They both stood there with fear and shock written across their faces.
There's someone in our home.
Umm, Naomi. Eve's voice came out cracked at the edges. I don't know if I feel safe about this. Let's just leave him and move.
I think he's breathing. Naomi stepped closer. Oh his white hair is covered in blood — wait, he's bleeding.
She turned back.
Eve. I think we need to heal him. We can't just let him die.
I don't know. What if this is a trap. What if he's not like us. Eve muttered, eyes moving around the room. I feel like this is just trouble.
Well at least let us not let him die. Come back here—
She said it too loud. The parrot startled off the beam and flew out of the home in a flurry of wings.
Naomi walked closer to the body anyway. She bent to her knees and started healing.
Eve moved to the entrance to keep watch. In the state of healing someone Naomi wouldn't be able to move. Couldn't protect herself. So Eve stood there with the eye of someone who had learned to scan everything at once.
The forest was quiet.
Then behind her Naomi fell.
She hit the ground hard, skin scraping against the floor, blood finding its way out like it was looking for an escape. Eve turned and the fear that crossed her face was the kind that didn't belong there. The kind that looked wrong on her. Like it had never been given permission to exist and now it was stuck.
Naomi. Naomi—
She rushed in. Dropped to her knees. Naomi wasn't moving.
Eve took off her gloves.
She started hitting Naomi's chest. Not carefully. Just hitting. Screaming wake up, God dammit, with tears running down her face like a tap with a broken head that couldn't stop leaking no matter how hard you tried to close it.
Five minutes.
Nothing.
Eve stopped. She lay down on the floor next to her sister. The room was quiet again. When she finally spoke it was barely anything at all.
I wish it was me.
She tried again anyway. Out of sheer heartbreak. Out of having nothing left but the trying.
A glow moved through Naomi's body.
Naomi woke up gasping. Blood was coming from Eve's foot where a toe used to be. Eve's shirt was soaked through with tears she hadn't bothered to wipe away.
What happened. Naomi looked around confused. Eve, what happened.
I remember healing him and after I felt like my insides got cut.
Eve—
You died. It came out like a light scream. I knew this stranger was bad news.
Behind them the stranger stirred. He woke up slowly, covered in his own blood, eyes moving around the room like he was checking how many people were there. Then he found Eve's eyes.
He found the look of someone who wanted to kill him.
Who are you, one of the sisters said.
Talk, Eve followed, before I make you bleed again.
He grabbed his own face slightly. Fear in his hands.
I'm so sorry for coming here. I was cut by a hunter and I was looking for somewhere to hide. I found this place — the only reason they didn't come here was because they found another one. Please don't kill me.
Both sisters spoke at the same time.
Kill you. Why would we kill you.
They said it like the idea disgusted them.
You still haven't told us your name.
Sorry. He steadied himself. I go by Soren.
From which clan, Eve said. Her cheeks still had the dried tracks of tears on them.
I don't know. I was raised in the forest by an old man who found me and took care of me. I don't know my clan.
Why did you think we would kill you, Naomi asked.
Sorry. I just thought you were not— He stopped. Since I didn't see any...
Well we do. Eve's voice was flat. And get this straight — we aren't hunters. If we were we would have let you die. We wouldn't have healed you.
Naomi had finally gotten a proper look at Eve's foot.
What happened, Eve—
She was already moving toward her. Already healing. Already muttering.
Why didn't you tell me this earlier. You are always keeping things away from me. Always— She stood up. Stopped talking. Done. That's looking better.
Soren stared at them both with shock drawn across his face.
You're healers.
I thought I said you should leave, Eve replied.
Please. He didn't move. I have no place to stay. I'm being hunted and I don't know where to go. Let me stay here for a little while. I promise I'll help any way I can. I won't cause trouble.
Even if I wanted to, Eve said, we don't have enough food or space or anything to spare. So I don't see the point of you staying.
Please.
A long pause.
You can sleep in the front. Good night.
She went to bed.
---
Naomi walked him to the door. The floor kept creaking under their feet, still covered in dried blood from earlier.
Sorry. She said it quietly. My sister can be an anger box. Good night.
She closed the door.
Soren stood outside in the dark.
He wanted to say thank you but the word didn't come out. He stood there for a moment with too much curiosity about them sitting in his chest and nowhere to put it. Then he did what he always did when there was nothing else to do and no sleep coming.
He went to the river.
---
By the time dawn was cracking through the trees he had caught more fish than two people could eat in months. Enough to sell at the market and still have plenty left. He came back to the cabin drenched in river water and fish smell, the catch laid out in front of him.
Eve woke up to the smell before she was fully conscious. She came outside and stopped.
She just looked at it.
Did you sleep at all. The words came out before anything else. Or do you talk to fish. How did you catch this much. This is food for at least three months.
It's a long story, Soren said. My papa — the man who took care of me — he was a fisherman. I learnt a few things from him. He paused. I just wanted to appreciate you. For healing me. For letting me stay.
Inside the cabin something stirred.
What are you guys talking about.
Naomi appeared in the doorway mid yawn, took one look at the fish, and woke up completely.
Wait. She came outside. Did you guys catch all of this. This is so much — we have to sell some. Maybe we can finally eat something that isn't fish or bread.
Soren did, Eve said.
You did this. Naomi looked at him. This is amazing.
Yeah. Eve was already turning to go back inside. Maybe you have more use than killing my sister.
---
Naomi stayed outside with him.
Sorry about yesterday, she said. Trying to heal you killed me.
Soren's face dropped. The shock was real and immediate. Then something behind Naomi caught his attention and his eyes shifted to a point just over her shoulder. Just for a moment.
How did you catch this much, Naomi continued, watching him with curiosity. Where did you even go. This should have taken hours.
I can't sleep, he said. My father taught me when I was growing up. The river down there — whoever was fishing there before couldn't fish. I saw so much wasted bait.
He stepped toward the door hoping without saying it that he was allowed inside now.
Insomnia, Naomi said. I hate it too.
No. The word came out with something quieter underneath it. I just can't sleep. Ever. Since I was a child. I think it has to do with my ability.
What's your ability.
He thought about it for a moment.
I can see more than most, he said. I guess.
They walked inside.