The Undead Sorcerer

Chapter Four

Something screeches in the woods beyond the campfire we set up for the night. Everyone inches closer to the fire, clearly, even the most seasoned adventurers are unnerved. It amuses me that they believe a little fire pit would keep their fears away. It might keep a bear or a large cat away. But a wyvern, a terraursi, or an aswang isn't going to bat an eye at a campfire. But it soothes their ignorance enough for them to get some sleep. I stare at the flickering flames from a distance. Its warmth eludes me out of personal preference to remove myself from the group. The cold, damp wind blowing the scent of the Earth doesn't bother me. Though, I wouldn't mind the roaring heat of a fire either. They look cozy and comfortable in their idea of safety – and this is torture. I pick myself up, slowly backing off from the group, I make my retreat from their snoring. The wind rustles through the leaves and clatters branches together. Something pecks at hollowed wood near the ground in the sp, and the echo of the wood reverberates through the forest. Given some space, maybe I'll be able to rest here. I take a deep breath, smelling the sweet air of the woods before I whip around at someone walking up on me. Justina gasps at me, stumbling backward so fast that she nearly falls.

"What are you doing out here?" I wonder.

"Me? What are you doing out here?" Justina demands to know.

"I asked you first," I point out.

"I followed you. What are you doing out here?" Justina argues, and I groan. I suppose she has me there. I avert my eyes away from her glaring at me and shrug. It's so dark out here; perhaps it was this beautiful starlight. Justina huffs and turns to see what I'm staring at. She drops her shoulders, and a light flickers behind her eyes as she takes in the night sky.

"You should head back. We still have a day's worth of walking," I advise.

"Are you coming back?" Justina wonders.

"Are you worried I might be up to something nefarious?" I assume, and Justina plants her hands on her hips.

"I was worried about you," Justina fires back, and I feel my face fall flat. I stare dumbstruck, open-mouthed like an idiot, as Justina's cheeks turn beet red. "After you've collapsed twice, anyone with a conscience wouldn't let you wander off on your own. Especially not in the middle of the night," Justina reasons and crosses her arms.

"Oh..." is all I can think of saying. My mind is running blank at the moment. The wind is blowing again, and Justina shivers.

"It's freezing out here," Justina comments and draws her shawls tighter around her shoulders. She gives me a once over, noticing my bare arms. "Aren't you cold?" she asks me. Yes, but not exactly.

"Yeah, I was going to camp alone-," I start and cut myself short. I didn't mean to put it like that, and now I've probably put her off. "If you're cold, you should head back. I'm going to camp out here," I suggest.

"Without a campfire? You'll freeze," Justina accuses. Honestly, I'd be fine, but I won't argue. Or else I'd have some explaining to do.

"Oh, yeah, I- do you have the firestarter?" I feign forgetfulness, and naturally, Justina helps collect a start for my campfire. The cold wouldn't have killed me, nor would it have bothered me. But the orange glow of a warm fire gives a comforting relief that makes my muscles relax after remaining on edge all day. Justina brings her trembling hands near the fire. Poor thing, they're pruned red from the damp cold. I hate to make her walk back to camp, but she would be safer there. But it wouldn't hurt to let her warm herself first, just for a moment.

"Is that wood dry? You can add that," Justina orders, waving me over. I shift from one foot to the next, but she's right. So I stroll over to stoke the fire and keep it going. I mean to remove myself again, but standing next to the heat of the fire is too pleasant to walk away. In the wafting, burning wood flutters a floral, herbal essence. I take a deep breath and sigh.