{"id":1268,"date":"2012-06-15T00:00:13","date_gmt":"2012-06-15T04:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1268"},"modified":"2012-06-13T22:52:02","modified_gmt":"2012-06-14T02:52:02","slug":"winter-chapter-14-03","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1268","title":{"rendered":"Winter – Chapter 14 – 03"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He didn\u2019t dare stop until it was almost dark, three creeks and a half-dry river between him and the site of their ambush.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>All he thought about was putting miles between them and it\u2014and that Neve kept on breathing.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Cameron turned the horses off the main road as the sun sunk lower in the west and headed down a narrower gravel path.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He could smell water beyond the trees, hear the sound of waves.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Lakeshore, maybe?<\/em><\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Tucked against his chest, Neve gave a soft whimper.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He winced, squeezing her gently with the arm he had locked around her shoulders.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cJust a little further,\u201d he murmured.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cJust a little further.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Then we\u2019ll stop.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The path wound on for at least two miles before it opened up into a tiny grass parking lot above a rocky beach.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Buoys on twists of rope bobbed lazily on the water, marking out what once had been a safe swimming area.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>There wasn\u2019t a soul in sight, but there was wood enough, and the parking lot was as good as anywhere to set up camp, tucked into the lee of the trees and out of the wind.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>The place smelled of water and seaweed, neither smell as sour as Cameron might have expected.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Wonder where we are.<\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>There weren\u2019t any signposts to tell him.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Maybe he\u2019d investigate in the morning.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Maybe they\u2019d stay a few days so he could find out.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He set his jaw.<\/span>\u00a0 Assuming that thing doesn\u2019t find us\u2014or anything else.<\/em><\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Lowering Neve from his saddle without dropping her or falling himself was a challenge, but he managed it by the skin of his teeth.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He laid her on one of their bedrolls and covered her with two blankets before he tethered the horses and began to set camp for the night.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Fire first,<\/em><\/span> he thought as he picketed their mounts.<\/span>\u00a0 Tent can wait until after I\u2019ve set her leg.<\/em><\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He winced.<\/span>\u00a0 Hope I\u2019m up to <\/em><\/span>that<\/span> task.<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>They\u2019d just have to find out.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u2022<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u2022<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cOhhh\u2026\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Neve\u2019s hands fisted in the blankets spread over her as she came awake, teeth catching her lower lip to silence her pained moan.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>If there was a part of her that didn\u2019t hurt, she wasn\u2019t quite certain what it was.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 My hands, maybe, but if I keep holding the blanket like this, that\u2019s not going to last for long.<\/em><\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNeve?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>She sucked in two shaky breaths before she trusted herself to speak instead of scream.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>The taste of blood slicked her tongue.<\/span>\u00a0 Did I just draw blood, or is it from something\u2026?<\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>She swallowed hard.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cCam?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Gods and monsters, I sound like a strangled cat.<\/em><\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>His body eclipsed the dying light that flooded into the tent through its open flap, his tread making the tent floor rustle and crunch with each step.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>They winced in unison\u2014possibly for the same reason.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI wasn\u2019t sure when you\u2019d wake up,\u201d he said as he knelt next to her.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The look on his face said that he wasn\u2019t sure <\/span>if<\/span><\/em> she\u2019d wake up.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat happened?\u201d she asked.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She could remember things in bits and pieces, as if her memory was a vase that had fallen and shattered\u2014and a few of the pieces had disappeared.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI remember trying to catch up with you, then the tree and my horse balking at the last second\u2026and then not really anything.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cSomething ambushed us,\u201d he said quietly, smoothing her hair.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She winced slightly as his fingers brushed against a knot she hadn\u2019t noticed until he touched it.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI don\u2019t know what it was.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ambushed?<\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, head starting to pound and thoughts starting to scatter.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWho could have–?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d he said. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u201cBut whatever it was\u2026it was big and ugly and really hated you.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Hated me?<\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>Her lips formed the words, though she didn\u2019t utter them.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Cameron\u2019s brow creased.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI didn\u2019t realize any of them would be that\u2026articulate.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAny of what?\u201d she managed to whisper, trying to gather her thoughts again.<\/span>\u00a0 Bloody hell.<\/em><\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYour\u2026enemies, I guess.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>The monsters like those\u2014what\u2019d you guys call them?<\/span>\u00a0 Dirae<\/em><\/span>?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cFuries,\u201d she murmured.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYeah.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Why?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>What was\u2026?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Her voice trailed away, her head swimming.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Enemies?\u00a0 <\/span>Which\u2026who\u2026?<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cBig, greenish.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Kind of like the Hulk but a lot uglier and more articulate.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>It was like he was talking another language.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Neve started to shake her head.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>White hot pain stabbed her eyes and she groaned, going still.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201c<\/span>D\u00e9ithe agus arrachtaigh<\/span><\/em>.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>She swallowed.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNothing.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Water?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYeah, hang on.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Neve listened to him get up, fingers tightening in her blankets.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Some of the pain was starting to ebb slightly, or was it just fading into the background in the face of fresher, sharper pain?<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Focus, Neve.\u00a0 <\/span>What the hell is he talking about?<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHere,\u201d Cameron said quietly, sliding a hand under her head.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She flinched a little as he raised her up.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cOoof.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>The sound was half an exhaled breath, half a moan.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cSorry,\u201d he mumbled.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAm I hurting you?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019m more thirsty,\u201d she told him, opening her eyes and blinking back tears.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019ll live.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>One shaky hand covered his as he lifted a water bottle to her lips and helped her drink.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She leaned into his cradling arm, looking up at him.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Worry was etched in every line of his face, his brows knit, jaw set, dark hollows already forming beneath his eyes.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>She pushed the water bottle away.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Her throat hurt less now, and her mouth didn\u2019t taste like blood anymore.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHow bad is it, Cam?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYour horse threw you into a <\/span>tree<\/span><\/em>.\u201d His voice broke.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI didn\u2019t think you were alive at first.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I prayed, I hoped.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I shot the thing and it ran away, but I don\u2019t know if it\u2019ll find us again.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Rode all day to get as far away from it as we could.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHow far?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThree creeks and a river and I don\u2019t know how many miles.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Cameron leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI just hope we\u2019re safe.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I don\u2019t\u2014I can\u2019t\u2014\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He broke off, exhaling through his teeth.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019m afraid, Neve.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I\u2019m afraid of how bad you might be hurt, I\u2019m afraid that it\u2019ll catch up with us, I\u2019m afraid I didn\u2019t set your leg right, I\u2019m just\u2026I\u2019m fucking terrified.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cEverything will be fine,\u201d she whispered.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>A ball of ice settled in her belly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Would it, or was she lying to them both?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She groped for his hand, caught it, squeezed.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cEverything will be fine.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He didn\u2019t dare stop until it was almost dark, three creeks and a half-dry river between him and the site of their ambush.\u00a0 All he thought about was putting miles between them and it\u2014and that Neve kept on breathing. … 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":[35,53,14,52,39],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1268","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-book-2","category-chapter-14","category-story","category-winter","category-year-one"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1EBlN-ks","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1268","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=1268"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1268\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1269,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1268\/revisions\/1269"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1268"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1268"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1268"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}