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With every step that Caleb took up the stairs, he was careful not to drop the injured blue jay in his right hand.
His grasp on the little blue bird was ever gentle and tender as the blonde stumbled into his mother's bedroom.
Patience was soundly snoozing alongside Cadman, and Caleb quietly cleared his throat to speak to her.
"Ah, M-Mother?" the blonde began in a timid whisper, standing over his sleeping mother. "Mother? ... Mother?"
After the third call, Patience's lids began to open gradually as soon as she heard her son's voice.
She wiped the sleep from her eyes with a closed fist as she turned to Caleb while blinking a little.
"C-Caleb?" Patience said in a sluggish tone as she slowly sat up in her bed, somewhat awake.
With a small yawn and stretch of her arms, she asked her son, "What is it, love?"
"I'm sorry to have woken you, Mother," Caleb sincerely apologized, his voice as small and fragile as the blue jay that he presented to Patience.
As he sniffled, tears formed in the corners of his brown eyes.
"Um. I found... I found her in your garden. She's clearly hurt, and I wish to help her, but I..."
His tears finally spilled, sliding down his cheeks. "... I-I don't know how," he told Patience, quietly weeping. "Am I in trouble?"
"Oh, Caleb, darling...," Patience spoke quietly, putting her hand on Caleb's cheek as she leaned forward to kiss his sweet forehead.
"It's okay, love. Of course you're not in trouble. You made the right decision by bringing her to me. Here..."
Taking the injured blue jay from her son with care, she slipped out of bed.
"Poor thing...," Patience whispered, referring to the blue jay. "Let's take care of her injury downstairs."
Caleb nodded and followed his mother out of her bedroom as they headed to the stairs.
...
After Patience fashioned a splint for the injured bird using a twig and some twine, she wrapped the blue jay in a bit of cloth before placing the little bird inside a woven basket and closing the lid.
"Darkness will encourage her to rest," she informed to her son, showing him a soft smile.
Caleb made a gesture of prayer by pressing his hands together. "I will pray to God every day to ask for his help in healing her."
Patience wrapped Caleb in a hug. "I will as well."
With a gentle smile, Caleb fell into his mother's embrace.