Your Trail of Blood in the Snow

Chapter 6 (Larry)

Lucas had woken me up very early. It was still dark, for the flame of the campfire was out and he was picking up everything he had on the floor. Just like the previous time, I hung on his back, still sleepy. I laid my head on his shoulder making my cheek stick completely to his neck. It was warm. After that I fell asleep again.

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The sunlight was hitting me directly in the face, barely interrupted by the shadows of the wilted trees that stood stripped of their ancient magnificence. It was rare to see them with leaves; the few that had them had dull colors, sad and smeared with a general aura of sadness.

Lucas was still carrying me on his back. He was walking slowly or at least that's what it felt like from the position I was in. I could not perceive the pains that afflicted me, for the medicine was still working at that moment. I lifted my face from Lucas' shoulder, realizing there was no risk of falling as I was firmly attached by a bandage to his body. My movements made him see that I had already woken up.

"Did you sleep well?" he asked.

"I gueth sho..." I put my right hand to my mouth, surprised and embarrassed. Indeed, the medicine had worked so far.

Lucas laughed, then said to me:

"It won't be long now before we get there. You can continue sleeping if you want; your snoring doesn't bother me at all, although my shoulder is wet from your drool.

I saw that he was right. I dried it with my hand, but all I managed to do was make things worse; the drool had now spread to his shoulder and part of his neck so I left it at that. I'll let the cold wind dry it. Good thing I couldn't see the expression on his face; maybe he was annoyed or disgusted.

Lucas walked for a long way before we stopped. He got me off with some difficulty and told me I needed to rest. The ride, although uneventful, had been arduous, even more so with me on his back.

"Flying would take almost a day. Shit! I don't know how you guys put up with this ordeal," he said, leaning back on the snow.

"I guess it's customary," I replied. I was sitting, looking around.

We were silent for a while. I could tell by the position of the sun that it was almost noon.

"Larry."

"Yes?" I had regained much of my ability to speak, so I could make decent conversation.

"When you are healed, how will you find your Montimer?"

I hadn't thought about it until that moment! I didn't really know where I was, and in fact it was certain that I would get lost very easily and be at the mercy of predators if I tried to venture back.

I clenched my fists.

"I don't know, but I'm sure that if I can't find the way, Montimer will find the way to me," I said those words, convinced that he would.

Lucas closed his eyes, as if contemplating, then opened them and saw me, smiling.

"I will help you find your family," he said. That surprised me a lot. I smiled at him as a gesture of thanks, almost crying with joy, but that would be in the future, for now I needed to make sure I survived.

"I... I thank you. I really don't know what..."

"Shhh. Be quiet," Lucas told me, raising his ears and moving them. He stood up, alert.

"But..."

"Keep quiet... something is approaching."

I remained expectant at Lucas's expression of concentration, his eyes closed, his ears moving a lot. Suddenly he opened his eyes and looked up at the sky. I followed his gaze. It was clear, cloudless.