Close to the Covert Rains **Book One**

Chapter 34 (Tuesday)

Ana could no longer sleep. It could have been anywhere between one at night and two in the morning; there was no way to tell time in the small purple room. Theoretically, though, Kwayo should tell them when it was--creak.

Ana froze, slowing her breathing. She held back a shiver of nerves; she only had a single thin blanket and it provided virtually no protection from danger. Creak.

Anyone awake? she sent.

No, of course I'm asleep, Teremki replied. Then sent softer, how could I be sleeping right now?

Did you hear that? Ana asked. It creaked again. That!

I did that time.

I did too, that was Dryda.

Kwayo, if you're playing a prank on us...Ana thought forcefully. Surely he wouldn't do that tonight of all nights.

What? Sorry, I wasn't paying attention.

You weren't paying attention to what was going on in your head? Ana asked. Wait, that might explain a lot actually.

Ana! Dryda sent. That was rude.

She hesitated. Okay, sorry Kwayo. I'm really tired.

Guys, Kwayo said, there's this crazy storm happening.

Ana's heart skipped, and Dryda asked what she'd been about to. Are you outside?

No. Why would I go outside? I can keep watch from in the hallway.

The creaking noise came again, making Ana realize it was likely just the storm. What time is it? She asked, sitting up. She rubbed the back of her neck; it'd been pretty sore the past few nights from sleeping without a pillow.

Not quite two. He sighed mentally. I'm just curious, but why did I get the last watch?

Because, Teremki said, right now is when it's the most dangerous to get spotted, and since the homing devices wouldn't last through a whole watch we can't sit outside the room, but we have to watch a clock somewhere.

Then why don't you make Ana do it?

Because, Ana told him, staying invisible for an hour is going to make me too tired.

Kwayo mentally sighed again, but stopped complaining. Verspri grumbled something in his sleep and rolled over, causing Ana to glance over his direction.

"Verspri?" Dryda whispered from her other side. He didn't respond.

"At least one of us can sleep tonight," Ana muttered, lying back down.

She tossed and turned for the next twenty-something minutes, her stomach a nervous knot. She shivered, but not from the cold. In fact, her palms started to sweat so she pushed the blanket towards her feet. It did little to help.

Finally, Kwayo thought at them, it's 2:24.

Teremki roused Verspri, who grumbled several times until Dryda turned the light on. Ana blinked rapidly, eyes aching.

"Okay," Teremki whispered, "let's go."

They each grabbed a homing device, which were turned on since her friends momentarily flashed out of sight before sticking the objects in their own small drawstring bags. Mrs. Aterak had brought them each one, carrying weapons and some food supplies in case they couldn't rendezvous after. Dryda bundled up their blankets and set them under the table, with the homing beacon box and the few other supplies Mrs. Sarai had brought over the weekend. She would come fetch them later.