Rabidity (Jane Loft-series #1)

Chapter 9

When I wake up the next morning, everyone is still asleep. Xavier is lying next to me, facing the road. Sleeping people look younger, that's for sure. Now his face's relaxed, he has no frown between his brows, no tensed muscles and no worries, he looks at most fourteen years old. I get up from my sleeping bag and stretch. Dana is sleeping next to the still smouldering fire and Fang and Summer are sleeping very close to each other, facing each other and their hands touching. I'm still getting used to the new situation with Summer, but she meant what she said, and I'm glad we finally got over that constant bickering and yelling over nothing. Trevor was on watch last, but he's sleeping with his back against a tree, his head resting on a low branch. His hand is resting on his axe, the other on his sword. Once in a while I hear him whispering in his sleep and I let him. Judging by the position of the sun, it's very early. The morning dew is still on the trees and the grass and the temperature is still chilly. I start making breakfast – some water, a piece of bread, an apple – and think we need to be careful with our food. I did some math yesterday, and I think we're about three days away from Palsa, but we only have rations for two days. I put the piece of bread back. When we're in Palsa, we can buy new food with the money Amelia gave us and then we will see. I take a bite from my apple and chew while I'm thinking about Adam. I don't think he's still in Palsa. I don't know him, but if we're anything alike, he'll go as far as he can to run away from his past, his bad memories. Anyway, it's been at least seven years ago. He's a grown man now if he's still alive, so maybe he fell in love and went with the woman (or man, doesn't matter). The options are endless.

I finish my breakfast and decide to wake the rest up, so we can continue our journey as fast as possible. I find out Fang has a huge morning mood. He growls when I shake his shoulder and crawls deeper in his sleeping bag.

"Fang," I say, trying to smother my laughter but failing miserably, "Fang. You need to wake up and have breakfast, so we can continue our trip. I'm dying, remember?"

Another growl. "Lemmelone."

I don't try to smother my laughter anymore. I laugh loudly when I ask: "Excuse me?"

"Itiredzleep," he says in his sleep. He swings with his arm like he's fighting an annoying fly. "Goway."

Summer is awake now, too, and looks a little uncomfortable when she notices how close she had been lying to Fang. "'Morning."

I smile. "Good morning. Get some breakfast, and go fill your bottle with water in the river we saw yesterday, so you'll have enough for today."

She nods, rubs the sleep out of her eyes and stands up, grabbing everyone's bottle to fill. When I'm about to protest, Summer holds up her hand. "I have some things to make up to you guys, don't I?"

When I don't respond, she walks into the woods, whistling an unknown song.

I shake Fang's shoulder again. "Summer is showering behind the tree next to you," I try, and his eyes shoot open, but when he sees I'm making it up, his eyes close again and he pushes me away softly.

"Well," Xavier says disapprovingly behind me. Trevor is standing next to him with a smug grin on his face and the sleep still in his eyes. They're both holding a cup of water. "That's no way to treat a lady."

They look at each other, seem to think the same thing and both empty their cup above Fang.

The formerly sleeping boy gets up with a scream, a very high, very loud scream and we're almost literally rolling over the floor, clutching our bellies at his murderous face.

"I'M GOING TO KILL YOU! ALL OF YOU!" he roars, shaking his head, showering us all with water drops.

I'm still laughing very loudly when I answer. "You – didn't – wake – up!" Fang looks even more pissed off and gets up.