Chapter 26

'What is wrong with you?" I questioned Mascot myself when I had met him in one of our training sessions. 'Hi, Naomi." He seemed so excited to meet me. 'What's up with you?" I asked again and I could see his countenance change. He had been asked to teach the younger ones since he was much more experienced than them. 'I don't understand what you mean." He gazed at me, mouth agape. 'You do understand me, you don't just want to admit it." I told him, then left. I was really pained when Laura told me about her relationship with Mascot. Who wants to be treated like trash? I was sincerely upset with him and I needed an explanation. According to Laura, he was not the lovey dovey kind of person, but he always showed that he cared. Now, he doesn't even like talking to her, much more sitting with her. Mascot was a great help to me but I don't like the way he handles and treats Laura. Laura had told me that he would pick offense if I mentioned that to him but I knew I had to talk to him about it or things would go wrong. I felt guilty even when I was not the reason for their problems or was I? I had left the training ground and was attending to some people who had visited the clan. I had important roles to play here and I was grateful that the people of this clan gave me this opportunity. I was seated alone when he came to sit with me. 'You're so busy today?" He asked. 'Yes, I am." I didn't say much, I just faced what I was doing. I wanted him to notice that I was upset with me. He stretched out his hands and held mine. He took a close look at it and then smiled. 'You hurt your hands. You need to be careful." I was shocked when he grabbed my hands and made that statement. I was still staring in confusion when one of the elders came to see me. I quickly withdrew my hands from Mascot. 'Good evening, Elder Nathan. Anything I could do for you?" I asked, trying not to stutter. 'Yes." He said slowly and gazed at the both of us before continuing his talk. 'I need some healing ointment for my daughter. She had a bad injury." 'I'll get that for you." I said immediately, got inside and within seconds I was out with the healing ointment. 'This is it." He received it from me while thanking me. 'Thank you, may the moon goddess bless you." He smiled and didn't say anything more. Mascot had put me in a terrible situation and I didn't like it. I was getting more and more uncomfortable with him around me, not just because of gossip and what people would say but also for my peace. 'What was that?" I asked. 'I'm sorry, I grabbed your hands but I was just making sure you didn't hurt yourself." 'Where's Laura?" 'In her chambers, I guess." He shook his shoulders. 'You're not supposed to just be guessing. You should know things like this and be certain about it." 'All this talk just because I held your hands? Is that really a big deal?" He asked, raising his voice. I didn't want him to overthink things, I just wanted him to calm down and understand where I was coming from. 'All I'm saying is that Laura should be your first priority, I know she is but you have to be more romantic." I smiled at him. He smiled back. I hoped he was getting the point I was making. 'You ladies love the word, Romance." He replied. That wasn't the response I was expecting but I believed it was the start of a good conversation. 'Of course, we do. It's our watchword in any relationship." I replied, seeing that he was thinking so much. 'You should do it for Laura, she'll be so glad." I tried to talk as randomly as possible. 'Laura? Why do you always bring her up?" He asked with his eyebrow furrowed. 'Did she put you up to this?" 'What do you mean? Laura can never tell me to do this." I started. 'I just thought it would be nice if you did something romantic for her to assure her your love.." 'I want to talk to you, Naomi." He cut me short. 'Alone.. not here though." I wondered what he wanted to speak about. I prayed it would be about Laura. 'Meet me at the river park by sun fall." He looked up to me, his eyes filled with expectation. 'Okay, I will." I responded and went back to work. My job was to make healing ointment that would help the members of the clan. After I came, I heard that the members of this park were getting sick and no healer could predict what was happening. That was when I remembered how my father taught me how to make healing ointments. The fact that I remembered every step amazed me even when I thought I had forgotten. Maybe this life was actually meant for me. I was done earlier than I thought and since there was much time before I would see Mascot, I decided to go have a bath. Was this too much? I stopped when I thought about it. Laura had complained to me about Mascot and here I was going on a date with him. 'This isn't a date." I cleared my thoughts. 'This is just a friendly outing?" I questioned myself. Whatever Mascot was planning, I just felt bad in my spirit about it. I prayed fervently that Laura wouldn't come over to see me today because that would spoil my plans. She had told me not to talk to Mascot about this but I refused to listen to her. She had left in the morning to go prepare food for the little cubs she took care of. How would he change if someone doesn't speak to him? That was my defense. I prayed she would be too tired to come visit today. I rested for an hour, took my bath, ate and was ready to meet Mascot. I knew the road to the River Park, my best park in the clan. I had already seen a figure sitting so I figured it would be Mascot but as I moved closer, it was mascot, truly but he wasn't sitting. He was actually kneeling with smiles on his face and with an outstretched ring in his hands. I slowed down and hoped that I was dreaming. 'Naomi, will you marry me?"