Searching For You 129 The Arrival

The sight of the baby and cries lifted all the weights weighing Pao Hua away. A sigh of relief flew off from his body as he rushed over to his sister's side to look at the tiny baby resting on top of his sister's chest.

Pao Hua's round eyes watered as he observed his little nephew in his sister's arms, very small, tiny arms and tiny legs. His nephew cried and whined as Hli Ja pulled the blanket over to keep warm.

"Cloth." Hli Ja asked.

Pao Hua reached for the cloth behind Hli Ja. He handed her the cloth.

"Thanks Pao Hua. Please bring the water and pocket knife too." Hli Ja asked as she reached her hand to receive the cloth from her brother.

Pao Hua reached for the pocket knife and handed to Hli Ja. She took the pocket knife and cut the umbilical cord.

Pao Hua ran to over by the fire and bowl with warm water. He brought the bowl over and sat the bowl next to Hli Ja. She wet the cloth and gently wiped her baby. The baby pursed his lips and cried as he trembled in coldness. His lips shivers along with his tiny arms and legs.

Hli Ja smiled, "Mommy know you are cold. You'll be ok. Bear with it for just a little bit. Your uncle will warm you up."

Hli Ja wiped her baby and bathed him. After she wrapped him up, she handed the baby to Pao Hua. "You can hold him and go sit by the fire to warm up. I'm going to clean up and change."

Pao Hua's pupils dilated in excitement and nervousness. "Mm.. " He replied and reached his arms to receive the baby from his sister. He pulled his nephew closer to his body and looked at the baby's sleeping face. His nephew felt so tiny and peaceful in his arms. He looked at his nephew with warm eyes and wonder if he was this tiny when he was born.

Hli Ja chuckled seeing the carefulness and wondrous expression of her little brother, "I'm sure you were that tiny and your parents were very happy to hold you in their arms too."

Pao Hua looked at Hli Ja and nodded his head. He walked over to the fire pit and sat with the baby in his arms while Hli Ja cleaned herself up and rolled the dirty clothes into a pile.

Pao Hua had started the fire pit closer to the the end of the cave before the birth bed. Now after birth, Hli Ja made a new bed closer to the fire pit and not by the wall where the birth bed was earlier. She made the bed a little bigger to fit all three of them together. Hli Ja changed her clothes and sat back down on the bed.

"Are you hungry?" Hli Ja asked.

By this time, it was already night time. Pao Hua had tended to his sister all day that he had forgotten to feel hungry.

Pao Hua walked over to Hli Ja and handed his nephew to Hli Ja. He forgot to feel hungry until Hli Ja asked him. It was then he remembered that neither of them had eaten all day. He spent all night studying and had slept in late this morning. Pao Hua then remember, there was some rice buns he bought the day before when he went to get more blankets and supplies in town.

It was getting late at night and both of them were exhausted plus he didn't want to cook anything as the smell may attract animals. So he opted for rice buns he bought. He gave Hli Ja a rice buns and boiled some more medicines for her.

That night, both the brother and sisters ate rice bun for dinner.

Also, that night, Pao Hua couldn't sleep as felt he needed to keep watch for his sister and nephew. It was the first time he spend the night in he cave out in the wilderness and he didn't feel quite safe. Being the only one who is most capable during that time, he secretly made himself the bodyguard for his sister and nephew. He sat next to them with a stick on his hand staring at the fire pit and the cave entrance.

It was not until couple hours after midnight when Pao Hua finally succ.u.mbed to tiredness and gave in. He dozed off the last couple hours before dawn. His baby nephew and sister slept so soundly as well until birds chirped outside.