#variousvegeta

Christian had been missing for three days, and Cal said good riddance. He'd been nothing but a thorn in her side since she'd brought him back to the little settlement she lived on. Still, the longer he was missing, the more anxious she found herself.

In fact, she hadn't slept well since he hadn't come home the first night. 

"Cal!" She heard a voice outside her home. She was out on the deck scrubbing clothes and quickly ran around the side of the house.

Another man they'd taken in from another town carried a figure in his arms, and Cal's stomach felt as if it were full of rocks.

"He bit?!" She hollered, running towards him. She knew the figure was Christian immediately, she could sense it. 

"Nah!" The man called as she appeared beside him, looking down at the boy in his arms. He was hardly conscious, and terribly dehydrated. 

"I found 'em out in the woods, his leg's broken, I think. Must'a fell out a deer stand."

"Get him inside."

She had him settled in her own bed, elevated his leg and got him some water, bringing it to his lips when he began to come to.