Chapter 220: We Are Back
Even though Amanda was still worried about Thomas and Mary, seeing everyone’s smiling faces, she tried her best to join in the fleeting joy.
She knew that no matter what happened, they were a team and would face everything together.
Outside the cave, Thomas and Mary watched quietly, their hearts filled with warmth and emotion.
They knew they couldn’t let everyone worry any longer. It was time to enter the cave and reunite with the group.
Thomas and Mary exchanged a glance, their eyes reflecting a mix of emotions.
There was the anticipation of a long-awaited reunion, but also a hint of nervousness about facing everyone inside.
Taking a deep breath, they straightened their slightly disheveled clothes and walked into the cave, one after the other.
With a teasing smile, Thomas said, “I think I heard someone missed us. Who’s been thinking about us so much?”
As he spoke, his gaze landed directly on Amanda, filled with tenderness and apology, as if conveying the longing and guilt of the past days.
Amanda, who had been mechanically eating lamb, froze at the familiar voice, the piece of lamb slipping from her hand.
She looked up, her eyes full of disbelief. The moment her gaze met Thomas’s, tears welled up uncontrollably.
She had just been thinking about Thomas, and now he was here. Was she dreaming? But it was clearly Thomas and Mary standing there.
Ignoring everything around her, she dropped the lamb and rushed to Thomas, hugging him tightly.
She wanted to pour all her worry and longing into that embrace. “Is it really you? You’re finally back.”
“You’re finally back! I was so worried! I thought about you every day, every moment, hoping you’d return safely.”
Amanda’s voice trembled with emotion, and after speaking, she stood on tiptoe, embracing Thomas in a deep, lingering kiss, unwilling to let go.
The kiss was filled with deep affection and longing, confirming that Thomas was truly back by her side.
Thomas smiled and said, “Alright, don’t cry. You don’t look good when you cry. We’re back now.”
Mary stood aside, feeling a mix of emotions as she watched the scene.
She gave Thomas a playful look, memories of the time she had kissed him on the cheek flashing in her mind.
She wondered how Amanda would feel if she knew about that.
But she quickly pushed those thoughts aside, knowing that the joy of reuniting with everyone was what mattered most now.
Sita ran over excitedly, her eyes sparkling with joy.
She hugged Mary’s waist and said, “Mary, I knew you’d be okay! You’re finally back. I missed you so much!”
Mary laughed at Sita’s enthusiasm, gently stroking her head with a warm smile. “Alright, I’m back now, aren’t I?”
She then walked to an empty spot and sat down, the aroma of the lamb making her stomach growl.
No longer holding back, she began eating heartily. After all, they had been roughing it out, barely having a decent meal while adapting to the power of the Deer Fruit.
Amanda lifted her head from Thomas’s embrace, her eyes full of concern as she looked at him. “Thomas, what happened to you two?”
“Why did it take so long for you to come back? I was so worried.” Her voice carried a hint of reproach, but it was mostly concern for Thomas.
Seeing Amanda’s swollen eyes and tired face, Thomas felt a pang of heartache.
He gently stroked her hair and said, “Don’t worry. Let’s eat first, and I’ll tell you everything later.”
He knew everyone needed to calm down and regain their strength first. The thrilling experiences could be shared later.
Amanda, though curious, nodded obediently.
She quickly left the cave and soon returned with a large pot of steaming lamb soup.
The aroma filled the cave, making everyone’s mouth water.
Amanda placed the pot in the center of the table and sat next to Thomas.
She picked up a bowl, filled it with soup, and handed it to Thomas with a look of tenderness and care. “You must be starving. Have some soup to warm up.”
Thomas took the bowl, blew on it gently, and took a sip. The delicious taste spread through his mouth, filling him with warmth and satisfaction.
Anna and Helen put down their utensils and gathered around.
Anna smiled at Thomas and Mary. “You’re finally back. We were so worried these past days. It’s so good to see you safe and sound!”
Her eyes sparkled with genuine joy for her friends’ return.
Helen chimed in, “Yeah, we felt so empty without you. Now that you’re back, don’t leave us again.”
Her words carried a hint of playful affection but were filled with deep friendship.
Everyone chatted as they ate, their eyes occasionally showing their concern for Thomas and Mary.
The meal was filled with laughter and joy, each person’s heart brimming with warmth and happiness. Mary was the happiest, along with George.
Amanda looked at Thomas and Mary with a mix of anticipation and worry, her eyes full of questions.
She asked eagerly, “What happened to you these past days? Why did it take so long for you to come back?”
Thomas gently put down his bowl, cleared his throat, and began to recount their thrilling adventure.
“After we entered the narrow cave, it felt like stepping into a mysterious, unknown world. Inside, we found a bunch of Deer Fruits, glowing with this strange light, like they were holding endless secrets. We decided to pick some to bring back. But as we were picking, danger struck. A hidden venomous snake attacked us out of nowhere. Mary got bitten, and the venom spread through her body fast. Her face turned pale, and she was hanging by a thread. The situation was dire, and I was almost out of options.”
Amanda listened intently, her face full of worry when she heard about Mary’s poisoning. She quickly asked, “Mary, it must have been so painful. How did you survive?”
She glanced at Thomas, her eyes showing anxiety, wondering if he was hurt too. The others also looked at Mary, curious about how she survived such a severe snake bite and seemed so healthy now.
Mary waved her hand with a smile. “I really thought I wouldn’t make it. The venom was eating away at me, and I started losing consciousness. But Thomas, he didn’t give up. He remembered something about the Deer Fruit having healing properties. He crushed some of the fruit and applied it to the bite. It was a gamble, but it worked. The venom started to lose its grip, and I slowly came back. It was touch and go for a while, but we made it.”
Amanda’s eyes filled with tears again, but this time they were tears of relief. “Thank goodness you’re okay. I don’t know what we would’ve done without you.”
Thomas smiled, his eyes meeting Amanda’s. “We’re back now, and that’s what matters. We’re a team, and we’ll face whatever comes next together.”
The group continued to eat, the warmth of their reunion filling the cave. The laughter and chatter echoed off the walls, a stark contrast to the tension and worry that had filled the space just moments before.