Resilience

Janette dug into the dirt hard, gripping the shovel before leaning into it with force. Wiping the sweat off her forehead, she leaned back and exhaled while staring at the white sky. Just a blanket of cold thick gray loomed above them, it was quite a sickly looking weather and seemed disinterested in producing rain, rain they could have used for that night.

She resumed back to digging again, agreeing to help Felix with his task of planting more seeds before the owner would arrive. A few new tasks or chores ought to keep her mind away, after all it was the least they could do. One of the few cows mooed nearby, chewing on some grass while flicking its tail. Looking around, she felt it was nice to see the old place once more and somehow find the animals in decent condition despite their stay at her house. Felix walked in hold two large buckets before dropping them beside her, hunching over and groaning in pain.

"Sorry, felt something pinch me back there. Need to remember to lift with my legs."

Janette nodded, leaning into her shovel. "Place looks pretty good, how are the animals still healthy, I thought you guys moved in when her family arrived."

He lifted a finger to raise a point, "They had moved in, and I'm sorry I never asked if you were okay with that. KuliKuli basically settled too, but I would sneak out often to check back here early in the mornings."

"But I saw you around in the morning sometimes."

He shrugged, "It wasn't every morning, I'd give them enough food to manage a few days. Set up a few picket fences just in case."

"Still, that was dumb of you to just leave them unattended. Some other animal could have entered and had easy pickings, or some passer by could have made of with free cows and horses."

Felix sighed. "Yea, I know. I sort of stopped thinking clearly ever since well... yea."

Janette pursed her lips, keeping quiet and trying not to think about it.

"Anyway, let's just finish digging this row for now." She nodded, continuing to dig for him while he planted and watered the seeds. An hour later, they had finished with numerous new seeds with Felix offering Janette a rag to dry the sweat off her.

"I need a damn bath after this. A nice warm bath with a book to read to keep peace."

"Sorry, we kind of lose hot water when morning has passed. Gunna need to boil it ourselves."

Janette huffed, tossing the shovel aside. "Whatever, I need one now."

He extended his arm out, letting her pass as he tucked his sleeves in and went to tend to the horses. Grabbing a brush and pressing it to their fur, he paused and stared out for a moment. The mare reared her head, watching him with her eye before he took notice.

"Why the long face?" He chuckled, before sitting down atop an upside down bucket and sighing deeply.

"Master Master look! He's not scared of me anymore! He's not scared of me anymore!"

"That's good, you're doing really good! Remember to keep eye contact with her, and its a she not a he."

"Oh, oopsie. I'm looking, look she's looking at me too! Plah! Oh-yuck!"

"Kuli haha, careful!"

"She's gross, why she lick my face?"

"Well you lick mine, no? Now you know how it feels haha."

"Bleh, yeaaa but is different when I do it."

"It just means she likes you."

"Oh, like when I lick you!"

"Yea, pretty much. Careful not to scare her, you just got her to relax with you after all. Careful with your claws."

"It's fine, no claws see? Hehe, look Master look! Why the long face?"

Felix shook his head, keeping his head low as the memory sunk in. Feeling someone's presence, he looking up to see Janette with what looked like dried tears in her eyes. He stood up, alarmed as she held a familiar book in her hands.

"I can't do it."

"What?"

"I can't-I can't do it, I can't forget about her, about them. It hurts inside, I feel lost and confused. And scared, I think I feel her inside." He opened his arms wide, letting her walk in and hold him close as he hugged her back. She began to weep softly into his chest. "I don't know what to do, I feel empty inside."

He nodded, rubbing her hair and her back as she continued.

"I even forget about my house, I don't know why. I want to cry but when I do it's not because of my house or my money or my life, it's for her."

"I know."

"So I'm leaving."

"What?" He pulled back as she sniffed.

"I'm going back, I don't care. Don't talk me out of it because I don't want to hear it, I already asked the book for directions and it still has them displayed for me. So... I was hoping I could borrow a horse. And also some food. And clothes."

"What about a blanket for rest?"

She looked up at him, wiping her eye as he reached in for a saddle, fitting it onto the mare. "You're gunna need blankets, and some sticks to make a fire in cold nights. A torch would be useful too, I wonder. And a guide would be perfect. Someone who managed to survive outside for a while, someone who has decent knowledge about the wildlife, sort of."

She hiccupped, hugging him from behind. He glanced back at her and smiled, holding her hand. "I thought you were gunna call me stupid."

"You are."

"And that you were gunna tell me not to go through with it."

"You shouldn't."

"And that I should know better."

"She would say that actually, she had a way with saying that." Felix replied, turning around. "But we only have this one shot to start over. Are you-"

She cupped his mouth, frowning. "Yes!"

He chuckled, removing her hand. "Well, then we are officially morons. Or tagged mates, that bit too. Let's get our stuff ready then."

She beamed, rushing off into the tiny house as he tied up the saddle nice and secured. "KuliKuli."

Janette ran inside, grabbing handfuls of clothes and blankets. "Syri."

"Girls." Both of them said, getting ready. "We're coming back for you,"