Jade

Chapter 15

The caravan comes to a sudden stop after a two-hour ride. Fletcher's curses fill the air.

This can't be good.

I open the door and moonlight streams into the caravan, illuminating a dirt road running through a pine Forrest. I step outside, knees wobbly from the ride and lack of leg space.

"What happened?" I say, stretching my aching limbs.

Fletcher jumps off the driver's seat and starts examining one of the wheels. "We hit a damn rock, the wheel's broken," he says, slapping the wheel in frustration. Amelia, Malcolm, and Keath join us, looking just as confused.

"It can't be broken," I say as I move closer to inspect the damage. Through the caked on mud, I can see that the wheel is cracked. Several of the spokes are also missing.

"Well, it is. And now we're stuck hours away from any civilization," he says.

Aiden finally joins the land of the living after having slept most of the trip, while drooling on my shoulder.

"What's going on?" he says, rubbing his eyes.

"We hit a rock and the wheel broke," I explain impatiently.

He examines the wheel for a while then comes back looking positive. "Oh, it's nothing too bad. I can have it fixed in a few hours with some of the stuff we found inside."

"You could?" I ask hopefully.

"Of course I can, I am the all-powerful Aidini, remember?" he says, folding his arms and grinning.

I roll my eyes, but give a small sigh of relief. "Watch out, or we may not be able to fit that big head of yours back through the door."

He gives a low bow. "Of course, Jade the magnificent."

I laugh. "Just get on with it already. We don't want to be stuck here any longer than we have to."
I peer past the swaths of pine trees, into the foreboding darkness that seems to seep over the trunks like ink, concealing whatever horrors might lie inside. I can almost imagine the heavy mist coming from its depths, bringing those snake-like creatures with it.

The very thought of what happened that night sends a sudden chill down my spine. Darkness might help to hide, but it can also hide your enemy.

...

I throw the last heap of wood into the fire, creating an array of embers. It is still a few hours until dawn and we have yet to see the darkness subside. The fire chases away the merciless bite of cold in the air and drives away the fear of what lies in the darkness. Or at least most of it. The nights are getting colder and colder like they usually do before the first frost. I've noticed through the years that the harsh winters tend to bring out the worst in people. Perfect season for declaring war, I say.

"Ugh, I'm starving," Fletcher whines.

"Then go get some of the supplies in the caravan. The fire is done," I reply, wiping the dirt from my hands.

"She can do it," he says, gesturing towards Amelia. She looks offended.

"And why should I do it while you can just get off yer lazy arse and do it yerself?" she spits.

I give her an empathetic look and mouth, "Later."

She takes a deep breath and stands up, the anger evident in her stance. "Fine, wanted to get a blanket anyways."
She enters the caravan on which Aiden had removed the broken wheel and placed a log under, keeping it from falling over.

"Any luck?" I ask Aiden.

He looks up from his handiwork. "Kind of, just need to find a replacement spoke." He waves the broken piece of wood around, causing another piece to fall off in the process.