Louisa's POV
The inside of the salamander's rock cave was dark and humid.
Darren set up fire at the entrance of the cave, because of the smoke rising from damp firewood.
"I can't believe that you've taken them back to where we live. You're so stupid," I heard the voice of the black salamander.
The brown salamander explained, "They need a place to hide from the rain. They don't like water."
"Can I eat that rat?" she asked.
Her brother replied patiently, "He's a weasel, and no, you can't eat him. He's supposed to eat us. Not the other way around. He can't eat us because we're too big for him. We can't eat him because he's the girl's friend. Leave him alone."
"I might want to eat that girl. She's tiny. But she's still meat."
"She's my friend. You're impossible."
"Come on, you know she'll eventually get herself killed. What kind of people in their right mind would chase a weasel into a salt marsh and get trapped? You've made too many two-legged friends. HUmans, vampires, werewolves, and warlocks. You know I hate them."
"I'll stop this conversation right now and pretend I'm asleep. If I wake up and see any of them missing a leg or head, I'll go away and you'll never see me again."
I knew I wasn't supposed to eavesdrop on their family conversation, but I just couldn't help it.
I was a bit surprised that they knew the vampire. I wanted to talk to them, but I had to calm Mr. Weasel down.
He curled up in the corner of the cave and refused to come anywhere near the fire.
His fur was all damp and the bandage of his came off.
He was shivering like a leaf, peeking at Darren and me through the hair on his tail from time to time.
It seemed that Darren had no intention of forgiving him in the near future. So, I knew I had to do something.
"Mr. Weasel, do you want me to check the wounds on your legs?" I asked.
"No." He replied in a muffled voice.
I walked him and tried to pick him up.
Mr. Weasel looked very alert. He drew back and said, "Please don't come closer. I promise I'll go away as soon as the rain stops."
"I won't hurt you and I'm not driving you away," I frowned and said, "But of course, you're free to go back to your family anytime you like."
He curled up again and became a ball of fur and fear.
I sighed and took him up in my arms. He didn't run away.
"You don't have to be afraid of anything." I sat next to the fire and said.
"But you were almost dead because of me. You must want to kill me," he said with his head buried in my arms.
I stroked his back and said, "I'm sorry for putting you through this, Mr. Weasel. I didn't want you to get hurt, so I decided to run after you. It's my fault. I wasn't able to take care of myself."
Mr. Weasel looked up at me in surprise and asked, "Are you apologizing to me? Is this the hUman thing? To feel guilty about everything?"
I thought for a while and said, "I have never thought of that before, but maybe you're right. I also want to apologize on behalf of Darren, he shouldn't have wanted to kill you."
"To kill me? He wanted to rip my head off! While I'm still alive! He wanted to tear me into two parts like that dead hog! My tail is almost broken because he grabbed me! He's so cold-blooded! No offense, salamanders!" Mr. Weasel wailed.
"None taken, little rat." It was the black salamander's voice.
I looked at Darren, who was drying up our clothes.
"I know you're angry, Darren. But killing Mr. Weasel won't bring me back." I said.
"It's all his fault." Darren turned his head away and said.
I could tell he was still angry about Mr. Weasel.
I turned back to Mr. Weasel.
"Is your tail still in pain?" I asked.
"Yeah. And my legs hurt, too." He grumbled, putting his front legs and tail on my arm.
His tail looked a bit swollen, and so did his wounds.
I didn't have any potion with me, so I blew some air over his wounds.
Mr. Weasel was still wailing. I knew he was terrified. He had to let it all out.
It took me ages for me to put him to sleep.
I placed him into the basket and covered him up with plants and berries.
Then, I sat back next to Darren and talked to him, "He might be able to talk to me, but he's still a weasel. He can't control his impulse. When he sees a duck, he has to chase it. By contrast, we can control our anger. If you let your anger take control of you, you'll end up just like them."
"The she-wolf has a point, warlock." The black salamander said in the dark.
"He doesn't understand you." the brown salamander said.
"Go back to sleep. I'm showing my support to the girl." his sister argued.
Darren held me in his arms and said, "I'm sorry, Lisa. I don't want to give you a hard time. It's just.... this weasel... He reminds me of some people I've met in my life. They just keep doing what they want and pushing others' limits. They may look innocent and harmless, showing interest in you, but actually, they are manipulative and accusative. They capitalize on people's sympathy and vulnerability by taking advantage of them. When people refuse to play their games, they act like they're hurt and accuse others of not having a heart. They're greedy and toxic, Lisa."
I put my head on his shoulder and said, "It's OK, Darren. Love is the cure of everything."
Darren was silent for a while. Then, he tilted his head against mine.
"Lisa, thank you for telling me this. I'll never do it again to anyone. I sometimes do stupid things to hurt myself and others. I really wish I could have met you when I was a child," he said.
"It's never too late to meet a friend. It's never too late to believe in love," I looked up and winked at him.
"Oh, come on. I want to have a sister who talks like that."
I heard the brown salamander's voice.
His sister sounded vexed, "What? I can do a better talk than her."
"Try me," he said, "Tell me something about love."
"Love is me kicking your ass and you being turned turtle!" she said.
"Oh really? You're a big talker, sister. Let's take it outside."
Then, the giant brown salamander scampered from the darkness of the cave with his angry sister chasing behind.
"Come back, hammerhead! Don't run like a coward!" she hissed.
"At least I don't run like a turtle," he said.
They grappled at each other as soon as they got out of the cave.
Their way of fighting was like some sort of mysterious ritual dance, choreographed in a ceremonial manner.
"What are they doing?" Darren asked.
"They are having an argument," I looked at them worriedly.
"I bet the brown one will win," Mr. Weasel said.
I didn't notice that he had already woken up and climbed up on top of my head.
Darren picked him up and held him in his arms. Mr. Weasel didn't protest this time, but he was trembling.
"I apologize to you, Mr. Weasel, for almost ripping you apart," he looked at him seriously and said.
"Apology accepted and I won't run around next time I see ducks," Mr. Weasel turned his head away and said reluctantly.
"He said he accepted your apology and he wouldn't chase a duck again," I told Darren.
Darren flicked his hand and a tiny little firework popped up on the tip of his fingers.
Mr. Weasel was excited.
"Do it again! Do it again!" He wrapped Darren's arm and begged.
I held Darren's arm and pulled Mr. Weasel back to me.
"It's strange, though," I stroked the back of his neck and said, "Why are there ducks in this area? We haven't seen a single bird in the forest."
"I guess we need to ask the salamander siblings when they finish their fight," Darren shrugged and said.
Then, he paused a bit and said, "Lisa, please don't tell Master about today's incident. Please let this be our secret."
I nodded and leaned against his shoulder, watching the two majestic salamanders fighting and dancing in the pouring rain.