{"id":1469,"date":"2012-10-15T00:00:22","date_gmt":"2012-10-15T04:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1469"},"modified":"2012-10-14T19:06:47","modified_gmt":"2012-10-14T23:06:47","slug":"winter-chapter-24-01","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1469","title":{"rendered":"Winter – Chapter 24 – 01"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cSomething\u2019s tracking us,\u201d Thordin said, crouched next to a patch of bare earth where most of the snow had melted away.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He glanced back over his shoulder, back into the woods they\u2019d crossed through, then looked up at Cameron and Neve.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Swaying slightly on her horse\u2019s back, Neve swallowed hard and asked, \u201cHow long?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cProbably since the bridge.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Maybe before.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Three, four days at least.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Thordin straightened and walked over to take his mount\u2019s reins from Cameron.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cCan you tell what it is?\u201d the former pilot asked.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Thordin looked between the two of them, frowning slightly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI have a couple theories, but they\u2019re not pleasant ones.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Cameron arched a brow and Thordin exhaled, staring at the road they\u2019d already trodden, back through trees and brush.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Then he turned his gaze to Neve.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWill he believe me if I tell him?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>She canted her head to one side, hands gripping the rim of her saddle so hard her knuckles had turned white.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThat depends on what you\u2019re going to tell him.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI think it\u2019s a pack of <\/span>hamrammr<\/span><\/em>.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Neve sucked in a shallow breath, looking at Cameron.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He frowned slightly and looked between the two.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou might as well tell me.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Either I\u2019m going to believe you or I\u2019m not.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Thordin glanced at Neve again before he shook his head, turning to Cameron.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThey\u2019re a touch like werewolves.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>They\u2019re not that, precisely, but that would be the best frame of reference for you.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWerewolves that sound like some kind of\u2026strange sneeze.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Cameron\u2019s head spun a little.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Werewolves?\u00a0 <\/span>What\u2019s next?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Harpies?<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Oh wait.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Been there and done that.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Ghosts?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Vampires?<\/span><\/span><\/em>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He suppressed a snort and reminded himself that he needed to keep an open mind, no matter how crazy things started to sound.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHow dangerous?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIt depends on whether or not we\u2019re their quarry.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Thordin\u2019s jaw tightened as he looked toward Neve.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWould they be hunting you?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cMaybe,\u201d she said, brows knitting.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThough I haven\u2019t crossed one of the Sisters in a long time\u2014not since before we all went away. Have you?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Thordin frowned, looking off into the distance again.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cMaybe.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It\u2019s possible.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I\u2019ve been stumbling around for a while, anyway.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I could have crossed one of them inadvertently while I was still figuring everything out.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I don\u2019t think so, but I can\u2019t rule it out as a distinct possibility.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He glanced toward Cameron again.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat about him?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI couldn\u2019t run afoul of anything if I tried,\u201d Cameron grumbled as he swung back into his saddle.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Neve gave him a sharp look and he smiled a self-deprecating grin.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cExcept for the <\/span>Dirae<\/span><\/em>, apparently.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cExcept for the <\/span>Dirae<\/span><\/em>,\u201d Neve said quietly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She closed her eyes for a moment, still swaying.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Cameron reached over and put a steadying hand on her shoulder.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou\u2019re tired,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIf something\u2019s chasing us, we need to keep riding,\u201d she said, opening her eyes.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cEspecially if it\u2019s <\/span>hamrammr<\/span><\/em> that\u2019s doing the chasing.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>The firbolg was child\u2019s play compared to them.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cUnless it\u2019s got the scent of blood in its nostrils,\u201d Thordin said as he remounted.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThen they have a tendency to turn into mindless berserkers out for\u2026well.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Blood.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Christ, what have I ended up in the middle of?<\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>Cameron frowned.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAnd they\u2019re chasing us?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cCould be.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Could be something else.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Wouldn\u2019t be the first time I was wrong.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I\u2019m not omniscient.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Just good at what I do.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Thordin shook his head.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNeve\u2019s right, though.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Something\u2019s following, we need to keep riding.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Just in case.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cJust in case,\u201d Cameron echoed grimly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He shook his head, looking at Neve for another moment.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAll right.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>You two win.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He kicked his horse into motion.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019ll take point.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Maybe we\u2019ll get lucky and cross a few streams.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Shake the scent.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWe can try,\u201d Thordin agreed.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNot a bad idea.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cOccasionally, I come up with good ones,\u201d Cameron said with a grim smile.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat else could it be?\u201d he asked as they got moving again, heading steadily west.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It was as if some kind of tether was tugging him onward, westward.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIf it\u2019s not a <\/span>hamra<\/span><\/em>\u2014whatever you said it was.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Thordin considered the question for a long moment, then shook his head.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019d say a pack of wolves, but the last I\u2019d heard, they were still a bit rare up here, especially the type the could transform into men.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I suppose it could be some local skinchangers or something similar, but that begs the question about why they\u2019d be following us.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWe\u2019re still trying to figure out why a pack of <\/span>hamrammr<\/span><\/em> would be following us, Thordin,\u201d Neve reminded him, her voice barely audible over the sound of the horses navigating the brush-laden game trail.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIt could be anything, couldn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhatever it is, it\u2019s a predator of some kind,\u201d Thordin said, shaking his head again.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cLupine, cat, otherwise\u2014I can\u2019t quite be sure. But there\u2019s human\u2014or other\u2014intelligence guiding it.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>There are both paw and footprints that\u2019re evidence of <\/span>that<\/span><\/em>.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cCould be a few someones with hunting hounds,\u201d Cameron said.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>His stomach settled a little at the thought that it could be something entirely mundane.<\/span>\u00a0 A mundane threat would certainly be a change.<\/em><\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAye, it could be,\u201d Thordin agreed.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cPray it\u2019s that, I\u2019m thinking.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I will.\u00a0 <\/span>Believe me, I will.<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>Cameron glanced toward Neve.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Not sure that the three of us could handle anything more than a few hunters and their hounds.\u00a0 <\/span>Not as ragged as we are, suffering like she is.<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Try as she might to hide it, he knew that Neve wasn\u2019t recovering as quickly as she should, and he blamed the stress of the road.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Though the sooner we get to where we\u2019re going, the better off she\u2019ll be.\u00a0 <\/span>That doesn\u2019t do us any good if I lose her on the road, though.<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He dropped his mouth back half a length and reached across the gap, catching Neve\u2019s hand in his.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She gave him a wan, brave smile and he smiled back, squeezing her gloved hand in his.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cStop worrying so much about me,\u201d she whispered.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019ll be fine.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Just get us to where we\u2019re going.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThat\u2019s what I\u2019m trying to do,\u201d Cameron said quietly, then lifted her hand to his mouth to kiss the back of her hand.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cBut not at the cost of any of us.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>She smiled and squeezed his hand again.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He let go a moment later and concentrated on the road.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Just get us to where we\u2019re going.\u00a0 <\/span>That I can do.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It may be <\/span><\/em>all <\/span>I can do, but that I can do.<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cSomething\u2019s tracking us,\u201d Thordin said, crouched next to a patch of bare earth where most of the snow had melted away.\u00a0 He glanced back over his shoulder, back into the woods they\u2019d crossed through, then looked up at Cameron … 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":[35,63,14,52,39],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1469","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-book-2","category-chapter-24","category-story","category-winter","category-year-one"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1EBlN-nH","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1469","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=1469"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1469\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1470,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1469\/revisions\/1470"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1469"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1469"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1469"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}