Moon Tears

Chapter ♡ 18

I wake up a few times. The first time there's a cool wet rag being wiped over my head, held by Seth – I saw his face over mine as he sat by me and I was lying down on a sleeping bag.

Then I felt crushing embarrassment. I didn't want to face anyone.

So I fell back 'asleep'. I was faking it. When Seth came to my side and shook my shoulder, saying "Eliza, hey, darling," I could tell from his tone alone that he knew I was awake.

However, when I didn't respond, he quietly walked away.

I thought I could hear his wolf growl with displeasure, almost at himself, but he quickly got busy setting up the rest of the camp. Maybe I imagined the growl.

With my eyes shut, for hours I listened.

A few experts were coming in to help teach us how to start fires with basic materials, how to fish, how to hunt, how to find edible plants. They're going to be cooking for us too on the first night, interesting meals.

Everyone is engaged and happy, sometimes they inquire about me, but I can tell Seth is keeping people back from me. Just an intense silence when one of them tries to come closer.

And I can tell, even as a human, that my fainting spell has ignited some kind of furious possessive instinct in Seth. I am embarrassed about that too. Because I know everyone can see what's between us.

Eventually, as the sun sets, I hear that Seth is going back to the Firwood packhouse to check on the boys. For that short while he is gone, I sit up and I walk out to join the others around the campfire.

Even though they're worried, they don't press me. Lynda hands me a cup of soup and I drink it, then Audrey shows me to our restroom for the night – thank goodness it's an actual block of showers and toilets. I don't think any of us wanted to use a hole in the ground.

So I stay up for a very brief time to relieve myself, to wash my hands and brush through my hair – then I return to my sleeping bag and change into PJs before I'm questioned any further.

It's nearly bedtime anyway. We have two major tents set up, the girls tent and the boys tent. The fire is massive. The clearing is well maintained for camping. The forest is close but not too close.

Everyone is exhausted from setting up camp on the first night, so we retire to bed early. I'm nearest to the tent's exit. I want to know I can look up at the sky.

Then I snuggle back into my sleeping bag and I close my eyes.

Audrey and Violet and Lynda soon walk through to go to bed as well, while I listen to footsteps coming back into the camp a few minutes later.

"...she woke up... she's alright, Seth," Clyde whispers to Seth.

I hear every word.

"She did?"

"Had some soup... she didn't talk. I think she needs to talk to someone, though. Someone being – you," Clyde yawns and eventually adds, "Goodnight, Seth," Clyde moves toward their tent.

I peek through my eyes as Seth returns to the fire and sits with Walt and Jefferson, who were the expert teachers with their own tents set up separately from ours.

They all sit around the fire on camping chairs, Seth warms his hands, then his eyes flicker to mine and he catches me staring at him while cuddled deep into the sleeping bag, holding it close to my chin.

Seth stops breathing, looking at the hurt in my eyes.

I wonder if he can read my mind?

He looks back to the fire and I quickly shut my eyes.