The Protector and the Peacemaker

Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight

(Sarah)

The fire crackled invitingly as Sarah held her hands out in front of it. The cold had nipped at her human body all day long, and now she sighed in relief as the warm flames finally chased the chills and stiffness away. Porter sat to her right, methodically feeding even more sticks into the blaze. His mouth was stretched into a thin line, and his eyes never deviated from his work. He moved with the determined speed of someone trying not to let their thoughts wander.

None of this has been easy for him, Sarah thought with a sigh. He blames himself for everything that's happened. He thinks he's a failure.

Once he'd built the fire to a satisfactory size, Porter collapsed to his rear and busied himself with staring intently at the ground in front of him.

He needs something to boost his confidence, Sarah decided, sitting with her arms wrapped her knees. Something that will show him just how amazing he really is.

Porter wasn't the only quiet one tonight. The loss of Tick had lowered everyone's spirits, and an unsettling silence stretched across the whole group. Even if he was free from the Caravan, the fact that Gwinn had whisked him away like that made them feel like they had failed their mission. Sarah turned to look across the fire at where Manchi was sitting. She hadn't said a word the entire day, but Sarah hadn't missed the glances she was giving everybody. She couldn't really blame her, either. A boy leading a werewolf by a leash, a giant, an elf, a one-legged djinn, and a sphinx who had spent the entire day looking like a human girl— all led by a young man who wasn't even seventeen yet. Such a motley crew was something one would expect to hear about in stories, not find themselves travelling through the forest with. Manchi was either thrilled, or terrified.

Sarah cast one last glance at Porter, who still hadn't moved, and then stood up and made her way to the other side of the fire to sit down next to the chimera. Manchi looked up in surprise, and then scooted wordlessly to the side to make room for her.

"How are you doing?" Sarah asked softly, giving her an encouraging smile.

Manchi's breath caught in her throat, and she turned to look into the campfire. Sarah reached out and put a comforting hand on the girl's back, causing her to jump in fright.

"It's all right," she said. "We're all your friends here."

"My mom said I'm not allowed to have friends," Manchi whispered, as if afraid that her voice might offend someone.

Sarah withdrew her hand in surprise. "Why would she say that?"

Manchi blushed, and one hand went up to tug on her furry ears. "Because of these. She said they would scare people."

A chorus of gentle rustlings came from all around her, and Sarah realized that everyone around the fire had turned their attention to the two of them.

"That... doesn't sound like a very nice thing to say," she replied hesitantly.

Manchi shook her head, her panda-like ears flapping wildly. "My mom was really nice. She told me stories, and made me all my favorite foods. She'd tuck me into bed every night, and..." Suddenly, she broke off, her eyes brimming with tears. She bit her lip, trying to fight back sobs, and buried her face into the crooks of her arms.

Sarah didn't have to ask what had happened to Manchi's mother.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, not even sure if the child could hear her through her grief.

"It was a month ago," Manchi said suddenly, raising her head up and staring at Sarah with bloodshot eyes. "We lived in an old house on a farm. It was in the middle of nowhere, but Mom said that nobody would ever come looking for us there. She never let me leave the house, not even when she did."