe.”
‘You definitely want to go in.’
“I said maybe.”
‘You’re terrible at lying.’
Liyana laughed quietly.
She had always liked helping people.
Maybe she could find something useful to do here.
Maybe she could start again.
She looked at the clinic one last time.
Then continued home.
Dinner was already waiting.
Liyana sat across from Edric.
For the first few minutes...
Silence.
Edric ate.
Liyana ate.
They both looked at their food.
Finally, Edric spoke.
“So... what did you do in Moon Shadow?”
“I helped around the pack.”
“Doing what?”
“Anything that needed to be done.”
“That sounds vague.”
Liyana smiled.
“I did a lot.”
“Such as?”
“Cooking. Cleaning. Delivering supplies. Helping the elders.”
Edric nodded.
“That sounds like Maren.”
Liyana smiled.
“She used to say that.”
“She probably got it from me.”
Liyana looked at him.
“You?”
“Yes.”
“You don't seem very helpful.”
Edric stared at her.
Liyana immediately covered her mouth.
“I didn't mean that.”
He laughed.
“You're alright.”
She laughed too.
It was small.
But real.
Nova immediately spoke.
‘I missed that.’
Liyana smiled.
“Me too.”
That night, Liyana lay in her new room.
The ceiling was unfamiliar.
The sounds outside were unfamiliar.
Even the scent of the pack was unfamiliar.
But it didn't feel as frightening anymore.
She wasn't completely alone.
She had Edric.
She had a place to stay.
And maybe...
She could build something here.
Nova spoke softly.
‘Goodnight.’
Liyana smiled.
“Goodnight, Nova.”
She closed her eyes.
For the first time in a long while...
She fell asleep without feeling like she was waiting for something terrible to happen.
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