{"id":1089,"date":"2012-02-20T00:00:04","date_gmt":"2012-02-20T05:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1089"},"modified":"2012-02-20T07:39:54","modified_gmt":"2012-02-20T12:39:54","slug":"autumn-chapter-four","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1089","title":{"rendered":"Autumn – Chapter Four – 01"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHow many are there?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He shouted, long strides eating the ground between Matt\u2019s forge and the skeletal tower where Rory perched, binoculars in hand.<\/span><\/span><\/em>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cLooks like two dozen,\u201d Rory said, not looking down.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Thom wouldn\u2019t have heard the words if he\u2019d been any further away.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cDoesn\u2019t look like they realize we\u2019ve spotted them yet.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/em>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cLet\u2019s keep it that way a little longer,\u201d Thom said, looking around.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Angie was in his shadow, staring up at him expectantly.<\/span><\/span><\/em>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat do you need me to do?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/em>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cTell your brother and Davon to start getting people to their positions quietly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Then bring Marin to me.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/em>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Her brows knit for a moment.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAre you sure?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/em>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He gave her a firm nod.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span><\/em>Rather have her with me where I can keep an eye on her myself rather than somewhere else so I can worry about her.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYes.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I\u2019m sure.\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Thom opened his eyes and stared silently at the darkness above him, listened to the sound of Marin breathing as she lay pressed against his side.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He took slow, even breaths until his heart calmed, until the adrenaline rush brought on by the dream faded.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>His hand came up from beneath their shared blankets and he ran his fingers through Marin\u2019s hair.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She murmured in her sleep, shifted closer, then settled back into deeper slumber.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Hunted, Phelan had said.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Thom was silently grateful that she hadn\u2019t pressed either of them harder that night a week ago.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan had been a little more forthright with Thom the day they\u2019d met, the day Thom had given Marin her ring and asked her to be his wife.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It wasn\u2019t just Phelan or his cousins or sister that were being hunted.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>It was all of them.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He closed his eyes and exhaled quietly, feeling a shiver wrack him, sending twinges through his ribs.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He exhaled slowly, opening his eyes and staring into the darkness again.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIt\u2019s only a matter of time before one\u2014or a few\u2014of them show up.\u00a0 <\/span>I hope I\u2019m wrong about it, but I think we both suspect I\u2019m not.<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>There had been a long, drawn-out explanation of bloodlines and talents and other things, but at the core of their discussion that first day was a single truth: they were all in very real danger and that <\/span>wasn\u2019t<\/span><\/em> Phelan\u2019s fault.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>They\u2019d been born to it, fallen into it, drawn into it\u2014willingly or unwillingly, it didn\u2019t matter.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>From Greg all the way down to Angie and to Tala\u2019s unborn child he wasn\u2019t supposed to know about, they were targets of any entity that would twist the world\u2019s fragile energies toward suffering and malaise\u2014even murder.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>On dark nights like this, in the deep hours before dawn, Thom wondered how many fel forces were out there and how long it would be before they faced one again.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Another few long minutes ticked by and he decided that he was unlikely to get any more sleep that night.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Every time he closed his eyes, he saw the Shadow Man with Marin in his grip.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Sometimes, since the attack at the barrow, he saw Vammatar in the Shadow Man\u2019s place.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It was enough to turn his blood to ice water.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He kissed Marin gently and eased out from their blankets, wincing at the whimpering meowl that rose from near his feet, where a small, black ball of fuzz had taken up residence.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cSorry kitten,\u201d he murmured, lifting the pitiful thing up.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He ruffled her ears, making a few soft, soothing noises before he settled her in the warm spot where he\u2019d been, next to Marin.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>The kitten promptly curled back into a ball but stared at him with huge, golden-green eyes as he fumbled for a sweatshirt and his crutches in the dark.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThom?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He winced again.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cGo back to sleep, Mar,\u201d he said softly.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI just can\u2019t sleep,\u201d he said.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNo reason why you shouldn\u2019t.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He leaned in, lips brushing her cheek again.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNot going far, I promise.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Probably just add some wood to the fire and check on Phelan.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Then I\u2019ll come back.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cPromise?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cPromise.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>His fingers brushed her cheek and levered himself to his feet, ignoring his complaining ribs, and limped out into the darkness.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Carolyn had dozed off near the fire, on the watch.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Thom touched her shoulder as he limped past, to the woodpile.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He wrestled a split log from it, leaning against one of his crutches rather than both.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat are you doing up?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Carolyn asked sleepily as he fed the wood into the dying fire.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cCouldn\u2019t sleep,\u201d he said quietly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cTossing and turning just hurts and I\u2019d rather not keep Marin up with it anyhow.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>How long have you been up?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAn hour, I think,\u201d she said, scrubbing at her eyes.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHard to tell.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I\u2019m tired.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cDon\u2019t blame you.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Everyone is.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Thom fed another log into the fire, poking it gently until it caught.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>The fire crackled softly, growing, casting flickering highlights against their faces.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWho\u2019s on watch with you?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cBrandon.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He\u2019s checking on the animals.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Carolyn tugged a blanket tighter around her shoulders.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cJ.T.\u2019ll yell at you for being up.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cDon\u2019t tell him,\u201d Thom suggested.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThat should keep me out of trouble.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Besides, I\u2019m just going to go look in on Phelan and then maybe I\u2019ll try to sleep again.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Carolyn nodded.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThat\u2019s probably a good idea.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>G\u2019night, Thom.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNight Care.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He limped away from the fire and toward where Phelan was sleeping, relying on his night vision to be enough to get him there.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It usually was\u2014his sight in the dark was unusually good and had only improved in the past few weeks.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The first indication he got that something wasn\u2019t right was the faint, quick gleam of metal in the firelight, a glimmer just barely visible in the night.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>The second was the pale shadow of a figure straddling Phelan\u2019s chest, something small with that brief gleam of metal clutched in its hand.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Beneath the figure, Phelan struggled weakly, almost soundlessly.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Thom made a quiet noise and darted forward.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He swung one crutch as hard as he could at the figure.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>The blow connected and a feminine voice cried out.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She toppled off of Phelan sideways.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Unbalanced, Thom stumbled to one side and fell with a yelp as he caught the edge of a shelf against his ribcage.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He lay wheezing on his side, blinking against the red dots that danced before his eyes in the darkness, trying to sort out who the figure was.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Light suddenly rendered him temporarily blind.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Carolyn gasped at the scene and started shouting for help.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Thom flopped onto his back and took a few ragged breaths, closing his eyes to wait until that help arrived.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cHow many are there?\u201d\u00a0 He shouted, long strides eating the ground between Matt\u2019s forge and the skeletal tower where Rory perched, binoculars in hand. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cLooks like two dozen,\u201d Rory said, not looking down.\u00a0 Thom wouldn\u2019t have heard the … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[38,35,42,14,39],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1089","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-autumn","category-book-2","category-chapter-4-book-2","category-story","category-year-one"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1EBlN-hz","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1089","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1089"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1089\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1092,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1089\/revisions\/1092"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1089"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1089"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1089"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}