Salvation

Chapter 8 - Althea

 Thea yawned and stretched awkwardly. She raised her arms above her head and bent backwards and side to side. She was stiff and and sore from sleeping on the cold ground for the past two nights. She hadn't anticipated how uncomfortable an adventure could be!

Sadena was busy tending a fire, getting some tea and breakfast brewing. She was always up before first light. She smiled at her as she waved good morning. She could see Nigel over in a field beside their campsite practicing his sword forms. Daniel was nowhere to be seen for now, but his bedroll and pack were sitting neatly beside the cart already.

It had been a week since they had left Maddy's. Thea was able to say a proper goodbye to Tansy as the child had woken and sat up the morning they had left. She was still tired but had progressed nicely and Maddy had no doubts that she would make a full recovery given some time. Tansy had been tearful that Thea was going, but she had rewarded her with a gigantic hug and thanks for saving her. Thea had promised the girl that she would stop on her way back and see how she was faring.

Thea checked her pack and pulled out a small brown bundled cloth. Upon leaving, Maddy had given it to her. The Witch's instructions were to not open the cloth or wear the necklace until she had bathed it in moonlight during the full moon, which landed tonight. She was to go into a clearing and place the necklace on a stone and allow the moonlight to shine on it for an hour while she sat and cleared her mind. Afterwards, Maddy had assured her, it would help protect her as well as enhance her "gifts". Thea was still quite uncertain what these gifts were, but she trusted Maddy.

Their party had stopped briefly at her own home so she could return the mare and the cart as well as pick up a few more items for the trip. Her brothers, much more sober, had been visibly upset by her wanting to go. After being told the story of her's and Tansy's brief abduction they agreed that she was in capable hands and had wished her well. She had tearfully hugged them both and encouraged them to think about coming to Salvation when they headed back that way. She wasn't sure what they would choose, but she hoped they would decide to move on with her.

Their travelling days had been full of walking and short breaks to rest and eat. Evenings were spent around a fire or in a few different barns from generous hosts. Their more comfortable accomodations.

She had begun training with them as well. Sadena had told her that it was good to get a head start since there wasn't much to do anyhow.She found it quite strenuous and the different Shaolin Forms they went through were so foreign to anything she had ever done. She was taught the first Form step by step by Daniel. They would go over the certain parts repeatedly. Every once in awhile, she could feel herself getting frustrated. She was especially frustrated when she sat watching Sadena and Nigel doing their Forms with such fluidity and grace it was more like some sort of dance than Martial Arts.

She had to admit that it was meditative for her. When she let herself go and just allowed herself to be one with the movements she felt like she was almost in a different world. But sometimes it was hard to let go.

She had also begun training with knives. Sadena had taken the time to go through the basics of knives and their uses while walking. She had then moved on to basic close quarters knife fighting. She couldn't wait to get to the throwing knives, she watched Daniel practice while he was walking. Sadena assured her there was plenty of time to get to that, but for now she wanted her learning the basics of a fight so she had some protection in case there was trouble.

She rolled up her thin bedroll and tied it to her pack. She wrapped her blanket around her and walked to the tiny creek that was a couple hundred yards from their campsite. She began stripping off her clothes. Sadena liked to wash properly even if it was cold. Thea had to admit that it did wake her up in the morning, so she had adopted Sadena's habit.