The Exiles (Book 1 of the Exiles Series)

Seven

The day progressed smoothly as if nothing had happened.

After Nicole and I had had an extremely late breakfast, we started packing. Nicole wanted me to get a jump on tomorrow by packing before it was actually moving day, so that I had as much daylight to work with as possible. Nicole was always very concerned with daylight. Of course, I didn't want to be outside with all the spiders in the dark, but it was slightly annoying how much of an effect daylight had on our lives.

However, I decided to obey Nicole. I was already in some hot water with her, so it probably wouldn't have been wise to aggravate her any further. I could tell she was still angry with me, even while we were packing, though she tried to hide her annoyance. She dug around in her chest for surplus items and offered them to me, keeping some distance between her and me, and explained each things' purpose as succinctly as possible.

"Here's some soothing paste," she told me, offering a wooden container of the same green stuff she had used on my spider wounds. I took it and tossed it into a burlap bag, also from Nicole. I remembered her telling me that it was good to keep some on hand.

"Here, take these." She handed me a few apples and some pieces of leather.

I eagerly gathered up the items and slipped them into the bag. I was amused at how much this felt like an assembly line, passing all the items down the line like factory employees.

Next, Nicole handed me some crude tools: a knife with a wooden handle and a small, dull hatchet. Both blades were only made of stone, but were surprisingly sharp. I slipped all of these items in my bag, being extra careful so as not to get cut.

"Thanks," I told Nicole. I was grateful for all the items. Nicole hadn't needed to give me all the items, but she had, for my purposes.

"When are we leaving?" I asked Nicole. She glanced outside. The sun was beginning to sink in the sky, a steamy afternoon in progress.

"Not until tomorrow," she told me. "We'll have more time then. You'd better get a good night sleep."

I nodded. "Okay," I told her. "Tomorrow is perfect." I fished an apple from my bag and began to munch on it. Nicole gave me a funny look but continued on with her tasks.

She shut the chest and leapt toward the door, carrying her signature bow and arrows. "I'm going to get supper," Nicole explained. "I'll be hunting nearby. Don't even think of leaving the house, though I know you will." With that last bit of spite, she was gone.

I stayed right where I was, sitting on my bed. I wanted to go out, but it wasn't the right time to do so.

A new thought crossed my mind. If I was living on my own, didn't that mean I could do whatever I pleased? Nicole wouldn't be with me twenty-four seven, like she had been here. The older girl wouldn't constantly be looking over my shoulder. The thought excited me.

It was then that I realized how tired I was. Every limb still ached from my chase earlier. So, without even realizing it, I laid my head down on my pillow and fell asleep.

I awoke the next morning to Nicole's shadow looming over me. "Time to get up, sleepy head," she teased, flicking my arm playfully to erase all traces of drowsiness.

"What time of day is it?" I asked Nicole groggily. She gave me a hearty laugh.

"Talia, you slept through the night," Nicole chuckled. "It's morning." I sat up in bed and shook my head. "No way," I protested, not believing that I could've slept such a long time.

Nicole stepped away from my bed and stood against the wall at the end of the bed, her hand resting sassily on her hip. "Yes, you did," she argued. "When I got back home from hunting, you were asleep like a rock. Get up; get moving! It's been light outside for nearly an hour."