Chapter 44

Anna bounded into the bathroom and gave Amaris a big hug. Amaris was so relieved and happy to see her that she nearly crushed her with the hug that she gave her. “Your alive and safe!” Anna gushed as she pulled back from Amaris. “Why didn’t you message me?” Amaris looked at Anna funny “What do you mean? I was washed away by the river. I don’t even have a clue where my phone is.” Shaking her head no, Anna raised her hand and pointed to her head “You know, the telepathy thing. It came in handy before I figured you would be able to use it again.” Amaris stood still not sure what to say. She had not even thought about it after that moment of panic in the river. “I’m sorry, I was so caught up in trying to get untangled and get out of the river before I drowned that I did not even think to link you back and let you know that I was safe. Once Marco got me out we headed here as fast as we could.  We were trying to avoid anyone else out in the woods. I guess I was too focused on trying to listen for any sign of the others. Are all of you okay?” Amaris said with concern as they walk out of the bathroom and back into the computer control room. Amaris found the small room very crowded as they all tried to fit into the already over full room. Anna’s mother and father had taken seats at computer stations and Lyle and Marco had taken a row of monitors and keyboards off of a table to be able to place Gran on it. “The gang’s all here!” Anna says waving an arm toward the room. Anna’s mother got up and walked over to hug Amaris. She stepped back and brushed her still damp hair out of her face. “Are you okay? You scared us half to death.”  Anna’s mother looked down at Amaris. “You must be freezing. You are soaking wet. Although it is quite warm in here with all the computers. Let me at least get you something dry to wear. I think I grabbed a couple more jumpsuits when we were packing up to leave the tunnels.  Our back packs stayed dry so they should be dry.” Anna’s mom picked up the backpack that she left by the door and started rummaging through it. She grabed a jumpsuit and handed it to Amaris who walked back into the bathroom to change. While she was in there she heard raised voices involved in conversation.  AMaris changed out of the wet jump suit that was sticking to her skin and put on the dry one.  She began to feel warmer immediately.  She draped the wet jump suit over the shower curtain bar and used the towel from the rack to dry her hair.  When Amaris walked out Marco and Lyle were now huddled in the corner looking at a computer monitor, while Anna and both of her parents were on work stations typing away furiously.  Amaris watched each of them work at their stations.  She had no idea what they were all doing, but it was clear that they each had an assigned job.  She looked over at each monitor and saw maps and pictures, and well as what looked like grainy surveillance footage.  Marco and Lyle had their heads bent together looking at this monitor.  It seemed to be footage from the village.  They were clearly looking for something.  Amaris did not know what she needed to be doing right now and since no one was paying attention to her she thought that she would just take some time to sit and think.  She had a lot to think about.  So much had happened in just a few days.  She looked aound the small room.  With everyone sitting at the available computer stations there were no seats left except by Gran.

Amaris walked over to Gran who was still unconscious. She pulled out a chair and sat next to her. She took Gran’s hand in hers. It was so cold. Amaris looked for something around her to put over her. She looked up to see if there was anything that she could use.  Lyle had walked up to stand beside her with a jacket in hand. She locked eyes with him. This was the first time that she had looked him in the eye since the river. “I thought that you might want something warmer and dry for her. She got wet too when we had to escape the river.” Lyle said with an almost shy glance. Amaris took the jacket and draped it over Gran’s prone form. “Thank you.” She reached down and grabbed Lyle’s hand with a squeeze. Lyle looked like he was being subdued and cautious still.  Amaris stood and gave him a hug. It was only then that Lyle seemed to relax. He hugged her back in a tight embrace.  Wrapping his arms around her he whispered into her hair “I thought I lost you there. If it were not for Gran telling me that you were okay and that I should meet you at this cabin, I think that I would have lost it right there. Without a mate bond I did not know if you were ok.”  He placed a small kiss on the top of her head.  Lyle stepped back and looked down embarrassed.  He suddenly seemed to want to move away from her. Amaris was not sure why but something told her that she needed to reach out and take his hand and give him the reassurance that he needed. “I’m okay. We are all okay. You and I need to get through this first and then we can see where we go from there.” Lyle nodded his head, but still did not seem cheered up.

Marco cleared his throat from behind Lyle. “I think I found something that we can use.”.