Overwhelming feelings

Miles takes many deep breaths as he tries to think about what he should do. Mile's eyes begin to burn. He rubs them but the action doesn't ease the irritation. The surrounding area has gotten dark enough that he can't see anything.

He wonders blind in the woods, reaching out and squinting. He stumbles and falls, but finds a small cave to hide in.

The interior is cool and moist, and he hears a drip of water in the cave. Miles sighs to himself and finds a place to curl up.

The sound of the nighttime creatures fills the air. Miles covers his ears and forces himself to take deep breaths. He can't seem to calm down. He looks around the cave, though he can't see much.

When he finally gives up, he lays down and sighs. He tries to close his eyes. But he finds that he keeps opening them in hopes of seeing something.

He doesn't know when he fell asleep but at some point, he does. When he wakes it is slow. As he sits up he feels pain slide up his back. Glaring at the stone below him.

Movement catches Miles's eyes, he looks at the place where it stopped and is overcome with emotion. The blood in his veins boil. It soon passes into an overwhelming flood, He goes to the boy and holds him close.

Ezra looks up at Miles and waits. When Miles finally lets go of Ezra he looks down at the boy. He can't decide if he's angry with the child or not. He takes several deep breaths, "We need to go home."

The boy nods his agreement and the two leave the cave. Miles pauses outside it. Ezra takes his hand and pulls on it. They walk away from the cave.

The morning sun beats down on them and despite the early hour, it is hot. Miles craves the cool interior of the cave.

Ezra leads miles home after a while of walking. Betty waits by the edge of the trees for them. She moos at them when she spots them. Ezra runs over to her and hugs her. Miles takes his time walking to them. When he does make it to the two, he gives Betty a few head pats.

"Did you and Emma back it back okay?" Miles asks the cow.

Betty walks away, stops, looks back, and waits.

When Miles starts to follow her she begins to move. She leads him to the house. Miles enters the house and finds Emma sleeping at the table.

He goes to her and lifts her out of the chair. He carries her to her room and lays her in bed. Covering her with the nearby blanket, he sighs. Then he leaves the room.

Once outside the room he gets food out. He sets some aside for Emma and gets the rest ready for himself and Ezra. They eat and feed the animals. Betty goes to the pen with her fellow cows. She eats and seems to go to rest.

It doesn't take Miles long to get everything done and cared for but it is slower without help. When he finishes he goes to the garden. There Ezra stands by the edge and watches Miles.

"Good to see you didn't run off, Mind telling me why you were gone for so long?" Miles asks, half focused on the plants below him.

Ezra looks to the earth below and shrugs.

Miles stands and approaches the child. He holds out his hand, "Show me if you need to."

The boy pauses but it doesn't take long for him to look up at Miles. He shakes his head and backs away from Miles.

"Ezra, did you run off on you're own? Did someone come after you?" Miles questions with a raised brow.

The boy shrugs.

Miles rubs his face, "I have to go into town, By the time I come back please be ready to tell me something."

Miles takes this moment to then turns and leave. He grabs what he thinks he'll need and grabs the horse. He gets a saddle and places it on the horse. He checks to make sure the saddle is on right.

Once he feels he is ready, Miles hops onto the horse. They leave, taking the path to Seline's and Emil's place. From there Miles makes his way to town. Once there he looks for the clothing shop. It takes him a while as he passes it a few times.

When he does finally manage to find the place he makes sure to get his horse taken care of and walks in. The Woman he met last time is flittering from one end of the shop to the other. Talking to each customer as she goes by. At one point she takes notice of Miles by the door. She gestures to a counter near the back. He waits as she goes past a door. When she returns she comes out with the items already wrapped in brown paper.

"This is everything. If there is anything else feel free to let me know." She says as she hands over the clothes.

Miles takes the package, "Thank you."

"You are welcome." She replies before returning to flittering around the room again.

Miles exits the place and readies to return home, but as he goes by the general shop he decides to stop there instead.

The man inside at the counter stands straighter upon noticing Miles.

"Anything I can help you with?" He asks.

Miles shakes his head, "No... Not that I can think of."

"In to look around and pass some time?"

Miles shugs as he wanders around.

It goes quiet in the shop as the man at the counter watches Miles wander.

Miles picks up a few things and places most of them back down.

When he finally goes to the counter he places down a bracelet with stones with red and green, and various foods.

Miles pays for the items and packs them into the saddle bags. Once he is back on the horse and headed back the way he came. As he passes by Seline's and Emil's place he sees Emil exit the woods. Emil pauses as if he was a deer. Miles waves at him and moves on. The rest of the trip is uneventful and full of thoughts of the day before on to this morning.

He climbs off the horse and unpacks the saddle bags. He carries the things into the house. He calls out for Ezra who slinks out of his room. Miles opens the package and hands Ezra the clothes. Ezra looks down at them.

"Put them away. We still have animals to care for." Miles states before taking the food he bought into the kitchen.

Ezra runs off.

Finishing in the kitchen, Miles then heads to Emma's room. He knocks on the door and listens. Hearing nothing he opens the door to see the woman still sleeping. He shuts the door to let her sleep and meets Ezra back at the dining table.

"So, We need to talk. What happened." Miles sits down.

Ezra switches the foot that is holding most of his weight up.

"Sit." Miles gestures to the chair across from him.

He shuffles over to the seat.

"I need you to talk to me," Miles says as an impatient fire burns in his chest.

Ezra gulps and reaches out a hand.