The Dragon Paladin

Chapter 2

I woke up with a sneeze. My head hurt and the way i breathed in told me i was sick.
Lovely. I get caught in the rain, catch a cold.
I burrowed under the blanket. I heard movement and froze. Oh yeah. The lightning.
I carefully crawled out of the damp makeshift tent. Despite my pounding headache and sore muscles, I had to pee.
I climbed out and saw a line of pink across the horizon.  The sunrise. I haven't seen one in a long time.

I passed my water, and for a while just sat outside the tent. In the cold morning air, my mind started to wander. Being clad in only underwear, i couldn't help imagining a certain man's warm, strong arms around me. My face grimaced involuntarily and i had to bite back a groan. My arms wrapped around and my fingers were digging into my skin. My heart started aching and my eyes were stinging from threatened tears. The sun was starting to come up now, and i saw the landscape. It looks so much like home. I walked out of the shade, and stood with my arms out to the side. I silently thanked the Mother for giving us a good day. My eyes flew open when i realized what I'd just done, being a Christian. I relaxed slightly when i Remembered I'm a witch. But the only way to balance my beliefs is if that lightning bolt threw me to an alternate universe. I heard whistling and turned around. A figure was coming out of the tent.
My heart froze when i saw it was Ayla. She's just as the books described her. Long blonde hair, four parallel scars on one thigh, a subtle grace in her movements and obviously toned. I am in an alternate universe. I smiled at the implications. I was now free to be a witch. My headache forgotten, I started jogging down the gentle slope, laughing all the way with my arms out like an airplane. I saw a treestump and jumped up onto it. I threw my head back and howled. It was a poor attempt, but that doesn't make it any less cathartic.
I walked back up slowly, taking in the mist as it rose from the soaked ground. I saw the wolf a distance away, near the horses. I spotted a small stream, and decided i would like a cold bath.

I reached the stream and found Ayla taking a drink. She looked up and smiled. I smiled back. Stepping into the brook, i folded my braid to the back, in a makeshift bun. Splashing the water on my shoulders, I looked over at Ayla and said, "good morning." She said something i assume was a greeting. She then stood up and went back to the shelter. I stood taking in the scene. The wolf came trotting up, his tongue lolling out the side of his mouth. He jumped and rolled in the water. I had no defense as he shook himself off. "Wolf! Stop it, boy! Stop!" I laughed so hard i had to sit down. As  i took a seat on a nearby branch, 'Wolf' made a spectacle as he chased his tail. Upon failing this mission, he raced over and jumped onto Ayla. I noticed Jondalar going through the baskets. Just because he's a good guy, doesn't mean I should trust him. Even a good guy, is still a guy. He was speaking to Ayla, about Wolf. He was concerned, but she was trying to reassure him.
She came back to the stream with some kind of leather straps and something brownish. She saw me watching her, and placed the fluff between her legs. Ah. Of course. Period products.
I stretched out on the branch. The sun rising, the birds singing, it was good. I smiled.
Ayla grabbed my hand and brought me back to the shelter. She rummaged through the baskets until she found something for us to wear. I smiled, and, nodding in her direction, went to change out of my still damp garments and into the leather clothes. My sunbathing just now had dried my skin.
A surprising fit. Ayla and i are the same size. Except back home, she'd be about size 8 while I'm size 10-12. I love dessert and junk food.
As the blonde couple spoke between themselves, I took the opportunity to nap. I get sick easily, and if I'm not careful, it takes me a week to get better.

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I woke up when I felt someone shaking my shoulder gently. My head pounded as I opened my eyes. I looked up, and saw Ayla offering me food on a large shoulder blade plate. Some kind of poultry, fire-cooked eggs, some unidentifiable vegetable, pinenuts and berries. I slowly sat up and ate the food. I was  aware of her studying me. I looked up, and made eye contact. She reached for my long plait, but never made contact as I swatted her hand. She was shocked, but i just bowed my head and put my hair to the back. I cupped my hands and brought them to my mouth in a drinking motion, asking if i could have a drink. She nodded and came back with a wooden cup of water. I smiled and nodded my thanks. As i drank, she continued watching me. Slowly, she reached for my face. When i didn't brush her away, she began to examine me. She tilted her head with a quizzical look. I rubbed my forehead, fake coughed and made a sleeping motion. She nodded.

After breakfast, I tried to help pack up, despite Ayla pushing me to rest and giving me some kind of bitter tea. Every. Time.
Eventually, we got going. Where? I don't know. Yes, this is the universe of one book series i was busy reading, but i only got to book 3. And this setting? Not in the first 3 books.
I decided to ride with Ayla. As we travelled, in between naps and stops, i felt there was something bothering Ayla. And Jondalar. I couldn't ask, there was a language barrier. By mid afternoon, i was wide awake and feeling better. Not much, but a little. We reached a river, good and large. We came to a stop, and i saw shelters, domed tents. "Ayla!" I pointed to the dwellings.
She saw them, and smiled at me. We 3 dismounted, and walked up the small slope. The camp was empty. No noise. No smoke. Just, empty. I noticed huge tusks at one dwelling, curved around to make an archway. Ayla started walking away, but Jondalar stopped her. As they were speaking, i could see Jondalar trying to convince Ayla we should stay, and Ayla convincing Jondalar otherwise. It was eventually decided that we would stay.

Suddenly, the wolf growled at one of the tents. At the same time, a strong smell hit my nose. Despite Ayla's apparent warning to the man, I stuck my head inside. Skunk, I thought. Slowly, i backed out. Out of nowhere, a stone whizzed passed my ear and connected with the animal, killing it instantly. I whipped around, and saw a sling in Ayla's hand. She saw my face and smiled, amused. Taking my hand she showed me how to hold it.
I sneezed.
She turned to Jondalar, spoke a few words, and took me to the center of the camp and built a fire, before wrapping a fur around my shoulders. I felt the man watching me. With the bitter tea finished, I put down my cup and took a nap. I had a feeling we would be here a few days, so I would take this opportunity to rest and get better.