{"id":1137,"date":"2012-03-21T00:00:52","date_gmt":"2012-03-21T04:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1137"},"modified":"2012-03-19T10:58:20","modified_gmt":"2012-03-19T14:58:20","slug":"autumn-chapter-6-04","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1137","title":{"rendered":"Autumn – Chapter 6 – 04"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan wasn\u2019t at the forge.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He and Thom were near the cook fire instead; Thom painfully hunched over his knees with a wet rag against the back of his neck, Phelan flat on his back with a similar cloth across his eyes and forehead.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Jacqueline and Matt stood nearby, both looking worried and more than a little nervous.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Screw me sideways.<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat happened to them?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThom was <\/span>daydreaming<\/span><\/em> again,\u201d Jacqueline said quietly.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Matt gave her an exasperated look.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHe started to have a vision about the same time Phelan\u2019s eyes rolled back in his skull and he started screaming with no sound coming out.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Is something about to attack us?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cMaybe,\u201d I said, glancing toward Rory and J.T. \u201cBetter rally the troops just in case.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Grab Kellin to help.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Is Paul in camp?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHe\u2019s out with the flocks.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Stasia\u2019s with him.\u201d Matt swallowed nervously.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cShadows or grays?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d I said, feeling as sick to my stomach as he suddenly looked.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWe might not have much time, Matty.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Hop to.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Matt glanced at Thom and Phelan before starting to move away.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Thom lifted his head.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cMatt,\u201d he croaked, \u201cMine\u2019s in the wardrobe next to where we sleep.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The muscles in Matt\u2019s jaw bunched and he nodded, then jogged away.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Thom looked at me wearily.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cSomething Phelan warned us might happen.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Sounds like there\u2019s a war starting down there and whoever wins will be coming after us.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Rory looked at me strangely.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHow do you figure?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat Leah said, that\u2019s how.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I studied Phelan for a moment before I looked at Jacqueline.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIs he okay?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>She nodded, looking grim.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYeah.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He\u2019s awake under there, but he told me that talking hurt.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Something about echoes.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThere\u2019s a joke in there somewhere,\u201d Rory muttered, then yelped in pain.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>J.T. smiled a grim, satisfied smile and kept tending to Rory\u2019s gash.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWell, he\u2019s going to have to talk because I don\u2019t know how else we\u2019re going to figure this out.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I nudged Phelan with my toe.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cDid you hear that?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>One of his hands lifted and he gestured vaguely, then gave me a thumbs-up\u2014a signal I hoped meant that he\u2019d heard me.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I crossed my arms and stared down at Phelan\u2019s prone form even as Thom levered himself to his feet and limped to my side.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat did Leah say?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I looked at him sidelong.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThat the shadow from her dreams and the pale lady were fighting over her in her head and that their voices were too loud for her to function.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Thom\u2019s eyes widened.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan sat bolt upright.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cShe said <\/span>what<\/span><\/em>?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Ooh\u2026\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He started to topple over, gripping his head between both hands.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Jacqueline moved faster than I\u2019d ever seen her move before and caught him before he hit.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She eased him back down, tongue clicking maternally.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cStay down, you dumb bastard,\u201d she muttered, dropping the cloth back over his face again.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan huffed a sigh, still holding his head but obediently staying down.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I was less surprised by <\/span>his<\/span><\/em> reaction than I was by hers.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I\u2019d never heard her use the word <\/span>bastard<\/span><\/em> before.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Thom\u2019s hand was on my arm, near the mark, which had faded to a dull ache again rather than burning with cold.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Maybe it was a good sign.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Or an indicator of the calm before the storm.\u00a0 <\/span>I can hope that I\u2019m wrong.<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan cleared his throat.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNow what were you saying?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He was practically whispering.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I was willing to let him do it if it helped ease whatever migraine he\u2019d spontaneously developed this afternoon.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cLeah\u2019s hearing voices,\u201d Rory piped up helpfully.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I glared at him and he shut up before J.T. could slip with a needle this time.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cVoices,\u201d Phelan echoed, then winced.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cFrom\u2014from a shadow and a pale lady, you said?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThat\u2019s right,\u201d I said, catching movement out of the corner of my eye.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Carolyn had turned away and was staring toward the ravine, her posture loose but ready to move if she needed to.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I exhaled quietly.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Well, with her on the watch, at least we\u2019ll know if something\u2019s coming a little faster than if she wasn\u2019t on alert.<\/em><\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou were right to send Matt to get people together for defenses,\u201d Phelan said, voice almost distant, as if he were watching everything from very far away.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHopefully they\u2019ll exhaust each other in whatever toe-to-toe cage match is going on down there right now.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cSo you think they\u2019re having a knock-down, drag-out down there?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThat\u2019d explain why she told us to run,\u201d J.T. said quietly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhy the greys ignored us even though they probably knew we were there.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cMy head\u2019s ringing like a bell.<\/span>\u00a0 Something\u2019s<\/em><\/span> going on down there.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan\u2019s fingers wrapped around Jacqueline\u2019s arm, tightening for a moment before he started to very slowly sit up again.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She put a steadying arm around him but maintained her disapproving frown as Phelan moved the cloth and glanced at Thom.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cMight even be why you suddenly started seeing things again as violently as you did.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cSo what does it mean?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Rory asked.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat do we <\/span>do<\/span><\/em> about it?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan swallowed hard, wavering a little and looking pale as death.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWe wait,\u201d he said quietly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAnd hope that they don\u2019t decide to give up the fight and join forces after all.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou said that\u2019s not Vammatar\u2019s style,\u201d Thom said quietly.
\n<\/span><\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNo, it\u2019s not,\u201d Phelan agreed.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cBut I\u2019ve been wrong before.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I\u2019m just hoping I\u2019m not wrong now.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Phelan wasn\u2019t at the forge.\u00a0\u00a0 He and Thom were near the cook fire instead; Thom painfully hunched over his knees with a wet rag against the back of his neck, Phelan flat on his back with a similar cloth … 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":[38,35,44,14,39],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1137","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-autumn","category-book-2","category-chapter-6-book-2","category-story","category-year-one"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1EBlN-il","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1137","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=1137"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1137\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1139,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1137\/revisions\/1139"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1137"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1137"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1137"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}