{"id":1120,"date":"2012-03-09T00:00:57","date_gmt":"2012-03-09T05:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1120"},"modified":"2012-03-08T10:10:17","modified_gmt":"2012-03-08T15:10:17","slug":"autumn-chapter-5-03","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1120","title":{"rendered":"Autumn – Chapter 5 – 03"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Neve took a deep swallow from her mug, letting the hot tea burn a path down her throat, warming her chest on its way down to her belly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She gave a little shiver and stared at the trees where the sun was slowly disappearing.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHow much has Teague told you about all of this, Kira?\u201d she asked softly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAbout everything that\u2019s been happening, about the things that hurt him, all of that?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Kira snorted softly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019d like to say everything, but I\u2019m not stupid.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He told me enough to keep me motivated but not scare the crap out of me.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She took a sip of her tea.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI know all about the reincarnation thing, though.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Neve nodded slightly, finding herself strangely unsurprised that Kira would know that much, at least.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Teague may be a bastard about some things, but at least he\u2019s honest.\u00a0 <\/span>Maybe he even felt guilty when they first got together, because he was drawn to her because of who she\u2019d <\/span><\/em>been<\/span>, not who she<\/span><\/em> was<\/span>.<\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat did he tell you about the war?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cJust a little,\u201d Kira said softly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThat it\u2019s almost as old as you guys, that it\u2019s why most retreated to their respective corners for hundreds of thousands of years.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I wanted details, but he slept through most of the drive here and I\u2019ve been pretty busy making sure this place is snug and secure since then.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou did a good job on that count,\u201d Neve murmured.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Kira shook her head.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThey haven\u2019t really been tested yet.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>So why did you ask about what I knew?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Neve shook her head slightly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI just never know how much to tell.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I\u2019m not as experienced with this as the others.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I never seem to know what to say, how much to tell.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Hell, before I rescued Cameron on the road and brought him here, he thought I was just some college kid who needed <\/span>his<\/span><\/em> protection on the road.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I don\u2019t know what he\u2019ll think now when he wakes up.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She fiddled with her mug.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAll I really know is that he\u2019s a good man and maybe that I should have told him the truth.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He deserves the truth.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHe\u2019ll get it,\u201d Kira said softly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhen he wakes up, he\u2019ll get it.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I already told Teague that he\u2019s going to have to answer any question Cameron asks him, even if he has to make something up.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Neve snorted.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cTeague won\u2019t know what to do with himself if he has to make something up.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>That\u2019s not his strong suit.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Kira arched a brow.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cReally?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cReally.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Neve smiled wryly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cPhelan makes up most of his stories for him in advance, and I used to run interference with Father when Teague would get into trouble so he wouldn\u2019t have to lie.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Father could almost always tell when Teague was lying.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 But that\u2019s long ago and far away.<\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI didn\u2019t get into as much trouble as they did because of that, though.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cSounds like you regret it.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Neve shrugged slightly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cOnly a little.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>There was a lot I think I missed out on because of what I did for Teague.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I\u2019m kind of making up for it now, but it\u2019s different.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Those were different times.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>More innocent.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She exhaled softly and took another long swallow of tea.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It was slowly growing cold in the evening\u2019s deepening chill.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cMaybe<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>a time like that will come again someday.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Kira looked at her strangely for a moment, then nodded slowly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cMaybe,\u201d she agreed, squeezing Neve\u2019s shoulders.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Neve shook herself and straightened slightly, startling her sister-in-law.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019m sorry, Kira,\u201d she said.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019ve got no idea what\u2019s gotten into me.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I\u2019m not usually like this.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She huffed a breath and shivered, then relaxed into Kira\u2019s hug.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou\u2019re just worried,\u201d Kira said.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI am, too, but we all deal with it in different ways.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I\u2019m sure Cameron will be fine.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Teague said he\u2019s through the worst of it.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cBut was he <\/span>sure<\/span><\/em>?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Kira shrugged.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHe didn\u2019t look like he was lying, so he must be telling the truth to the best of his ability.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Neve choked on a laugh.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I shouldn\u2019t.\u00a0 <\/span>I shouldn\u2019t laugh.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>But I guess Kira knows why I find that funny.<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>She took another swallow of tea to buy herself time to calm down.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Kira smirked slightly and squeezed her again.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAre you going to at least come inside to eat?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAre you going to take over tending the fire and open some windows?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHey,\u201d Kira said, still smiling, \u201cI\u2019m the one who told your brother that if it didn\u2019t get cooler in there, I was going to go sleep in the barn.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She started to stand up.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Neve grabbed her hand.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cKira?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>When I have to explain everything to Cameron…you\u2019ll be there, right?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>To help?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Kira sat back down.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019ll make you a promise.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I\u2019ll be with you when you and Teague explain everything to Cameron if you tell me about this war that what\u2019s left of the world is being sucked into.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Neve considered the question for a moment, though it was mostly an act.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She hoped the relief didn\u2019t show on her face when Kira offered her bargain.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>She nodded once.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cDone.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>They went back into the cottage together.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Neve took a deep swallow from her mug, letting the hot tea burn a path down her throat, warming her chest on its way down to her belly.\u00a0 She gave a little shiver and stared at the trees where … 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":[38,35,43,14,39],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1120","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-autumn","category-book-2","category-chapter-5-book-2","category-story","category-year-one"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1EBlN-i4","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1120","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=1120"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1120\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1121,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1120\/revisions\/1121"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1120"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1120"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1120"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}