The Inconvenient Alliance

Chapter 13

Drake POV:
As predicted, It isn't that hard to stay awake through the night, my back to the wall of our small hidden area as I sit on my sleeping bag, my mind often thinking something is going to come into our small alcove of the cavern here with us. There doesn't seem to be any nightcrawlers in the cavern as first suspected but "he" is definitely here, and I hope "he" doesn't show up. I have moved the lanterns some, having one close by me, and one a bit further out so more light covers across things, the light just barely covers the entirety of the alcove but ill be less likely to miss anything hiding in the shadows if something does decide to creep in with us. Knowing I don't want to lure anything in with the light either I attempt to still dull the light from the outside by putting a dampener cloth over the two lanterns, doing the best I can to block the light from the outside if someone were to look into the alcove but still creating enough light to see what's around me. I hear some soft sounds near me and glance over, it's just our captive scout against the wall, shifting and moaning, he's still unconscious and settles down after a little while against the hard rock wall. I have a feeling he's going to be sore from the fight and not going to be in a good mood when he wakes, which may make it harder to get answers out of him. I partly feel bad for him but in a way, I don't as I know he's from the empire and attacked us, I couldn't let him take Grayson or the dragon egg, as both are important, and I don't want to lose another friend. Iv already lost Armen and I still think about him a lot, and I still miss him a lot, he was like a brother to me, I don't know if I can even get him back or not at this point since what happened at the fight at the magic library when I felt his life force leave after I destroyed one of "his'' diamonds, but I can at least try. I let out a long deep sigh as I'm thinking about it then glance over at Grayson who is passed out on his sleeping bag, softly snoring, he seems so peaceful right now that I would hate to wake him but knowing that I should probably try to get some sleep so I'm not exhausted tomorrow and estimating that it has been a few hours I gently put my hand on his shoulder and try to wake him. "Hey, Grayson? Wake up, it's your turn to take watch." I whisper in his ear and he rolls over to face me, his eyes flickering open. He takes a minute to wake up and to adjust to the light, blinking a few times as he sits up and says back to me softly, "Alright, has the scout woken up yet?" "No, not yet," I say back to him, and he continues, "good, do you know what time it is?" "No, I don't, but I figured it has been a few hours, probably close to daylight at this point, I know we will have to leave soon but I still should try to get some sleep even if it isn't for too long." I respond as Grayson is digging around his backpack and pulls out a small clock from one of the side pockets and looks at it, then puts it away again. "yeah, it's almost morning, I'll stay up for the last few hours and keep an eye on things while you try to get some sleep." "Thx Grayson" I finish and layout on my sleeping bag, I stare up at the ceiling for a long while, worried that something may happen but I know that if something does start to happen Grayson will wake me. I watch the dull flickering light and shadows that are created from the nearby lanterns around and I soon realize how tired I am. My eyelids soon grow heavy and ever so slowly the flickering light lulls me into sleep.