Ava was silent during the ride to her mother's cabin, unsure of what to say to Andreios. Did she tell him about the worries that continued to plague her, or come up with something else to talk about? In the end, she didn't say anything to him, but once again pretended to be useless in dismounting her horse, just to have him hold onto her sides to help her down. Ava may be cooperating with him to keep him safe, but that didn't mean she was going to stop edging closer to Andreios.
"Thank you," Ava told her body guard with a gentle smile, "I don't know what I would do with out you, Ma-... Andreios. Please, come inside after the horses have been secured."
Ava gave Andreios a nod & a lingering squeeze of the hand before she went inside to meet her mother. It was quiet in the cabin as Ava searched for her mother, confused as to why she wasn't awake already & drinking her morning tea. Finally, Ava reached the bedroom, gently knocking on the door. There was no response, & fear trickled into Ava's mind before she swung open the door, seeing her mother laid in bed, pale & lifeless. Ava shrieked & ran to Ingrid's side, gently shaking her; she still had a pulse, but Ava could tell she was fading.
"Mama, please," she whined, gently trying to pat her cheek & wake her, "Mama, wake up. What happened to you??"