Frustrated

Luna's Pov

My ears must have grown beet red with the amount of blood that rushed to my face from the embarrassment of being caught spying. I had turned my back on them to take in more of the environment and now, I couldn't bring myself to come face to face with him again. What would I tell him? I had sneaked after them to avoid dying from staring at my room walls all day and night? They were going to have me hanged without a doubt.

"Luna, it is you!" He repeated like I hadn't beaten myself up enough and I desperately wished the ground would open up to swallow me whole. I imagined the two men glaring at me with hatred and felt the blood pounding in my ears.

I jerked when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned around slowly wishing that I could just turn invisible.

"What are you doing out here this late at night?" He questioned and I noticed with relief that he did not have a resentful look in his eyes.

"I don't know. I just stumbled here, I guess." I tried to sound uninvolved but the loud pitch of my voice totally showed that off as a lie.

"Of course." He muttered, his eyes lighting up. "You must have been bored to death in that room. I am sorry that we are such bad hosts." He flashed his toothy grin. "How about you come join us? Sleep is not showing any interest in us either." He started to pull me toward the open space in the center of the field where Ulo still had his back turned.

"But," I muttered, refusing to go along with him as I cast desperate looks at the spot where Ulo sat.

He frowned then relaxed when he noticed what was wrong. "You don't need to be so uncomfortable around them. They don't bite."

Of course, I knew they did not bite but I hated feeling like a third wheel which would definitely be what I would be, showing up in the middle of the night. Jamil did not leave me a choice though as he led me to their resting spot and made me sit in between himself and Ulo.

"Hey, Ulo, meet Luna!" I glanced at Jamil and he winked. We had met before of course but we might have as well been meeting for the first time because we had never had a conversation of any sort before.

Ulo looked me over coldly. "I've met her before." He muttered disinterestedly as he returned to lying on the grass.

"Come on, Ulo, don't be such a sourpuss. It wouldn't hurt to say hi." Jamil pushed.

"Hi!" He barked without sparing me as much as a glance.

I turned a miserable eye toward Jamil silently telling him to let me go. It was obvious that I was not welcome here so I had better leave before I made myself more hateful. Jamil though was not having any of that as he reached over and thumped him on the shoulder. "Didn't you take any lessons in hospitality? Get up and be nice."

Ulo sat up so fast I was startled into pulling back. He fixed his eyes on me and snarled, baring his teeth. "Be nice to who? Her? You really want me to be nice to this girl who has brought nothing but misfortune ever since her arrival in this pack?" His voice was heavy with hatred.

"Ulo!" Jamil called in disbelief. "Not you too. Come on!" He sighed in exasperation.

"I am not like you, Jamil. You may able to see the good in everyone but I cannot. Ever since she arrived here, she has brought nothing but misfortune. First, Indrik and now, B..." He caught himself mid-sentence, his face flushed like he had been about to give much more information than he was supposed to. He pursed his lips,. looking at me with disdain before rising to his feet and walking away from us.

"Come on, Ulo!" Jamil groaned as he went after him. He paused then continued when he got no reply. "You weren't like this before. This is about tonight, isn't it?" Ulo still did not reply as he walked even farther away.

My nose burned even more as I rose to my feet, the ground suddenly seeming to grow so hot that I could not afford to remain on it. I turned and started to make for the palace. Me coming here was proving to be more and more of a bad decision.

"Hey, I'm sorry about that. Tonight has just been.... overwhelming, for all of us. I hope you don't hold that against him." Jamil said as he caught up to me.

I sniffled. "He is right, you know? I only bring bad luck wherever I go to. You should probably stay away from me before I bring you trouble as well." I blurted, my voice sounding alien to my ears.

"Now, now, Luna. Don't be ridiculous. None of the things that are happening here is your fault. They just need someone to take out their anger on Don't worry. I'm sure they will all come around once Indrik is freed." He reassured.

"Of course they will." I muttered, the words coming out as empty as they felt. "I am sorry for snooping on you guys. It won't be happening again. You can go back now before you lose another friend thanks to me."

"Luna!"

"Just go!"

"Fine! I will see you to the quarters so the guards don't give you any trouble."

We walked for a long while in silence. The guards raised an eyebrow but did not raise an alarm thankfully.

"You hate me too, don't you? Everybody does." I asked mournfully at my door. Ulo's words had hit too close to home making me feel rather sore.

"What?" He spat. "I don't hate you and believe me, no one in their right mind would. You are a sweet lady I am glad to have known. Besides, Indrik wouldn't have brought you home if you weren't, don't you think?"

I wouldn't be so sure but his words soothed me enough to make me smile as I bid him a goodnight. This time, sleep did not elude me.