Page 69 of Outnumbered

“The bow,” he answered. Jolie and her mates all smiled. When Riddick realized we didn’t know what he meant, he added, “They bought me a bow the second year after I met Caleb.”

“They’d started watching a TV show and the main character used a bow and he kept running around pretending to use one,” Fox said. “So, we bought him one.”

“He immediately ran out of the house and started using it,” Rhys said with a soft chuckle. “Stayed outside the rest of the evening trying it out.”

I chuckled, picturing a small Riddick running around in the woods, shooting his bow.

“Caleb, what’s yours?” Riddick asked him, the tips of his ears red.

“That’s a hard one,” Caleb said. “I don’t think I have a favorite. What about you, Ember?”

I shrugged. “I don’t really remember the gifts I got.”

“You didn’t celebrate with your patients or Branson or anyone?” Jolie asked.

“I only knew Branson a couple of months before you guys. I was more worried about treating my patients than gifts. I guess, the medical backpack I bought myself, if that counts. Or the shiny things Beatrice brought me when she would find things in the river or while she was out flying around.”

Caleb scowled and Jolie smiled sadly.

“Beatrice brought you gifts often?” Triston asked.

I nodded. “When she realized that I liked them, she started doing it more and more and I started giving her gifts, too. Like a braided piece of twine that she incorporated into her nest. I also took some of the shiny things she brought me and decorated the outside of her nest with them, which made her really happy.”

“And now she brings Dad things and practically lives on his shoulder,” Deryn said. “He’s become pretty fond of her. Even built her a nest in his house.”

That made me really happy to hear. “That’s so sweet.”

“Yeah, Dan’s a big softy,” Jolie said with a smile.

They talked a bit more about gifts and things they’d received and then, as often happened, we played video games.

There was something about the games that had a way of bringing us all together, even if we shouted occasionally when we lost or someone played dirty. This, this was the type of gathering I wanted to participate in often. One with smiles, laughter, and true enjoyment of each other’s presence.

This was what I had craved for so long and I was going to do everything in my power to protect it.

Chapter

Twenty

“Ember!” Beatrice cawed as she flew from Dan’s shoulder to mine and rubbed her face along my cheek. “You came back.”

I stroked her feathers and said, “Of course I came back. How are you doing?”

“Big nest!” she shouted and cawed loudly. “He gave me a big big nest. Lots of shiny.”

“Oh,” I said and looked at Dan who was hugging Caleb. “You gave her a nest and shiny things?”

He smiled. “I did some research on what ravens like and tested a few things out to see what she liked the best. It seems I did a good job if she’s telling you about it.” He sighed. “I still wish I could talk to her.”

“Beatrice, is there anything you want me to tell Dan?” I asked her. I could play interpreter for her.

“Oh! Tell him I like the nuts more than berries,” she said and bobbed her beak up and down.

“She said she likes nuts more than berries,” I repeated.

Dan chuckled. “I was starting to figure that out, but thank you, that’s helpful.”

“Papa, is it okay if I take Ember to the market?” Caleb asked.

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