Kestral was unable to climb back into her house, so chose to go to the forge instead, where her father and brothers were. Her father was clearly surprised to see her but said nothing about the small bundle in her arms, and at her mute appeal nodded.
"Just go back to your bedroom," he said to her gently.
On entering her house, she was scolded by her mother, who tried to tell her to leave the small wolf outside, but as she had her father's permission, she ignored this, heading to the fridge for more milk and then her room to make a small bed for the cub in the corner of the room. the little cub didn't seem to like this idea and whined and cried when she parted from it, so she sat beside it, letting it climb upon her knee.
She let her head rest back on the wall, her eyes closed as the throbbing in her head increased, but she could not stop her mind thinking. It replayed the blurry image, the goose bumps ran through her as she'd looked at him.
She shook her head, trying to dislodge the thought.
She didn't leave the house for the next 5 days, for her mother was in a foul spirit with her and Kestral didn't want to pay her father back with such. She sat indoors with the wolf, who seemed to have rather taken with her, following her around. Her mother had told her off when she had allowed it to follow her downstairs, but it made such a racket when shut in her room, that her mother conceded.
Still, being at home was hard. She sat by the window of her room, staring out across at Jube's house, sometimes trying to spot him, sometimes watching for Pepper and his gang, but true to his word, and probably still frightened of Jube, Pepper didn't venture near and was mostly alone, kept working hard.
But her troubles were not over.
She'd sent Jube a note, by way of Robin. It only consisted in him knowing she was fine but trying not to vex her parents. It was hard not seeing him, but as well whilst she tried to sort herself out.
The bandage was removed but the stitches were still clear across her head. She admired them in the mirror, for she rather liked the mark across her forehead. It was distinctly different, for her sisters bore scars.
She had gone downstairs on the 5th day evening, for the purpose of fetching the wolf cub some meat to try, when she overheard her name through the kitchen door. She knew it was bad to listen at doors, but they were speaking about her and therefore she decided she had the right to listen.
".....I'm just so worried," her mother was saying. "She hangs around with that boy and then came back, after falling out of a tree, looking like a sheet. Now she has that thing following her about. She wouldn't be able to do so if she were married. She'd have no time for such things, for a husband would keep her in check. Her father indulges her too much."
Kes held her breath. Her mother had not mentioned her intentions again since the day she had ran into the forest, and Kes had the vain hope that she might have given up the scheme, but this reawakened her fears.
She recognized the voice of her second eldest sister, which meant her eldest would be there too.
"But who in the village would want to marry her?" said Sparrow, with teasing disdain in her voice. "She is wild and not delicate. She is hot tempered and loud. No man could want such a wife."
Her eldest sister chastised her, saying that Kestral was a sweet girl who only wanted to focus her passion and caring on a subject. Her mother said that she dearly hoped this was so.
"For," she said, "we cannot keep her forever and sooner or later she will need to make her own way."
There was consent with her sisters, which made Kestral roll her eyes, but she didn't move.
"I received an offer for her hand," said her mother, which was obviously a surprise to her sisters who gasped and called for more details. Kestral remained frozen on the spot, the cub by her feet sat patiently waiting. When the words came, they sped Kestral's feet.
The note found by Robin, when going to check on her but unable to find her, made him puzzled, then panicked. There was a note inside his for Jube, which he paused only long enough to relay to his father, then handed the note to Starling and headed out into the forest to look for her.
Starling, confused but obedient, took the sealed letter to Jube's mother and asked her to pass it on, before hurrying back.
Had Robin thought to read the note which was for Jube, perhaps he would have known her destination, but she had left nothing in the note but a farewell.
The note to Jube was in shaky writing, for she had been unable to prevent herself when writing this.
Jube,
I'm sorry, but I could not wait. I could not come to you and risk being seen. My mother plans to marry me to Pepper.
I have taken some money and my wolf cub and headed North. There is an inn 2 days travel called The Lord's Tavern, which is where I plan to make my way to, and from there decide the next part of my journey.
I am sorry I could not come to you before I left, but I need to be as far away as possible before they realize I'm gone.
Do not fear for me, my friend. Your mother and father will need you and I could not cause them pain, but nor could I not tell you my destination.
Please tell no one of where I have gone. I don't intend to be brought home.
Kes.
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