As an older sister, most of your life is spent worrying. It is rather time-consuming and creates a constant dread whenever you think about the whereabouts of your younger sister when she does not arrive home on time Genevieve thought to herself. It is almost like being a third parent from the time your sibling is born, you know that your parents are always trusting you to always keep them safe from the world for as long as you are able. It was like the minute your sibling is born you are forced into adulthood, on some level no matter your age, and it cultivates you into a responsible individual faster than you could have ever imagined yourself to be. Genevieve tried to focus on her patient which was brought in at mid-day for an evaluation on their health, as the parentless child named Ava was sitting on her table as if she didn’t already have a hard enough life, often had trouble breathing and went into fits that only Genevieve knew how to smooth with a concoction of medicines and herbs brought back by the Centaurs. But she could not help but bring her mind to her sister Ainsley who should have been back for dinner time, with the other Centaurs. Ainsley was always cause for worry, as she was always only thinking about herself not knowing that if anything were to happen to her, it would destroy the people who loved her. Ainsley’s constant curiosity and thirst for adventure and her worrying habit of always questioning things had always filled Genevieve with anxiousness as she knew those things were not good qualities to have in a person in this kind of world they were bred into.

She felt as if her heart was tethered to Ainsley’s and another part of her heart was tethered to a large anchor, which was pushed over the side into deep water every time Ainsley caused her to panic over her. The anchor would continue to sink deeper until Ainsley would come back to camp, and she’d know she was safe than the anchor would be lifted and placed back over the edge, only to be shoved back over the side later. Loving people in this world was always a hard thing and almost a dangerous thing, because hurt always came tied to it, but Genevieve loved her sister and her family far too much to care about such dark thoughts, which sometimes came to her but she always managed to push them out and conceal her feelings to anyone but herself. Genevieve smoothed the herbal paste that when steamed and inhaled, opened up Ava’s airways and aided her breathing and temporarily stopped her coughing fits.

“How’s my favorite girl doing?” Wren said entering into the healer’s workstation, and sitting next to Ava.

“I’m better because of Genevieve,” Ava said smiling.

“Well you are all better now, so you can go off and play if you like,” Genevieve said this trying to hide the fatigue from her tone. “Just don’t wear yourself out ok?”

“I won’t; I can’t run too fast anyway to play with most kids. Thank you, Genevieve. Will we see you tonight Wren?” Ava questioned.

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world.” Replied Wren.

“For this world, I bet you would,” Ava said sarcastically.

This made both Genevieve and Wren laugh, and both observed as the sickly girl managed to spring off of the table and out the door waving to them goodbye.

“You going to the children’s er again tonight?”  Genevieve questioned.

 “Yup. Have nothing else to do, and I like spending time with them. They don’t have many people around here who actually want to visit them, so I don’t mind doing it.” Wren replied.

“Well it’s sweet of you, Gods know that they could use the uplift.”

“Yeah. Gen, when do you think Ainsley will be back? All the other Centaurs are already here. All except Ainsley and Lachlan.” He paused to look at the floor. “Maybe we can ask one of the Centaurs if they know where Ainsley is?”

“Wren, you know we can’t do that. Questioning the Centaurs like that is not welcome. I know how you are feeling; I’m bothered by it too. But as Ainsley would remind us, she can take care of herself, Wren.” Genevieve placed a hand on his shoulder in comfort. “And anyway if something were wrong… a Praetor would have informed us.”

“Your right. I guess we just have to wait then.” Wren replied forging a smile best he could.

Genevieve knew that what she said placed little comfort in Wren’s worrying, she knew this because she had been repeating it to herself over and over again for the past hour and it did not subside her fears for the least bit. She watched Wren leave, feeling sorry for him because he cared for Ainsley so much and Ainsley tended to unintentionally underappreciate it at times. Genevieve took off her thin bleached gloves, one by one and placed them in her work drawer. She sighed in frustration that no matter how many patients she saw, she felt she could not help them more from lack of supplies. Herbs only helped to a certain extent, and she still had so much to learn about the medicines of the old world and how to replicate them. Of late Genevieve managed to get her hands on several molds, plants, and soils which have been proved helpful in combating certain infections. She decided to sit down and take a few moments to clear her tired head. Genevieve felt as if the world had fastened a bolder around her shoulders with layers of rope, and forced her to drag it up a hill endlessly. Genevieve longed to go back to her home, eat with her family and go to sleep. She knew however if she were to go back home now, she would have to face her parents who would be just as worried as Genevieve over Ainsley, except her mother would most likely be in a panicked state, and Genevieve was in no mood to comfort her back to sanity, she would let her father deal with that for now. Instead, Genevieve decided to wait in her work station for awhile longer, and pray that Ainsley would be home soon.

Genevieve was not sure how long she stayed in her office with her hands placed on her lap. But she assumed that it had been most likely a whole hour. She knew it was time for her to head back home, just a few minutes down her camp. She hoped her prayers had worked and that by the time she left the office she would see the camp’s large gates opening up and her little sister walking through with that crazed glimmer that would show in her intense sky blue eyes whenever she had been up to something exciting. Genevieve slowly got up, rubbing her denim materialized pants and massaging her stiff legs underneath the fabric that ached from her not stretching them out enough that day. She pulled out the string holding her auburn hair tightly back causing her head to slightly cramp and pound. She walked over to where she normally hung her fleecy coat, and slung it over her shoulders and put each arm through each sleeve with care. Genevieve realized that her whole body was aching. Out of natural instinct, she pulled up the sleeve of her coat to make sure her bracelet her parents had given her and Ainsley were still safely secured to her wrist. She opened the metal door of her office and began on foot towards her home when she heard the noise she was praying to hear ever since she realized her sister was not home with the other Centaurs; the large brazen gates were being pulled open and unlatched. Genevieve could not help but realize her body had taken off into a run towards the three figures walking into the gate. Her body automatically flung into a hug welcoming back her sister.

 “Your back!” Genevieve said.

“Of course I’m back. You can’t get rid of me that easily.” Ainsley chuckled, looking absolutely exhausted.

“Let’s go home? You look so tired.” Genevieve said this wiping a bit of dirt smeared onto Ainsley’s cheek.

 “You have no idea,” Ainsley said and giving her sister a surprise embrace.

Genevieve did not see the look of the thrill she thought she would see flickering in Ainsley’s eyes. She thought Ainsley was going to be overwhelmed with trying to tell her about her adventures of the day not being able to keep up with herself, as she normally acted when something new occurred. She was expecting to have to tell her to sit down and take a breath because she was getting frantic with her story. Instead, she saw Ainsley dragging her stiff body as if it was useless weight. In replacement with her usual glimmering eyes, she saw something else, something which disturbed her but that she couldn’t correctly fathom into words, it was if her eyes once asked so many questions, and now that she had the answers she was horrified by them. She didn’t dare ask her what had happened or what was wrong. She knew her sister too well for that. She would tell her on her own time or not at all, and all Genevieve had to do was be there for her as she always tried her best to do.      She saw how lazily Ainsley picked up her hand to wave goodbye to Lachlan, the other Centaur coming back with her late.

 “Can you wait a minute?” Ainsley asked.

 “Of course.”

Genevieve watched curiously as Ainsley walked over to Lachlan and whispered something to him. She saw his face change for a split second and then immediately nod in understanding to whatever her sister said to him.

“Okay, we can go now,” Ainsley said looking straight forward.

 Genevieve didn’t say anything and continued to walk with her sister when she noticed her wrist was bare.

 “As for where is your bracelet?” Ainsley’s face turned panic stricken and her left hand flung so hard it hit her right wrist with a loud crack.

“Ainsley are you okay?”

“I’m fine. I… I must have taken it off at home. It’s okay I’m sure it’s there.” Ainsley appeared to be telling this more to herself than to Genevieve.

“Well, I’m sure its fine, I’ll help you look for it after we eat. Mom and dad are most likely worried sick. They are going to hound you with questions you know…” Genevieve said pausing just outside of their home to look at Ainsley.

“Questions?” Ainsley looked confused for a moment. “Oh as to why I am late? Yes, they must have been worried.” She said this looking down and mechanically undoing their homes latches and opening their door.  

The minute the door was opened her parents sprang into embracing Ainsley, similarly as to how she had when she first saw her sisters figure walk through the gate. Ainsley held them back for a few moments before she spoke. Genevieve gave her parents an expression which insinuated not to hound or hustle her with inquiries until she wanted to tell them.

 “May we eat mom?” Ainsley said with a blank expression.

 “Of course we can!” Mabel said over enthusiastically as if it was a performance.

Her mother and father began hurriedly began setting out the wooden bowls, filling them with a mushy concoction of water and protein paste which was boiled down and called stew. To everyone’s surprise Ainsley immediately after sitting down, began shoving giant mouthfuls of it into her mouth with dribble slipping from the sides of her lips, she acted as if it were the best thing she had ever tasted. This was a shock to everyone because Ainsley normally puts up much complaining when this particular food was served at the table. Everyone in the family knew how grotesquely it was to consume but necessary to keep up their strengths. After Ainsley finished her bowl down to the last drop, she looked up pleadingly to search if there was any more left, so Genevieve knowing there wasn’t, slid her bowl over to Ainsley.

 “You don’t want it?” Ainsley asked.

 “No, I never want that stuff,” Genevieve said attempting to making her sister laugh.

Ainsley simply nodded in understanding and then said something which shocked everyone sitting down, around their small wooden table of four.

“I got promoted today. I’m a Praetor now. That’s why I was late.”

At this moment, not even Mabel their mother had anything to say; and she always had something to say. Their father was the first to say anything.

 “Oh,” Maddox replied.

“Congratulations are in order then,” Genevieve said, giving her parents a warning look to go along with it.

“Yes honey, this is great news.” Mabel couldn’t have sounded less sincere.

Thankfully to Genevieve, the awkward silence was broken, when a knock came to their medal door. “I can get it,” Genevieve said when she saw no one else moving or volunteering. 

Genevieve was grateful to leave the table of silence, as she glided over to the door, pulling its heavy mechanics open. Whom she saw at the door was not a surprise. Of course, Wren would want to see Ainsley the minute she got back but was polite enough to wait until after supper.

“Wren. Come in,” Genevieve said.

“You sure? Are you guys all done with dinner?” Wren said unsure of himself.

“Well Ainsley is still shoving her face in a bowl of protein stew, have you eaten yet?”

“Yeah, I did,” Wren said, lying looking down.

“Genevieve?” Ainsley called from the other door.

“One second Wren, come on in,” Genevieve said this letting in Wren, who was standing gawkily behind the door. Genevieve went into the other room, where her mother and father were cleaning up the bowls.

"Was that Wren?” Mabel asked.

 “Yes, mom,” Genevieve replied.

 “Well tell him to come on in,” Maddox said.

 “I did,” Genevieve answered when Ainsley cut in.

 “I don’t want to see anyone.” Ainsley simply said to Genevieve.

 “Ainsley, I already let him in. He’s been worried about you all day and he’s not just anyone he’s your best friend, just let him see you so that he knows your okay.”

“I am okay, I’m right here.” Replied Ainsley.

 Genevieve gave Ainsley a pleading look, as to tell her not to make her go and tell Wren to leave.

 "Very well.” Ainsley simply said and dragged herself tiredly into the other room to speak with Wren.

Next Chapter: Ryker: Chapter 6