{"id":496,"date":"2011-08-10T00:00:55","date_gmt":"2011-08-10T04:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=496"},"modified":"2011-08-10T00:00:55","modified_gmt":"2011-08-10T04:00:55","slug":"day-10-chapter-9-04","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=496","title":{"rendered":"Day 10 – Chapter 9 – 04"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She could hear J.T.\u2019s colorful insults before she came around the pile of rubble.\u00a0 She wasn\u2019t sure whose mother he was cursing, but she was glad it wasn\u2019t hers.\u00a0 Carolyn rounded the mound of broken brick and concrete, studying the three mud-spattered men.\u00a0 J.T. was knee-deep in the hole and swearing about something while Matt and Drew clearly fought down laughter.\u00a0 She cleared her throat.\u00a0 \u201cHow\u2019s it going, guys?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 J.T. froze, going silent.\u00a0 His back was to her, but Carolyn could see his ears turning red.\u00a0 It was apparently the last straw for the other two, who busted up laughing.\u00a0 J.T. glared at them, growling, then slowly turned around, face flushed.\u00a0 \u201cAs you can see, not well.\u00a0 We\u2019re having a hard time telling if we\u2019re hitting water, or just more mud.\u00a0 And the clay sucks monkey balls.\u201d\u00a0 He looked like he wanted to swallow his tongue after what he\u2019d just said.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Carolyn tried not to laugh, shaking her head. \u00a0\u201cThat bad, huh?\u201d\u00a0 She held up the Thermos she\u2019d brought along.\u00a0 \u201cI brought leftover coffee from this morning.\u00a0 Thought maybe you guys might like something to warm up a little.\u201d\u00a0 She dug a few mugs out of the messenger bag she had slung across her body and headed over to a slab of fallen concrete that seemed level enough to set the cups on.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Matt shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cI need more than a cup of coffee to warm me up.\u00a0 I\u2019m going to go get cleaned up and park myself next to the fire for a while.\u00a0 It\u2019s too wet for us to know if we\u2019re actually hitting water.\u00a0 Let\u2019s call it a day.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cY\u2019sure, Matt?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He nodded in response to Drew.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m sure.\u00a0 We\u2019ll see if tomorrow\u2019s a better day.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cOh goody<\/em>,\u201d J.T. grumbled, mopping his brow with his arm.\u00a0 All three were sweating despite the chill.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cLooks like it\u2019s been hard work,\u201d Carolyn said as she filled the mugs.\u00a0 She handed one of them up to Matt as he passed, heading back to the tents.\u00a0 She sat on the edge of the slab, looking up at Drew and J.T. and shaking her head a little.\u00a0 \u201cReally<\/em> hard work.\u00a0 You two look like all you\u2019ve been doing is rolling around in the mud.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cBelieve me, that\u2019s what it feels like we\u2019ve been doing,\u201d Drew said, frowning as he took a sip of coffee.\u00a0 \u201cA lot of work, not a lot to show for it.\u201d\u00a0 He looked down toward her.\u00a0 \u201cWhat were you doing back at camp?\u00a0 Anything interesting going on?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She shook her head.\u00a0 \u201cI helped Marin move some lumber around for the raised plant beds.\u00a0 Kel and Tala left for that sheep place.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWho all ended up going with them?\u201d\u00a0 Drew asked.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cStasia and Brandon.\u00a0 I think that\u2019s it.\u00a0 Most folks just stuck a little closer to home, though I think that Leah and a couple of the staffers went down toward the river to see if they could catch any fish that looked safe to eat.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 J.T. grimaced.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019m going to be eating any of those fish if I can help it.\u00a0 Soda crackers and peanut butter for me if I have to.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Carolyn laughed.\u00a0 \u201cNot that brave, huh, J.T.?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThere are a few things that I won\u2019t risk, and fish from the Grand is one of them.\u201d\u00a0 He took a long swallow from his mug and shook his head, squinting up toward the gray sky.\u00a0 There wasn\u2019t any sun, but it didn\u2019t look like it was going to rain again today, either.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cHow have you been holding up, Care?\u201d\u00a0 Drew asked after a few minutes of silence, looking at her.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWith\u2026everything?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He nodded.\u00a0 J.T. pretended not to be listening too closely, and Carolyn smiled a little.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I know he believes.<\/em>\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s a little frustrating.\u00a0 I still don\u2019t know how I knocked Marin out of the way of that support pole, but I\u2019m kind of glad I haven\u2019t run into any situations that I\u2019ve had to try to do anything like that again, y\u2019know?\u201d\u00a0 She shivered, holding the thermos in her lap.\u00a0 \u201cThere\u2019s a lot more fairies here now, though, than there were a few days ago.\u00a0 Have either of you noticed them at all?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Drew\u2019s nose wrinkled.\u00a0 \u201cI thought it felt a little different.\u00a0 Rory was complaining about something hiding things from him, too.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Carolyn tried not to giggle.\u00a0 Rory\u2019s mutual enmity with the fae was fairly well-known, even to her.\u00a0 \u201cThey probably are\u2026they think he\u2019s a little too grumpy.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 J.T. snorted.\u00a0 \u201cThen what do they think about Thom?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Carolyn shrugged.\u00a0 \u201cI haven\u2019t asked.\u201d\u00a0 Her shoulder tingled and she felt a slight weight settle.\u00a0 She glanced slightly to the side to see Longfellow, the small, young fairy that had come to her first, dressed in blue and green. His tiny, round face was curious as he plopped down cross-legged, gossamer wings folding back like a butterfly\u2019s.\u00a0 She looked back at J.T. and Drew.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m not sure I want to,\u201d she admitted.\u00a0 \u201cKind of afraid of what they\u2019ll tell me.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cProbably that he\u2019s being dumb,\u201d J.T. said.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She was aware of Longfellow nodding vigorously and Carolyn choked on a laugh.\u00a0 \u201cProbably,\u201d she agreed.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m just glad that they\u2019re not bothering anyone\u2026except for Rory.\u00a0 It must be the wardings; I think they feel safe inside of our camp.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Drew frowned a little.\u00a0 \u201cWhat about the Shakespeare garden?\u00a0 That was always their haven.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Longfellow pressed close to her face, shivering a little.\u00a0 Carolyn frowned, murmuring, \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong, little guy?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He whispered in her ear and her eyes widened.\u00a0 She wet her lips and looked at J.T. and Drew.\u00a0 \u201cI think that maybe we need to take a walk,\u201d she said slowly.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWhy?\u201d\u00a0 J.T. asked.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cBecause I think something happened to the garden, and it might be something we need to see.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She could hear J.T.\u2019s colorful insults before she came around the pile of rubble.\u00a0 She wasn\u2019t sure whose mother he was cursing, but she was glad it wasn\u2019t hers.\u00a0 Carolyn rounded the mound of broken brick and concrete, studying … 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":[25,26],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-496","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-chapter-9","category-day-10"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1EBlN-80","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/496","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=496"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/496\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=496"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=496"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=496"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}