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Rocks basked in the morning sunlight by the shore. I laid the soaking replacement dress along with my wet boots on them to dry. Not that I planned to stick around long enough for the sun to work its magic. We could only stay here a few minutes…just long enough for Poseidon and me to warm up and recover from the freezing waters. In my wet clothes, I struggled to warm my body, stomping my feet and rubbing my bare arms. But once Poseidon and I got going again, the horse’s body heat and the sun’s loving touch would help.
From my estimation, it might take several days for the hounds and men chasing us to catch up…if they hadn’t abandoned the search. Either way, Poseidon and I had to maintain the distance between us and get to the cave before it was too late. Rumi and my rescuers were not going to die in vain. I owed them my life. I would fulfill my promise to go to Wildfire.
At the reminder of my friend’s sacrifice, heaviness settled in my gut, turning into a dull ache. I sat down on the rock, pulling my legs to my chest, wrapping my arms around them, and resting my head on my knee. After everything I’d been through, I wasn’t sure how much more pain I could endure. No one needed to die for me. They should have left me in my cell. The old Snow had died some moon cycles ago, giving rise to a new me—a defeated, lost, tormented, and broken woman. Freed and on the run, I didn’t know how I’d be of any use to anyone, least of all the so-called resistance. But I couldn’t think about that for the moment. For now, I had to focus on reaching the resistance alive.
Finished with his scratching, Poseidon nibbled at the grass atop the bank, his coat all fuzzy instead of sleek. I don’t know how he managed to stand. My legs had wobbled under my weight those brief few moments I’d stood.
Exhausted, I remained on the rock, enjoying the wonder of my newfound freedom. I basked in the sunlight, its rays glittering on my still-damp skin. Being in the fresh air, smelling the oaks, the forest, experiencing freedom again after so long…it was exhilarating. Shame I had to leave soon. This place was beautiful. Clear water, like glass, reflected the morning glow. Fish snapped up insects from the surface. A squirrel chewed on an acorn, leaving dustings of shell at his feet. The trees grew with a bit of distance between them, as if they respected each other’s space. Little shrubs huddled between the larger canopy of leaves above. A far cry from the twisted, tangled jungle back home.
I wasn’t the only one enjoying either the sun or the view. A small lizard flicked its tongue at me, eyeing me angrily, as if I’d stolen his spot.
“Don’t worry,” I told him. “This will be all yours again soon.”
Sea God. To any normal person, I would have sounded mad talking to an animal. But with only rats, cockroaches, and a crow for friends, I hadn’t had a decent conversation in a long time. I’d never been able to get any more out of Kelvin than his usual repetitive line. During my time in the cell, I’d not had much to entertain myself with besides the birds bouncing from branch to branch outside my cell window.
I extended my arms and legs, stretching them, wanting to sleep for three days straight. An unlikely luxury, given the circumstances, but one I could look forward to if we made it somewhere safe.
***
A short time later,Poseidon snorted and wandered over to me. He gave me a nudge, as if telling me it was time.
“Wait a moment,” I told him, grabbing my dress from beside me and spooking the lizard into the cracks between the rocks.
Quickly, I removed the filthy, ragged dress I’d worn for the last nine moon cycles and replaced it with the wet but fresh linen dress. Once my new dress was dry, I imagined it would feel like heaven on my skin. Not gritty and dirty like my old one. The soggy boots I’d deal with later.
“One more thing,” I told my horse, removing the dagger Rumi had packed in my satchel.
With swift movements, I hacked off the matted braid that was my hair, leaving only a short and messy bob. I glanced at myself in the water. Not exactly a refined look for a woman. But new clothes, a bath, and less hair might put the soldiers off my tracks.
The old Snow had been attached to her long black hair, and felt it gave her a sense of identity and it had made her feel beautiful. Without her hair, she felt like a man or worse, like a hideous monster. That was what I was. The hair would grow back again in time, but it wouldn’t remove all my memories, my pain, or my grief, and it wouldn’t bring back the old Snow.
“Ready,” I said to my horse, tucking my braid into the satchel before grabbing the gullet on the saddle and placing my foot in the stirrup.
Poseidon snorted as I pulled myself up and got settled on his back.
“Supposedly, you know where the resistance is,” I said, reins in hand.
My horse rocked his head back and forth and carried me away along the edge of the river. Sea God, it felt good to ride again. Even though I was rusty and bound to be sore tomorrow.
