Deadlands

Chapter 13 - Winter's Edge

I started walking back to the camp and Emalia soon followed. She caught up just as I was entering the clearing. I noticed everyone just hanging around doing nothing but having a good time. I watched as the people shared stories, all of which I could not hear from my distance from them. I looked over to Meridale who was still talking to Aehrith. Aehrith then gives a quick warming smile and wink. I shift my eyebrows in slight confusion only to realize she is doing this for the reason of me being the husband to Meridale; and of her already knowing it. I got the memo a while back, so there was little to no point of her doing that. I walked over to her gesture of calling me over and I sat down next to Meridale. 

"Welcome back, Ferrin." Aehrith said. "I found it funny how you reacted to the recent news."

"Funny?" I asked. "How did you find it funny?"

"Well, I would have expected a hug for at least the immediate move." She joked. Meridale shrugged back with her arms crossed. "It'd be better than a few tears."

"Well just look where we are from where we were, then you'll understand why." I said. Aehrith just rolled her eyes with a smile.

After looking at the warming crowd for a little while; seeing Emalia talking with Benson, and Colin with some of the others, I decided to ask the question about winter's coming.

"What about winter..?"

"What about it?"Aehrith asked back.

"Are we prepared?" I asked. "If so we can move on. If not, well.., we might want to get prepared."

"It did just start snowing.." Meridale added.

"So what's the plan?" I asked.

"Well, there's a town just up ahead past the forest here. Then, if you're wondering, mostly plains with hills leading up to the West Mountain Range, where we have to go through it's pass, leading to Fillton. It's a long walk, but we can make it."

"How long did you say you had, Ferrin?" Meridale asked

"A month..?" I said.

"We'll just make it."

"Well what are we waiting for then?" Aehrith laughed. We got up and told the others our plan. We then noticed the time and the Sun was starting to fall beneath the tips of the trees of the forest. Aehrith, Meridale and I took one tent, while Emalia, Benson and Colin took another. The rest of the men sorted themselves out as we only had four tents, and there were seven of them. I stepped inside and laid down on the rough ground-hugging bedding we placed down.

* * *

After a couple hours I am woken up by the sound of something rustling through the leaves outside. It seemed small and fast-ish so I assumed it was some squirrel or something. Then after realizing it's pretty late I assumed the critters would be asleep, mind the ones that hunt during night. I shook Meridale but she brushed me off and groaned. I looked over to where Aehrith was sleeping and to my surprise she wasn't there. I got up silently and crawled out of the tent. I turn out to look where the rustling was coming from and I suddenly saw a light down on the ground. I creep towards it and notice a tiny little lantern lying on it's side, still lit. I pick it up and blow it out, thinking of the sage from earlier. I here voices coming from deeper inside the forest and decide to continue on. It sounds like Aehrith's voice.

I reach a hill where there was a drop off down to some water. The brown grass created an edge I could duck behind as I saw the two, the rabbit and Aehrith, down on the shore. Aehrith was firmly grasping the rabbit, who was still squirming about in her hands, putting up a fight to be released. Aehrith looked over into my eyes. I heard a small gasping of air crying out for help from Aehrith's hands. Without hesitation I jump up and over a boulder and quickly dive into Aehrith to tackle her to the ground. She lets go of the rabbit and I push off of her cold, wet body from the river. She puts her hands on her face as if she were to cry as I go to see if the sage was okay. I pick it up and notice it's slight breathing. It must've passed out.