*** Warning: Blood ***

Bella

I wipe the blood from my arm with a damp cloth, wincing as I pass over a tender spot. The wound is mostly healed, but the skin is still pink and fragile. I wash away the last of the blood and rinse the cloth out. Sitting on my knees I breathe heavily from the exertion. I close my eyes and let out a steadying breath.

I hear the door open and close behind me. "How are you feeling this morning?" Sarah asks quietly, "You passed out as soon as you laid down last night."

"Healing that quickly takes a lot out of a person. My body shut down extra things like consciousness so I could repair the damage." I explain as I wring out the dirty cloth again.

She sets my bag down next to me and kneels with me, "Will you be all right?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine. I've had far worse than a single arrow wound from a misguided boy." I look at her, "You have something else to say."

She looks away, "Thank you." She looks back, "Not only for helping us, but for saving Troy last night. I know, given how angry you were, that it wasn't entirely because you wanted to. But I appreciate it."

I sigh, "Whether I'm angry with him or not, I wouldn't let anyone die when I have the power to intervene." I rub my shoulder, "I wouldn't let Troy hurt the Hound, but I also wouldn't let the Hound hurt Troy."

"That's a very kind thing to do."

We sit there in silence for a long while. Eventually she says, "Carrie made oatmeal, there's fresh milk and some dried nuts to go in it. Will that be enough to help you recover?"

I nod, "That'll be great. Let me get dressed and I'll be right in."

"All right." She stands up and leaves me.

I struggle into my spare set of clothes, trying to decide what to do with the ruined ones. I shrug and stuff them in my bag, I'll find a use for them. I get up and go inside.

Carrie is waiting with a large bowl of oatmeal. Sally is seated at the table with a bowl of her own. "Bella!" the child cries happily as I sit down.

I smile, "Good morning Sally. How did you sleep?"

She grins, "I sleeped good."

"Good," I add a bit of milk and nuts to the oatmeal. I nod at Carrie, "Thank you."

She smiles back before concern clouds her features, "Do you think you'll be able to get the, um, Hound? Taken care of tonight? Or do you need more rest."

"I should be able to go tonight." I smile slightly, "But I'll decide a bit later. I'm going to keep resting and eating."