{"id":1369,"date":"2012-08-20T00:00:34","date_gmt":"2012-08-20T04:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1369"},"modified":"2012-08-19T12:13:23","modified_gmt":"2012-08-19T16:13:23","slug":"winter-chapter-19-02","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1369","title":{"rendered":"Winter – Chapter 19 – 02"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>They rode down into a hollow, through a stand of trees to a small clearing that overlooked a creek.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Fast-moving water tumbled over rocks, liquid at the center of the creek even as ice built at the edges.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>The ground was hard beneath the hooves of their horses, a sure sign that winter was coming on quickly.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNever had a ground this hard this early in the year,\u201d Cameron said as his boots hit the ground.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He tethered his mount loosely to a sapling and inspected the clearing with a critical eye.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Neve shifted uncomfortably in her saddle, trying to smother a wince at the twinging in her thighs and spine.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIt\u2019ll be a hard winter,\u201d she said, the reins twisting in her hands.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAre you sure you want to stop here?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>We could ride on.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He glanced toward her, eyes crinkling as he looked past her toward the sky.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHave a look at those clouds.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>We\u2019d be lucky to get another couple miles before it hits, and I don\u2019t think we\u2019ll find a better campsite.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>She followed his gaze, watching the gray-black clouds pile up against each other high above.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Her lips thinned and she nodded.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI see your point.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThought you might.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Cameron paused near one side of the clearing, giving it a long look around.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cRight here, I think.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Neve nudged her horse closer to him.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It\u2019d become a familiar pattern.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He\u2019d lift her down from the saddle and she\u2019d sit in the grass and organize their dry food supplies and pots or mend anything that needed mending while he set camp.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She still felt vaguely useless, but until her leg healed, there wasn\u2019t much more she could do.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She could stagger around with a stick to brace her, but even that was questionable activity, at best.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Her arms slid around Cameron\u2019s shoulders as he lifted her out of the saddle and she held him for a moment longer than usual.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He tilted his head slightly to one side, looking at her.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d he murmured softly, his arms around her waist, taking most of her weight.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>She shook her head slightly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She leaned against him for a moment longer before relaxing in fractions.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI don\u2019t know.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Something just\u2026made me do it.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He gave her a crooked smile and gently lowered her to the ground, then turned to start unloading their saddlebags, the tents, the bedrolls, the other supplies.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWe\u2019ll be fine,\u201d he said as he led her horse over to the sapling where he\u2019d left his own.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIt\u2019s just a storm.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Nothing worse than that.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Snow\u2019ll come, wind\u2019ll come, but we\u2019ll be fine.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I\u2019ll make a lean-to for the horses like I did before and they\u2019ll stay warm and the tent\u2019ll keep us plenty warm.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Neve tucked her hands into the sleeves of her coat, the chill of winter nibbling at her fingertips.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou\u2019re right.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I\u2019ll just be more comfortable when we find what we\u2019re looking for.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Her brows knit as she watched Cameron start to pitch their tent.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat are we looking for, anyway?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>We\u2019re not just looking for <\/span>any<\/span><\/em> settlement, are we?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Something\u2019s tugging you along.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Cameron winced slightly but didn\u2019t deny it.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He was silent, pitching the tent as the dark clouds gathered, piling on top of each other like snowdrifts, drawing inexorably closer.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cCam,\u201d Neve finally said, her voice gentle. \u201cIf you can\u2019t trust me with what\u2019s bothering you, who can you trust?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He laughed a soft, bitter laugh and nodded.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou\u2019re right.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Still, he didn\u2019t say more until he was starting to gather deadwood from around the edges of the clearing to build a fire.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Then, finally: \u201cI keep having dreams of people in danger,\u201d Cameron said quietly, dropping a pile of wood near her feet.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He dropped to his knees next to it and starting to arrange the deadwood.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI keep seeing fighting and hearing the screams and I know I\u2019m supposed to be there\u2014I don\u2019t know if I\u2019m supposed to be there to stop it or to help them.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>But I have to get there.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He took a tiny box of matches from a pocket of his coat and twisted some leaves and grass into tinder.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>His hands shook slightly as he lit the fire.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI don\u2019t know why I\u2019m going there, Neve,\u201d he whispered.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019m just running.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Running away, running toward\u2026I don\u2019t know which.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Neve touched his arm.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cOh Cam.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Her brows knit together.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Teague, what have you done?\u00a0 <\/span>What have you started?<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>She inched a little closer.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Cameron put his arm around her for a moment and squeezed her tightly against his side.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019m glad you\u2019re with me,\u201d he said.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI don\u2019t know what I\u2019d do.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Having you here helps.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I can think about things other than the goddamned dreams.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He knuckled his eyes, then shook himself and leaned forward to make sure the fire caught on more of the kindling piled around the tinder.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Neve squeezed his arm.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAnything I can do, I\u2019ll do it,\u201d she told him softly as he stood up.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cJust say the word.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Cameron smiled weakly, staring down at her.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>For a moment, she wondered what he was thinking.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Then he swung away, shaking his head at himself as he scooped up the kettle and headed for the stream. \u201cI\u2019ve got to get that lean-to set for the horses,\u201d he grumbled.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cCam?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019m fine,\u201d he said as he walked to the creek.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>You\u2019re not.\u00a0 <\/span>But I\u2019ll get to the bottom of it sooner or later.<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Neve sighed and dug out two mugs and two satchels of tea.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>For now, it was all she could do.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 They rode down into a hollow, through a stand of trees to a small clearing that overlooked a creek.\u00a0 Fast-moving water tumbled over rocks, liquid at the center of the creek even as ice built at the edges.\u00a0 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":[58,14,52,39],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1369","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-chapter-19","category-story","category-winter","category-year-one"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1EBlN-m5","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1369","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=1369"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1369\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1371,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1369\/revisions\/1371"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1369"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1369"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1369"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}