Northbound Pilgrimage II

Chapter CXLIV - Misguided Heroics

The sunrays began to seep from behind the horizon a little too sharply.

A morning mist fell over the whole lake, covering it in a milky white duvet. The critters and bugs began to wake up, buzzing around and chirping around them. The morning was so peaceful. And while the sun made both of them stir a bit from their deep slumber, it wasn't exactly unpleasant.

The aches of the previous day let themselves be known soon enough – oddly satisfying strains of muscles and lingering heat of the occasional bite, scratch or a scrape. They had spent the entire day and night reminiscing about their last time here, tangled together in a passionate embrace or resting peacefully, nuzzled into each other. They almost didn't have it in them to even interrupt their enjoyment for food or to set up camp, but necessity forced them to it eventually. But they didn't let those things take up too much of their time. Not when they had even more enjoyable plans for the day and night.

"Morning, love," Bishop murmured with his head buried in Aeyrin's hair, a bit muffled by it. She hadn't opened her eyes yet, trying to keep them closed to stave off the morning sun, but he knew she was awake by how she squirmed in his embrace in an attempt to work out some kinks from her muscles.

"'S not even mornin'," Aeyrin grumbled with a groggy voice. Granted, it was much earlier than they usually woke up. It could barely be called a morning. But now that they were awake, it was hard to fall asleep again with the various little annoyances of the humid environment of the small island in the middle of a lake in the morning. It was serene and quite calming, but it was also not exactly made for a pleasant sleep. It was much better to admire the sights with lucidity.

Bishop planted a few lazy kisses on her head, cheek and the side of her neck before he disentangled himself from her and sat up in the bedroll. Aeyrin instantly shivered at the lack of his body heat and she was forced to get up as well to nuzzle herself into him again.

"Might as well get something to eat," Bishop smiled a bit. He was kind of hungry. That may have been another reason why he woke up. They kind of skipped dinner last night, though their lunch was much later than usual. The whole schedule was all warped because they had been reluctant to do anything but indulge themselves in each other.

"Yes, I'm starving," Aeyrin gave him a wry smile.

They put on their clothes somewhat reluctantly and started to prepare some breakfast. Mostly Bishop did while Aeyrin tended to the fire. He wasn't really making anything elaborate, they usually only ate uncooked supplies for breakfast, but since they had this nice place all to themselves for however long they wanted, there was no harm in grilling some bread and vegetables from their supplies.

It was done very soon and they dug into the food silently.

But as nothing but the soft sounds of sloshing water and the chirping of morning critters filled the area, suddenly something much more disturbing interrupted the serene scene.

It was a scream. A guttural scream that echoed all across the lake. Like someone was being attacked.

Aeyrin looked around instantly, peering at the shore. It definitely sounded like it came from there. It sounded like it came from the nearby sawmill, or that general area.

Bishop turned around to look too, but he couldn't see anything from this distance. Not even a single person. It was so early, even the lumberjacks were probably still asleep.

"Did that come from there?" Aeyrin scowled, still trying to make anything out through the mist.

"I can't see anyone there," Bishop shrugged.

"Maybe we should check..." she bit her lower lip. That really sounded bad. Something dangerous might have been prowling around.

"Whatever it is, it will be gone by the time we get there," Bishop sighed. The skiff took too long for a quick rescue mission, if that was even necessary. It may have been someone just playing a joke, scaring someone else.