Chapter 23:

Leia POV:

    It has been a solid week since the battle happened, I haven't heard or seen Pythia or well anyone sense then and I had been going out of my mind worrying about everyone, I mean did anyone die? Is anyone  hurt? We all know the chances we take when we get in to fights like that but this was just torture. "You are going to create your own path if you don't stop pacing." Una said. I stopped and looked around. I had been walking around this little pond everyday. "It helps for now." I replied. I heard her huff but she didn't say anything else. "You need to come eat." Brad said, walking up to me. "I'm not really that hungry." I replied. "You say that every time and then eat like a pig at dinner time." Brad said flatly. I rolled my eyes but he had a point. "I'll be in soon." I replied. "You know they are fine right? Probably just doing some recovery or something." Brad said, making me look at him. "How can you be so sure?" I asked. "Because we are still a part of a pack and they would have notified us. Stop over thinking everything and get your ass inside before I send mom out here." Brad replied, crossing his arms. He was right, if there were any major deaths we would have known by now. 

    I followed him inside and the smell of chicken hit my nose and my stomach started growling. "That's what I thought, little brat." Brad said, ruffling my hair around. I slapped his hand away and sat down at the table. "Smells good mom." I said, smiling at her. "Here are your meds." My dad said. "Thank you dad." I replied. I wanted to try to slowly try to get myself off of them but I was a little nervous. The nightmares started coming back but I took Pythia's advice and started writing them down only to burn them later as a way to just get them out of my head. Una has been really good at talking me through my panic attacks and stops me from having a breakdown. The other day we shifted so she could run and I could have my break down. I keep telling myself that it is healthy, I can't keep it all bottled up but then again I didn't want to make my family think I was having a setback. I had made a list of like a ten step program. Haven't made it past the third one yet but I call it progress. "What do you have planned today?" My mother asked, pulling me out of my thoughts. "I was going to go for a run, try to clear my thoughts a little bit." I replied easily. "Mind if I come with you?" My dad asked, taking me by surprise. "Yeah sure." I replied. 

    It wasn't often that my dad really did anything with us, with helping run the pack he is just usually busy but now things are a little different and it's nice to be able to spend some much needed time with them. As we ate we made small talk while my mind went back to everything else. I couldn't help but worry about everyone, who all was injured, who died and when I would get to see Pythia again. When I finished I cleaned my plate off and put it in the dishwasher. "I'm going to go and change real quick. I'll meet you in the front yard." I said before running up to my room. I put on a tank top and some cover sleeves that I made out of an old long sleeve shirt. Jogging pants and my sneakers, when I went back downstairs I could see my dad stretching in the front yard and I took a deep breath. "Want me to go with you? I know how dad can be sometimes." Brad said standing next to me. "I think I'll be okay, I can't avoid him forever you know." I replied, bumping my shoulder into him. "If it gets to be too much just let me know, I just don't want him to push you too hard or get you to a dark place. I made a promise to Pythia and I intend on keeping it." Brad said in a serious tone.

    I looked at him and smiled, "I know you won't protect me from everything you know." I replied. "I know I can't but I can at least try, until you find your mate. That is then it's his job to keep your ass out of trouble." Brad half laughed. "I doubt I will ever find him Brad, I mean look at me." I replied, holding my arms up. Brad looked before he looked back at me and the next thing I knew he slapped me over the head. "Ow! Asshole what was that for?" I snapped, rubbing the back of my head. "Don't ever talk bad about yourself like that. Scars or no scars you are beautiful and if your mate rejects you because of all of this then I'll kill him. You are so much more than looks, little sister, remember that." Brad replied, hugging me. "You could have said that without hitting me." I mumbled. "Not really, we both know how stubborn you are and sometimes that is the best way to get you to listen. You'll be fine now, go run with dad." Brad replied, pushing me towards the front door. "And think about taking those off your arm!" Brad yelled before I shut the door. I shook my head, he had been helping me with all the creams and he says they are getting better but I don't see the change in them. "Be patient, they will in time." Una reminded me quickly and I smiled to myself. "Ready to go kiddo?" My dad said pulling me out of my thoughts.

    He looked like we were about to run in a track meet or something. I stretched out my limbs before I nodded. My dad wasn't one much for words but his presence alone made me feel a little better. We ran along the trail at a steady pace for a while until we came to an opening that overlooked everything. "Let's take a break." My dad said, trying to catch his breath. I placed my hands on my hips and looked out over everything. It really was beautiful, the mountains out here were to die for. One day if I ever retire I would like to be in a place like this, peaceful and calm. "How have you been doing?" My dad asked standing back up. "Better than I was i guess." I replied. "Don't lie to me, I'm your dad I know things." My dad said flatly. "Alright, I'm taking Pythias advice step by step. Writing down the things that haunt me. Brad is helping me drawl up faces for a memorial type thing to see if maybe it helps with the nightmares." I replied. I didn't want my dad to know everything, I don't think he would be able to handle it all that well and if I could save him from those images then that is what I planned to do. "That is a good idea as long as you think it is helping." My dad said with a smile. "Time will tell pops, I'm just now starting it and with the stuff Pythia gave me I think it will eventually start to help." I replied. 

    That was pure honesty and I meant every word of it. "I heard the small convo with your brother. You know he is right." My dad said, giving me a look I knew all too well. "Dad.. Please don't." I whispered. "No, your brother is correct. You'll find your mate don't you worry, he won't stop to think of all your scars that you think are so ugly, instead he will see them as a strength and if he turns you away I think I'll join your brother in killing him." My dad said with a smile. "What if he is a she?" I asked. "Well then my statement stands, either she accepts you for the awesomely badass you are or we kill her." My dad replied, making me laugh. "Thanks dad, glad to know you guys would do that for me." I said. "Of course we would, although if it is a she I think your mother would want first in line for it and we won't stand in that woman's way. She is like a bull, a very very angry bull." My dad said laughing. "Now take those things off, you have nothing to be ashamed of. We spoke with Pythia. It was something no one has ever survived before, it's a lot for the body to take but here you stand." My dad said gently. "I just don't want to upset you or mom, I know how you guys get." I replied. 

    "You don't have to worry about upsetting us. We don't see it as a flaw, sweetheart." My dad said. "I know, I guess i'm not done kicking myself in the pants about it." I replied. "Well don't do it much longer. You don't want to be stuck in that mindset forever. I'm glad you let me come run with you, it's been nice reconnecting with you. I feel like I lost a lot of time with you both while growing up." My dad said. "You did the best you could and that was all we wanted. To feel loved and to see you. We had a really good life and dad don't feel guilty for taking care of us." I replied with a smile. "Thanks kiddo. Now let me see." My dad said, looking at my sleeves. I looked down at them and took a deep breath before I slowly peeled them off of my arms. My dad reached out and lifted them and looked at them closely. "Pretty ugly right." I said with a forced laugh. "Ugly no. Are they supposed to be this red?" My dad asked. "No, it's just because I had them covered while I was running, it'll go back to normal after I shower and stuff." I replied, shrugging my shoulders. "Promise me you'll stop covering up like this. Let them breathe more, maybe it will help heal them faster I don't know. Or what about a doctor of sorts?" My dad asked. "I don't want to see a doctor, Pythia gave me what I needed but I'll stop covering but if mom cries once they get covered up again." I replied with a smile.

    He had a point, they needed to heal naturally and I'm sure all the sweat and dirt from me covering them isn't helping them. "Alright deal, let's get back." My dad said, patting me on the shoulder. He didn't even wait for me to reply before he ran off and I followed. That conversation went a lot better than I had originally thought it would but it was nice and I think deep down I needed it.