CHAPTER ELEVEN

"How's Violet?". Monica asked when when Dora entered the kitchen

"Better I guess. She's on the phone with her mum". Dora replied sitting on the kitchen counter as she watched her mum dish out the food

"Her dad seems to be quite furious". She added looking solemn

"Well make that two, because I'm furious too". A voice boomed through the kitchen as her father, trying to keep his anger in check walked into the kitchen with a stern look

"Dad!". Dora exclaimed immediately jumping off the counter as she unconsciously walked behind her mother. She has never seen her father who was always joking and smiling look this angry

"What the fu*k where you all doing deep into the forest when you know how dangerous it is. There's a reason I don't let you go that deep except with supervision Dorathy Emilia Devonte". Eric yelled annoyed.

Dora unconsciously tightened her fist which held her mother's cloth "d...dad is wa... wasn't in..ten..tentional I'm s..sorry". She stammered scared, her heads down

"Eric you need to calm down, you're scaring the poor girl". Monica intervened

"Well she wasn't scared when she entered the forest, so my anger should be nothing worth fearing". He snapped. "And where the fuck is that irresponsible son of mine"

"Your anger and your shouting would do nothing to solve this situation but only worsen it. You should go for a walk first, when the children are done eating we'll all go for a walk. And please don't go to meet Daniel like this, okay?". Monica said, trying to calm him down "also now you see where Dora learned to curse from". She joked to ease the atmosphere. Monica doesn't really joke around, but when she does it's usually to ease a tense atmosphere

Even Dora and Eric couldn't help but smile at her joke

"Dora". Eric called making Dora stand straight at attention like she was in training. Eric and Monica couldn't help but chuckle as Monica held Dora's fist in hers

"Are you okay, no broken bones, no sprain, nothing?". Eric asked concerned

Dora couldn't help but smile at his question. He's just a worried father after all. "I didn't really sustain much injury, Violet suffered most. Just weakened bones, bruises on my back, and maybe a fractured rib but overall I'm good". She replied

"Oh My God, a fractured rib! Why didn't you inform me? I thought you're fine since you didn't really have any physical injury and weren't limping you're fine". Monica gasped as she checked her body for any bruise "oh God! Dora!". Monica exclaimed in horror, almost in tears as she raised her pyjama shirt to check her back. Eric rushed over to also check it out

"Mum, you don't have to get dramatic. Dad, I'm fine. It doesn't really hurt". She reassured her dad who seemed to be even more worried than her mother, putting her shirt down

"Does this mean Daniel also sustained injury? He did seem to be limping a bit, how didn't I notice it. I'm such a bad mother". Monica cried out annoyed at her inattentiveness. Her focus had been Violet because she seemed to have sustained the most injury

Dora sighed at her mother's dramatic act. "Mum, I don't know if Daniel got any injury or not, we were kinda separated for a while. And you're not a bad mother, you're the best, okay?. Also I'm hungry, and I'm sure Violet and Daniel are too. So please finish serving the dish so I can take mine and Violet's up to my room and call Daniel down for his. And Dad you should go for the walk mum said yo...". She said to her parents like she was the parents, as she stirred her mother to the dishes and her dad out the kitchen door though they both stopped when they almost collided with Daniel who was about to come into the kitchen. At the sight of him, both father and daughter scowled

Confused at their reaction Daniel raised a brow as he whispered a "what?"

"I'll just go for a walk now". Eric said walking pass Daniel ignoring him

"And I'll take mine and Violet's meal, it seems mum's done". Dora took the tray that contained the food and water

"What just happened?". Daniel asked his mother who only shrugged before gesturing to his food

"Any bruises or injuries?". Monica asked concerned as Daniel walked towards her

"Just an ankle sprain and some bruises. Overall I'm good. Besides I deserved it and more". He smiled, whispering the last part. Thanks to her good hearing Monica heard him but choose to not ask what he meant, since they'd discuss it anyway

"You should have some food, when you and Dora are done eating, we'll all have a talk". Monica gave a small smile before going out to look for her husband who she's sure is by the lake in the forest

***

"What did your mum and dad say". Dora asked as she walked into her room tray in hands

"Well you heard when dad got angry and mum told him to go for a walk". Violet said to which Dora nodded, she heard that part but decided to leave the room for Violet so she wouldn't intrude in her family matters "well he left and I kinda told mum the truth". Dora's eyes widened at that, as she placed the tray on the bed instead and sat beside Violet

"For real?". She asked

"Hmmm, not completely though. Just told her the main point, not everything that actually happened". Violet said and Dora nodded at that

"So she's aware you were in the forest and your injuries? And your dad, would she tell him?". Dora asked

"Well knowing my mum, she would. And honestly I think it's for the best, I can't imagine telling him myself. He's never been this angry at him". Violet said sadly

"Even mine. He walked in on my mum and I talking. God I thought I'd die in there, I was so scared". Dora chuckled at the memory "anyway, our food is here. Let's eat. Here let me help you". She added as she helped Violet rest her back on a pillow between she and the wall

"Thank you". Violet said grateful

"It's mine and Daniel's fault you're in this condition, no need to thank me". She wavered her apology "let's eat". She added as she took a plate of food from the tray and placed it onto Violet's lap "you can feed yourself right? Or should I feed you?". She teased. Violet rolled her eyes before taking the spoon from her hands to eat

"It's Fatio". Violet exclaimed happily. She hadn't really noticed the food until now. Fatio is one of her favourite food from Mrs Monica's secret family recipe.

"You're just noticing?". Dora chuckled at her friend as she helped herself with the other plate on the tray while Violet only rolled her eyes before also helping herself to the food on her lap. Good thing it's her left hand that's injured, she thought

***

"I'm so sleepy. This food is so good, I could go for another round though I'm filled up". Violet sighed in content after drowning down two cups of water after her meal

"Such a foodie you are". Dora teased as she arranged the items on the tray

"Look who's talking". Violet threw back making them both laugh

"You should have some sleep now. I'll just go down, they all should be ready for our walk". Dora air quoted 'walk'

"Walk?". Violet asked as she got comfortable under the duffet

"Yeah, it's another word for 'spill out those secrets of yours before things get messy' in my family". She air quoted again with a shake of her head

"Wow, really? So how does it go?". Violet giggled

"You don't wanna know Vio". Dora called Violet by her nickname she hardly uses "they literally prey everything out from you, it's how they know when you're lying that spooks me the most. So you have no choice but to tell the truth". She shivered

"Sounds pretty cool to me. Though we don't really have the walk like you guys, my parents could also pretty much tell when you're lying. Remember Wick's steak story? The stray dog that found its way to our house, that mum didn't want me to keep at first until after a series of begging and promises". Violet asked and Dora nodded chuckling

"Of course how can I forget, you kept telling me how spooked you were by your parents. You even came to sleep over at my house for three days".

"What there not to be spooked about. It still baffles me till now how she smelt the steak on my hand after I washed it clean". Violet shivered

"I guess our parents have good senses". Dora shrugged and Violet hummed in agreement

"Okay I'll have my sleep now, you go and have that walk of yours. Also don't stay up all late, you're also weak, that throw wasn't soft or nice. God you could have broken a bone, how are you able to still stand straight?". Violet's eyes widened as she remembered how the wolf threw Dora, but Dora only shrugged at her question "I hope when we wake up we'll all be better, even Daniel. He didn't look good, I don't know why he still carried me". Violet shook her head

"Are you feeling sorry for him?". Dora asked incredulously

"Not tonight Dora, you should go". Violet sighed just as Daniel knocked on the room door telling Dora their parents were waiting

"Tomorrow then, goodnight Violeta". Dora grinned while Violet scowled

"Don't call me that"

"Yh yh. Bye". Dora chuckled as she walked out of the room tray in hand

Violet sighed as she stared at the door then turned her gaze to the window which showed the night sky outside, with the bright moon "please don't let me have nightmares". She mumbled