Savoirs

Lia

When I woke up the sun was just beginning to rise and stained the horizon pink. Adam was already up and busying himself with gathering his things. I watched him for a few moments and then he glanced over at me and caught me watching him. When he saw me up he smiled at me and looked around shyly, as if to see if anyone else was up.

"Good morning." He said and I smiled.

"Good morning." I replied and scattered the bed of pine needles I had made so it would look like no one was there and gathered my few possessions. While I was doing this I couldn't help but think of Tanner and Emily. I didn't know what happened after we left or if the king kept his promise of keeping them safe in the castle with him and his family. I was worried about them. I was also worried about the old woman and the new mother back at our home. I didn't know if the king was trying to help them or not and it scared me that they might be in trouble and no one knew about it. They could be dead for all I knew. My fear and worry must have shown on my face because I was pulled from my thoughts by Adam putting a hand on my shoulder.

"What's wrong?" He asked and I looked up at him.

"Worried about my friends." I said simply and he nods.

"Don't worry, they'll be fine. You'll get back and find them safe and sound." He told me and I bit back tears. He pulled me into a quick hug and I smiled at the gesture. When he pulled away I felt like something had been taken off my shoulders, like sharing my worry with him fixed everything. 

We gathered a small pile of wood while we waited for the others to wake up and he asked me about my life. I told him about how Tanner and I had met and became friends and about the young mother and old woman with whom I was friends with and helped to keep them alive, along with Tanner. After a while Serena woke up and woke the others rather roughly. Adam opened his mouth to say something but thought better of it. She shook Joseph's shoulder and he rolled over and batted at her lazily. I held back my laughter as she woke him up and moved to Jason, who woke up almost as soon as she started shaking him and sat up, wide awake within seconds. Then she went to wake up Jaclyn. She shook her shoulder and when she didn't wake up, pressed on her wound. Jaclyn cried out and her eyes flew open. I stood and shoved Serena away from her.

"What's your problem?" I yelled at her and she glared at me. I held her angry gaze knowing she wanted me to be the first to look away but I held my ground and she eventually looked away and started gathering her things. I glared at her for a second more and then knelt next to Jaclyn and checked the wound. It, luckily, hadn't started bleeding again and I re-wrapped it and helped her gather her things. 

I noticed her blouse and skirt were quite dirty and the hem of her skirt was torn. It's wasn't a very big deal but I knew my own dress was in just as bad shape and so was Serena's and winter was coming, fast. I decided not to make a problem about it to the boys just yet and helped Jaclyn to her feet. We ate some of the jerky as we walked. I stayed back with Jaclyn as we walked and Joseph walked with a fuming Serena in the front, keeping her from leaving Jaclyn behind. Adam and Jason were off to the sides making sure there was nothing harmful in the woods as we walked. 

I heard Joseph talking and Serena making angry remarks and saw Adam and Jason exchanging hand gestures to communicate when they would scout ahead. It was noon when we came across a stream and we paused to fill our canteens. I washed Jaclyn's wound with the cold water as best as I could and re-wrapped her wound for a second time that day. When I was done Serena stood and headed into the woods. Everyone exchanged looks and waited for her to return. Jaclyn sat on the bank of the stream, which was elevated because it had cut into the Earth and let her feet set in the cool water. After a while someone was tramping through the woods back towards us but it wasn't Serena. Instead, it was an old man with a kind face. He smiled at us as we slowly stood and rested a hand on our various weapons, wary of him.