Eternal Beasts

Camping with Centaurs

"I have taken steps to deal with our unwanted visitors," he rumbled, looking at Jared. "You and your party may stay within the boundaries of our camp for the remainder of this night, Master of the Great Beasts. But, on the morrow, you will immediately be on your way and depart the Danath as quickly as physically possible!"

Jared bowed, the rest of their small party following suit. Including the dryad, who strangely was counting herself in their number.

"You have my thanks for your timely intervention, commander," the big man said smoothly as he straightened. "And for your hospitality. We will be gone by first light!"

Apparently satisfied by the answer, the big centaur nodded before addressing his female comrade.

"Neva. Take the mortals to a spot within the first sector. Ensure they are comfortable then report back to me."

"Commander," the centauress replied with an acknowledging nod. With a final glance and a frown at the dryad on Jared's arm, the big centaur then turned away to step into the darkness and out of sight.

As soon as the big male was gone, Neva was guiding the small party forward.

"This way, if you please," she said firmly, gesturing with her hand. "The first sector is just over here."

The centauress left Jared and the others in a small clearing just outside the main camp where they spotted dozens of centaurs sleeping standing up, which had a place for a fire and a small stream nearby for water. As Neva's horse haunches stepped out of sight, Jared was turning to the others.

"Okay, team. We need to hit the bedrolls as quickly as possible." He glanced up at what little night sky that could be seen through the tops of the majestic old growth giants that filled the forest. "I put it a couple hours before midnight. That gives us six hours before daybreak. We need to squeeze in as much sleep as possible in those six. Tomorrow's gonna be a long day!"

"What are we going to do with the dryad?" Gereth asked as he squatted beside a slight depression where a fire could be safely built, already pulling out his tinder box. "We can't let her sleep with us. Even if she doesn't end up taking some of our spirit during the night, she needs to be in the trees by daybreak or she dies."

"Seriously?" Jared asked and grimaced when the muuler nodded in confirmation. "Well, shit. Nothing's ever easy on this side of the gate, is it?" He looked down at the dryad, who stared back up at him with big eyes.

"Well, little wood sister? Did you hear our resident expert on Danath sprites? He says you'll be dead if you stay with us till daybreak."

"I will be dead much sooner if you, I leave," the dryad answered in a whisper, clinging with quiet desperation to his side.

"We're in the middle of a centaur camp, dryad!" Gereth bluntly pointed out from where he was lighting a small fire. "There's no way the Jaffa can hurt you now!"

Still she clung.

Jared sighed, shaking his head. It didn't look like he had much choice. Either he let the dryad sleep with them, or none of them would get any sleep. He looked over as Nikeera's hands re-entwined with his.

"Looks like we've got a camp guest," she noted, glancing at the trembling dryad. "It's probably not a good idea to leave her by herself. And I'll be burned to ash if I let her close to you overnight."

Jared looked down at a determined tuathan princess. No, there were things she would want to happen overnight, since he wasn't able to pin her against a tree. And rightly so. Nikeera had a claim on him that he was in no way going to deny.