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“I guess I don’t know,” I finally said. It was as close to the truth as either of us were getting tonight.
She didn’t say anything after that, just kept shooting questioning looks my way.
I was grateful when I found a relatively flat, hidden space under a low-hanging branch to hang a makeshift tent. It was the work of a few seconds to unroll the waterproof canvas from my bag and secure it in place, and the varied coloring should be enough to keep us somewhat hidden, at least from predators that hunted with their eyes.
We couldn't do much to cover up our scents, but we had known that coming into this. At least, I had.
I turned at the sound of clinking to see random things being pushed outside of my bag.
“What all do you have in here?” Lina’s voice echoed from inside the canvas. Upon closer inspection, I saw a greenish glow coming from the bag as well.
“Dare I even ask what you’re doing?”
“Maggie and I are just exploring,” she called back. “Along with our helpful friend.”
A low, reluctant chuckle escaped my lips while I opened the bag to find a glowing snail lighting the way for Lina while she systematically sorted through my carefully packed things. Though, she probably could have lit the way herself, the way she was still glowing with each heartbeat.
“What’s in the flask?” she asked, curiously.
“Bourbon. Are you finished?”
“Not when you’ve been withholding the good stuff,” she called back.
“Says the woman who ate my cookie,” I reminded her.
She rummaged around for a few more minutes, reminding me how strong she was for such a tiny person. She picked up my heavy flask and the solid knife with ease, setting them to the side. When she made her way to my underclothes, I reached in and plucked her out, following up to remove the snail and a more amenable Maggie, as well.
“Okay, you’re done here.”
She didn’t argue, just announced it was time to change her clothes. Only she would insist on wearing pajamas to sleep in the middle of the Enchanted Forest, but there was exactly zero point in arguing with her.
I heard a few hisses and grunts, then she muttered one of her ridiculous curse words under her breath.
“Lina, why are you in pain?” I called over my shoulder.
Instead of answering, she just hitched in another breath.
“Lina?”
“It’s nothing,” she finally breathed out.
“It’s obviously something,” I pushed back.
There was another beat of silence before she mumbled.
“It’s umm… it’s cramps, okay?”
“Oh. Sorry.” My face heated, and I was glad she couldn't see. “Sorry,” I said again, casting around for a way to steer the subject away from my invasive line of questioning.
“Aren’t you going to change?” She saved me the trouble of coming up with something to say.
“No. I’ll just sleep in this.” Despite my thoughts about her pajamas, I had to admit one of us had been more prepared than the other for the possibility of sleeping in close quarters. When I traveled with the men, we just took our clothes off to sleep, and put them back on in the morning, but that obviously wouldn’t work here. I hadn’t thought about it, really.
With a resigned sigh, I climbed into my bedroll fully-dressed. I could at least spare us that one small bit of awkwardness.
For once.
11
