The Zodiac Cycle

2.1 Adventure is out there

I woke up to it being broad daylight outside. Someone was shaking me awake, and I jostled quite frantically, hitting whoever it was in the nose.

"Ow!" Elizabeth held her nose, frowning. "I was just trying to wake you up, jeez."

"Oh-" I had nearly forgotten all that had happened last night, and boy was I tired and sore. "Sorry."

She sat on her knees in front of me, looking over at the other members of our tent. Rebecca was beside me, then Iris, Brianna, and Clementine, followed by an empty cot that Elizabeth had been sleeping in. All the girls were in this tent, the boys in another, and Alex was allowed to sleep in the main hut by themself.

I had given them the option to choose either tent, but they just scowled and walked away.

I stretched and yawned, stirring Rebecca.

"Hmm- 's too early." She mumbled before pulling her pillow over her head.

"Actually, it's nearly noon." Elizabeth tilted her head a bit. "You all must have been traveling a lot to be so tired."

"Yeah, something like that." I pulled my blanket off me and stood up. Rebecca had apparently fallen back to sleep, and I kinda wanted to kick her.

Instead, I walked around to Brianna and Iris. Iris had curled herself into a ball, and Brianna had somehow wrapped herself around the Gemini. I shook both of them, waking Brianna first. She nearly panicked for a second at being woken up, but realized where she was and sat up, carefully pulling herself off her friend.

I laughed a bit and she looked up at me, blinking the sleep off still. "What?"

"You're a little obvious." I wiggled my eyebrows at her. "Wake her up, will you?"

She nodded and I moved on to Clementine. I reached for her to shake her awake, but she caught me by the wrist before I had made contact. "Touch me and you'll lose your hand." She opened her eyes and glared at me.

"You're the one touching me here." I shrugged and she released my wrist.

Elizabeth had managed to coax Rebecca into an upright position, and Iris was also sitting up.

"Alright, great. Everyone is up." I then remembered the boys. "Except for everyone else, dang."

"I'll get the boys." Clementine trudged out of the tent as the rest of us started changing. Elizabeth had already changed, so she held the tent flap closed. Brianna pulled on a black t-shirt and some cargo pants as Rebecca managed to find a nice shawl she had packed. Iris removed the shirt she had slept in and I couldn't help but stare. She had a large scar on her shoulder, as if she'd been stabbed straight through.

"Its rude to stare." Brianna glared at me, and I looked down.

"Sorry, I guess I never noticed it. It suprised me."

Iris remained silent, giving me one side glance before pulling a fresh tank top on, covering the scar.

"May I ask what happened?" I was curious, but I wasnt sure if I was prying.

"Not until I'm awake enough to tell you." Iris scratched at her neck sleepily.

"How in the world do you have this much energy?" Rebecca grumbled.

"I've always been more of a morning person. Elizabeth is fine too."

"I'm nocturnal, I never slept." Elizabeth cut in, putting her finger up. "I'm utterly exhausted."

"Got it." I gave her a thumbs up and we filed out of the tent. The boys came out at the same time, and Clementine went back into our tent to get ready herself.