You’re okay

I woke up feeling as if I had been hit by a carriage. Every muscle in my body ached, and my head felt like it was stuffed with cotton.

Blinking against the morning light filtering through the window, I tried to stretch, only to realize that I was pinned down by something or rather, several somethings.

My eyes slowly adjusted, and I found myself surrounded by a tangle of small limbs. The children had sprawled across my bed, their warm little bodies pressing against me like a blanket of puppies.

I could see Nia's dark curls nestled against my shoulder, and Timo's leg was draped across my stomach. Ryn was snuggled up at my feet, his thumb stuck in his mouth as he slept peacefully.

For a moment, I just lay there, too tired to move, too amused to want to. The room was filled with the soft sounds of their breathing, a gentle rise and fall that was oddly comforting.

But I knew I couldn't stay here all day, no matter how sweet the scene was. I had to get up, get moving, and shake off this lingering exhaustion.

I shifted slightly, trying to free my arm from under Nia's head, but she stirred and let out a small whimper. Immediately, Timo's eyes shot open, wide and filled with a mixture of sleepiness and concern. When he saw me moving, his face lit up with relief.

"Alyndra!" he whispered loudly, as if afraid to disturb the others. "You're awake!"

At his voice, the other children began to wake up too, their sleepy eyes focusing on me. Nia clung to my arm even tighter, and Ryn let out a small cry as if realizing I might leave the bed.

"I'm awake," I said softly, giving them a tired smile. "Good morning, everyone."

"You've been asleep for two days," Nia said, her voice small and quivering as if she might cry. "We thought… we thought you weren't going to wake up."

Her words tugged at my heart, and I reached out to stroke her hair gently. "I'm okay, Nia. I just needed some rest. I'm not going anywhere."

She nodded, but I could see the worry lingering in her eyes. The other children seemed to share the sentiment, as they clung to me even more tightly, refusing to let go.

"I really need to take a shower," I told them with a chuckle, trying to sit up despite the clinging limbs. "I must smell awful by now."

"No!" Timo protested, wrapping his arms around my waist. "Don't go!"

"I promise I'll be quick," I said, giving him a reassuring pat on the back. "I'll be right back, and then we can spend the whole day together. How does that sound?"

They didn't seem entirely convinced, but after a bit of coaxing, they finally relented, albeit reluctantly. I managed to extricate myself from the bed, feeling like I was shaking off a pile of fluffy blankets.

As I made my way to the bathroom, I couldn't help but smile at their worried little faces peeking out from the doorway. They were clearly determined to keep an eye on me, and it was both heartwarming and a little exasperating.

The shower was exactly what I needed. The hot water cascaded over my tired muscles, soothing the aches and washing away the grime from my skin.

I let out a long sigh of relief, leaning against the cool tiles as the steam enveloped me. It was a small moment of peace, a chance to gather my thoughts and center myself.

But it didn't last long. I could hear the children whispering outside the door, their voices carrying through the wooden panels.

"Is she okay?"

"Maybe she's taking too long."

"What if she falls asleep in there?"

I couldn't help but laugh, the sound echoing off the bathroom walls. They were impossible.

After finishing my shower, I quickly dressed in the bathroom, pulling on a simple tunic and trousers that allowed for easy movement. I braided my hair, fingers working quickly through the familiar motions, before tying it off with a strip of cloth.

I wasn't in the mood for anything fancy today just something practical and comfortable.

When I opened the bathroom door, I barely had time to brace myself before the children tackled me, their small arms wrapping around my legs and waist as they babbled excitedly.

"You're okay! You're really okay!"

"I told you she was fine!"

I laughed again, ruffling Timo's hair as I tried to walk with the children clinging to me like burrs. "Alright, alright, I'm fine! But I'm going to need a bit of space if we're going to get anything done today."

They didn't seem to care, though, and I quickly realized that shaking them off was going to be a losing battle. They followed me into the kitchen, their tiny hands clutching at my clothes, and I was barely able to maneuver with them all attached to me.

By the time we reached the dining table, the others had already set out lunch apparently, I had slept through breakfast entirely.

My stomach rumbled in response to the sight of the food, and I tried to sit down, but the children's constant clinging made it nearly impossible.

"Alright, everyone," I said with a mock-serious tone. "If you want me to eat, you'll have to let me go."

They giggled but refused to release me, so I tried another tactic, wiggling my fingers and pretending to tickle them. That did the trick squeals of laughter filled the room as they finally let go, scurrying away from my tickling hands.

Relieved to have my limbs back, I sat down and began eating, though the children remained close, occasionally poking me to make sure I was still there. The room buzzed with their chatter and laughter, and despite my lingering tiredness, I couldn't help but smile at their energy.

But after a while, I started to feel the weight of their constant attention. As much as I loved them, I needed a moment to myself, a chance to breathe without tiny hands grabbing at me every few seconds.

"Elara!" I called out, spotting her through the open doorway as she walked past. "A little help, please?"

Elara appeared in the doorway, raising an eyebrow at the sight of me surrounded by the children. A smirk tugged at the corners of her lips as she crossed her arms, clearly amused by my predicament.

"Having trouble, are we?" she teased, though there was warmth in her voice.

"You could say that," I replied, giving her a pleading look. "A little rescue mission wouldn't go amiss."

Elara laughed softly, but she obliged, calling the children over to her with the promise of a game outside. They hesitated, clearly torn between staying with me and the allure of a new game, but eventually, they relented and scampered off to follow Elara.

Once they were gone, I let out a long breath, sinking back into my chair. It was peaceful, if only for a moment.

Elara returned, her expression softer as she sat down across from me. "They really were worried about you," she said, her tone more serious now. "We all were."

"I know," I admitted, feeling a pang of guilt for causing them so much worry. "I didn't mean to scare them. Or you."

"You've made a lot of progress," Elara continued, her eyes meeting mine. "But it's clear you're still pushing yourself too hard. You need to be careful, Alyndra."

I nodded, knowing she was right. The fight with the bear had taken more out of me than I'd realized. "I will be," I promised. "I'll take it slower from now on."

Elara studied me for a moment before she nodded in return. "Good. Because tomorrow, we're going to have our rematch."

My eyes widened in surprise, and a mixture of excitement and nerves fluttered in my chest. "Really? Tomorrow?"

She smiled, a hint of challenge in her gaze. "Yes. But don't think I'm going to go easy on you. You'll need to be at your best."

I couldn't help but grin, feeling a spark of determination ignite within me. "I wouldn't expect anything less."

Elara stood up, brushing imaginary dust from her clothes. "Then rest up today, and be ready for tomorrow. It's time to see just how far you've come."

As she walked away, leaving me alone with my thoughts, I felt a renewed sense of purpose.