The Barbarian Mate [Edited]

Chapter 3

The woman who had been covering Althea's mouth finally removed her hand, allowing Althea to take a deep breath. Just then, a small, furry creature came darting toward them, yapping excitedly, its little tail wagging furiously.

"We're good," one of the women said again, her voice a mix of encouragement and impatience. "Food at camp."

Althea frowned, realizing it didn’t take a genius to understand the woman’s intent. Their grasp of English was poor at best, but she could sense the urgency in their tone.

With no other option available to her, Althea chose to follow them. The area around her offered no possibility of escape—there was simply nowhere to go. The women formed an imposing circle around her, their broad and muscular bodies creating an unyielding barrier.

Pain shot through Althea’s feet, which were covered only by thin socks. Each step she took on the jagged stones felt like walking over hot coals. The rough terrain was indeed unforgiving, particularly for someone with her delicate feet.

When they finally arrived at the camp, Althea felt a surge of discomfort as she realized all eyes were on her. Yes, she was tiny and completely out of place, but there was no need for them to gawk at her as if she were some sort of spectacle.

The women gently placed her on a large log that served as a makeshift seat and settled on either side of her. Their heavy bodies effectively pinned her down, ensuring she couldn’t make a getaway. With a resigned huff, she sat in silence, feeling helpless.

One of the women suddenly offered her a piece of meat, its texture rough and greasy. Althea didn’t hesitate; her hunger outweighed her curiosity about what kind of meat it was.

As the women chatted amongst themselves, their conversation flowed like a foreign river, leaving her completely lost. The gestures they made, combined with the glances in her direction, made it clear they were discussing her, but she couldn’t decipher their words.

She watched them with a mix of caution and curiosity, mirroring their scrutiny. Though she didn't detect any immediate hostility, she knew better than to let her guard down around these strangers. She was relying entirely on their whims, and it made her pulse race with anxiety.

Feeling like she was at a significant disadvantage, Althea sighed and turned her gaze toward the horizon. A wave of longing washed over her as she thought of home. She had no idea if there was a way back, nor could she fathom the challenges that awaited her in this unfamiliar world.

"Sleep?" one of the women asked, her accent thick and strange.

Althea shook her head vigorously. There was no way she would be sleeping among people she didn’t know, not when she felt so exposed.

In response to her refusal, one of the women spoke something in their unfamiliar language. Almost immediately, a large, fluffy blanket fell around Althea’s shoulders, nearly causing her to topple off the log. Amused laughter erupted from the woman, who quickly steadied her, a hint of kindness in her eyes.

Althea’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and she instinctively pulled the blanket over her head, wishing she could disappear into the fabric like a turtle retreating into its shell.

The situation took an unexpected turn when she felt herself being lifted high off the ground. Within moments, she was gently dropped onto a bed of furs that felt soft and inviting. She couldn't imagine what it was like to touch clouds, but she imagined it must feel just like this fur bed—luxurious and surreal.

The women took a moment to tuck her in snugly, and the gesture stirred a pang of nostalgia within her, reminding her of how her mother used to wrap her up tight for bed. That memory only deepened her sense of longing for home.

Curling up in a tight ball, she found sleep elusive, refusing to come despite her exhaustion. Eventually, she rolled onto her back and stared up at the sky, which was shrouded in darkness, devoid of stars and clouds.

The world around her felt undeniably strange, but she hesitated to pass judgment just yet. There was so much she had yet to explore and understand.

“It will get better, Althea,” she whispered to herself, though the words provided little solace. Homesickness gnawed at her insides like a relentless wolf.

She wished fervently that this was all just a dream, and that when she finally did sleep and then awaken, she would find herself back in her cozy bedroom, snuggled in her warm bed, with her chest full of snacks and her iPad loaded with an endless supply of books.

How could anyone end up having a dream as bizarre as this?

With a heavy heart, she turned back onto her stomach, pulled the comforting yet weighty blanket over her, and surrendered to the night, hoping for a peaceful sleep that remained frustratingly out of reach.