AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’ll see if I can find some tomorrow. Their meat is richer than the adults. I’ll try to find some while you search for the medicinal herbs.”
“Okay.” I nod as he extends his hand to me.
I take his hand, and he gently helps me off the couch. I stand, and he takes his hand back slowly, maintaining eye contact with me. I start to notice the little intricacies better in his eyes, watching the gold and amber streaks alternate around his pupils until the sound of water dropping distracts me.
We both turn to the kitchen and begin to hear raindrops on the roof. He sighs and shakes his head as he looks at it.
“Let’s hope it’s just a light shower,” he comments disappointedly.
“If we’re going to be here for a while….” I pause before making a suggestion, hoping he doesn’t brush it off as stupid. “Maybe we should fix the roof.”
He looks at the kitchen, then back at me with a twinge of a grin. “We can fix it tomorrow. With an axe and a stone, I can try to flatten some panels from nearby trunks. For now….” He holds his arm out toward the bedroom. “You need to get some rest.”
I walk to the bedroom and look back at the fire before entering. I hear him blowing the candles out behind me and feel my way around the dark room for the bed. Once my hand touches the linens, I hop onto it quickly, hating that I can’t see what’s around me.
I see his figure approach the doorway with the dim light from the dying fire behind him. He begins to walk into the room, then stops halfway through the doorway. I catch my breath, not liking that I can’t see his facial expression.
“Do you want me to sleep on the couch?” he asks gently.
“What?” I ask, surprised. I thought I was about to get another lecture.
“I can sleep in the living room if you would rather.”
I remain silent, contemplating what to say. My thoughts keep getting distracted by the flickers of the fire from the living room. I worry I’ll see a shadow walk past and an animal has found us or something worse.
“I’ll be in there if you need me,” he says as he starts to walk out of the bedroom.
“No! Please stay.”
He turns around slowly and faces me. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.” I nod. “I would feel safer if you were in here with me.”
I hate admitting that, but it’s true. If something goes wrong in the middle of the night, I feel better with him next to me, even though sleeping in the same bed feels awkward.
He climbs under the sheets next to me and turns over on his side with his back to me. I turn in the opposite direction and try to close my eyes and calm my mind. As always, the quiet does what it does best and makes my thoughts spin quicker.
At first, I think about why Hurian is so cold. That repeated question turns into wondering why he saved me again; then the wolves pop back into my mind. I hear their snapping jaws and see their menacing eyes in my mind, and the fear comes back.
I keep my eyes open, looking at the living room. I’m too scared that once I shut them, a pack of animals will attack, or some dangerous orcs will cross paths of the house and smell the smoke, wanting fire to keep themselves warm. Anything can happen in a split second, and I want to be ready for anything since I’m already unprepared.
I feel him turn in the sheets and listen to his deep breathing, trying to let the sound calm me. His breaths have slowed, so he must be asleep, which amazes me. How can he relax and sleep while I’m having a panic attack? The thought irritates me but also brings me peace. If he doesn’t need to stay up and wait for danger, maybe I shouldn’t feel scared.
I turn around slowly, hoping not to wake him up. I turn my head and look at him. He’s lying on his back, and his eyes are closed. His lips are partly open, and his chest moves slowly with each air intake.
I look at his chest and try to match my breaths to his. Maybe if I can slow my breathing enough, I can trick my body into falling asleep. I try that a few times to no avail; the worries of the wild animals attacking are still plaguing my mind.
Eventually, I close my eyes and imagine being at home. Sometimes, when I can’t sleep, it helps to imagine I have a garden. I tell myself I have five different herbs and need to plant each of them strategically. I try to plant each, knowing which ones need sunlight more, which will grow taller than the others, and which will grow fastest.
I listen to Hurian breathing deeply and imagine that I’m in a fully bloomed garden as my muscles begin to relax. Just as I start seeing purple and white floating blobs, my indicator that I’m almost asleep, my body jerks me awake.
I roll my eyes and sigh as I look over at Hurian again. I try not to groan loudly so as not to wake him, but I’m highly irritated. I look at the ceiling, and the worst thought of the night crosses my mind: What if we’re so lost that we won’t be able to go back?
9
HURIAN
My eyes crack open slightly, and I see the forest out of the bedroom window beginning to come to light. I remain still and watch as the sun rises, admiring the quiet surrounding me.
