Finding Light in Darkness

Chores

Chapter 11

Dew:

"I'm happy you two made it back," Jasmine smiles at us.

"All thanks to you, of course."

"So, three enchantresses?" Nick asks. Trying to get Jasmine's attention back in him.

I look towards the opening in the forest to see Snow and Flame both coming back from the lake their veins glowing.

I laugh. "Make that four enchantresses and an enchanter."

We all look toward them, Snow begins to blush immensely.

I laugh. As she grabs more clothes from her bag.

"I'm going to change," she says,"alone."

She says the last part directed toward Flame. Who just grabs some of his own clothes and goes in a different direction.

"How could they have became an enchantress and an enchanter? They didn't die, did they?" Jace asks.

"I have a theory, as to why you become one," Jasmine begins, "you either have to die and come in contact with the element your soul has most in common with, or you have to discover a deep feeling of..." She trails off.

"Of what?" Bre asks.

"No, it's a stupid theory."

"I doubt it's stupid, and anyway you brought it up."

"No I didn't, Jace did."

"Sweetheart, you're getting off topic," Nick says. Her cheeks go red at the nickname.

"Just what is it?

"Well, a deep feeling of... Love."

This time it's Nick who blushes, but his eyes narrow. Not at anything in particular.

Snow come back, in pajamas. She lays down in her sleeping bag, just as Flame comes back to the camp. He throws his dirty clothes in his bag and lays down next to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

"Anyway," Jasmine says, "it's stupid."

"No, I think you're right," Bre says eyeing Snow and Flame.

"Right about what?" Snow asks, blushing softly.

"Nothing."

"Oh."

"Yup."

"Maybe we should all get some rest?"

"Great idea."

We all lay down, Bre and I share a battered blanket, on account that we have no more sleeping bags.

The next morning we do the one thing I've been regretting since I've been back, chores. We each split them up, Jared has to clean all the weapons, Nick has to sharpen them. Fay has to wash all the sleeping bags and blankets. Flame has to look for the sleeping bags at our old camp. Snow has to wash all the clothes. Jasmine has to gather more food, and hunt more meet and wash all the dishes and create more. And Snow and Jasmine both have to store the food with wraps and ice.

That leaves Bre and I, who have to clean all water containers and fill each up with purified water. Then the two of us have to order the camp, and situate each pack.

And then, before dark, after dinner everyone has to meet back here with everything finished. Right as the sun sets, then we'll go to sleep and tomorrow after breakfast we'll pack up camp thoroughly and be back on our way. Well, that's the way it's supposed to go.