7. Threat or Not. Lila's Pov

 "Ondine, can you just stop that?" Derek ran to me and pulled me into his broad arms. I grabbed his dress and whimpered while hiding from Ondine.

 I could imagine the sharp, smooth glimmering edge of Online's dagger waving fire that was concentrated at the tip and almost piercing my soul.

 The second shock of the morning since I found myself in this weird forest with weird people and I suddenly felt I needed a break from this dream.

 "Out of the way Derek!" Ondine snarled while staring at me wishing she could just kill me with her look.

 The petit Aurora jumped in front of Ondine, she spread her arms wide and acted as a shield for me.

 "Ondine! We won't finish our mission if you always act rashly like that. Why do you think you have to kill every 'intruder' that comes your way? Some are just innocent." 

 "Innocent you say? Have you forgotten what happened to your brother?" She yelled, still pointing the dagger.

 Orion sighed and arched behind Ondine, giving her a rather subduing hug. She made a tiny high pitched shriek and cursed under her breath. 

 Aurora tried to snatch the dagger but she swerved. Swiped it at Aurora who dodged at the aim and stepped back. Lucas tried to stop her.

 "Ondine!" Derek's called with a raspy voice. 

 Such a rumbling voice like the thunder that my hairs stand on edge. It brought me back to the voice I heard when I opened myself to the forest.

 So it was Derek!

 Ondine shook her head vehemently. "I can't believe you guys. Your kindness will be the end of you!" She pulled away from Lucas and walked angrily off.

 "Are you okay? Can you stand?"

 "Sort of." My hand trembled as I took Derek's hand. Aurora held me by my waist while I got up.

 "So sorry about her. She's a piece of work we all know but she just behaves impulsively when she smells a threat." Aurora said.

 "But I'm not a threat. I'm just a girl looking to go back home. I'm sorry, I'm sorry." My mind had melted like a jelly wax and my voice descended slowly into obvious mutterings.

 "We know…" Lucas chirped in, "tell us where you come from and we will take you back."

 My eyes widen in disbelief. 

 "Can you? I'll be really really grateful." I turned to Derek with my hands clasped.

 "Derek?" Aurora called with unsure eyes. I could feel the uncertainty in her voice.

 I watched Derek hesitate for a moment. He seemed to be weighing the options, the odd or the possibility. I prayed in my heart.

 "What about the work? What about what we're sent to do?"

 "But we can't leave her here stranded and helpless? This place reeks of danger." Said Aurora. 

 Bless her soul, I was glad I could actually hope in someone since I came here.

 "But Ondine is right somehow. We can't forfeit our mission because of someone else. I'll say we give her food and water, and a day's rest, then leave her to continue on our journey." Lucas hand waved as he explained.

 My heart winced at this statement. I barely survive in the street of Tadley not to talk of a forest heavily adorned with trees and grasses and flowers and deadly animals.

 A distant wolf howled again and I shook. Derek's arms gripped me tighter and I allowed myself relaxed underneath. 

 The silence that took over was deafening. 

 Why was nobody saying anything? They couldn't possibly leave me?

 "Well?..." Orion sighed.

 Derek casted one gloomy look at me, then to others. 

 "She can't last a day on her own in this place. She'll stay with us while we figure out where she lives."

 "I live in a small town Tadley. I fell off the cliff." My frustrated hoarse voice rang again.

 "And when she's okay mentally. I think she indeed fell, on her head." Lucas managed to whisper but I heard those rude words and my stare bit into his. The forest breeze wheeze the tuft of hair hanging down his forehead and I could see a ruly face that told me he'd been through a series of unfortunate terrible past.

 But I didn't care at the moment.

 Derek turned to me. 

 "Stay with us for now. We still haven't decided what to do with you around."

 I nodded my head with a groan of appreciation.

 "We can camp here. Orion will fetch us wood, Lucas, you get what we'll eat. I'll keep guard tonight. Aurora will prepare the day's meal. Is that okay?"

 Nobody protested which meant it was a done deal. The team work amazed me.

Derek led me to a bulging rock from the earth and I lowered myself on it. 

 Trees and grass waved at the icy cold breeze that blew past. My bare arm received this jab and I shook again. I was feeling like a burden already and didn't want Derek to see my pitiful self shivering. I clipped my hands to each other and heaved a relieving sigh.

 I watched Orion head into the thick forest to get his own share of work. Aurora picked rocks and dried twigs around to make a small fire, then she went towards her a big bag I hadn't noticed and fished out an old metal pot. A typical pot used centuries ago and I couldn't help but wonder what age was I in.

 Derek marked boundaries and checked the surroundings possibly for any threats or harm and I sat on a smooth, uneven rock observing the unfolding events

 A rumbling behind me and I jumped. Scared like hell, into Derek's chest.

 At that moment, Ondine dropped in like snow and saw us. I heard her scoff as she walked past us.

 "Watch Derek. She knows what she's doing and you can't trust her."

 "Ondine." I called softly hoping I could put a pity font.

 "Listen! You've managed to deceive them with your pretense, but you can't to me. I won't stay still and watch you destroy us and our mission."

 I found it hard to understand what part of me was a threat. Was I really the distraction that would prevent them from getting their work done?

 I simply didn't understand.

 The dizziness came again, this time, with a throbbing headache. Clenched teeth and series of heart palpitations. I was too tired to fight to stay conscious, I dropped freely into Derek again, then darkness.