Our second world- book one: Past beginnings

Chapter 14: Grace

 When I woke up, the first thing I noticed was the shaking; the second was Harens' voice in my ear.

"Alrigh' I'm up," I mumbled, shaking the sleep from my eyes." Whad'ya want?"

"Get up, we're leaving," he said, pulling my blanket off.

"Ugh, fine." I got up to see that August and Alfheim were up already as well.

I grabbed my overshirt. Slipping it on, I grabbed my bag and followed Haren and August outside, Alfheim disappearing as we made our way out. The sky was still gray, the sun barely poking through the clouds. Last night the streets were crowded with people, but now? They were void of anyone but the occasional stray animal, and us.

A cold wind blew hair into my face and bit at my bare hands and fingers. My clothes, being as thin as they were, gave almost no protection from the cold that raised goosebumps on my arms and sent shivers down my spine. I walked closer to Haren, who didn't seem to mind the cold and rubbed my arms with my numb fingers. It was Fall alright, and it was cold. August didn't seem to mind the cold either.

We hadn't walked far into town to get to the place that we had stayed last night, so the walk out was longer. I rubbed my hands together and shivered again. Haren must have noticed. He slung his arm around my shoulder and pulled me close. Pressed against his side, I could feel how incredibly warm he was.

"Hey, Haren, aren't you cold?" I asked, looking up at him.

"Not really. Just focus on walking. It'll warm up eventually."

For some reason, he and August seemed to be walking faster. Haren kept pulling me forward every time I'd start to lag behind until we were out of the city and a good distance along the beaten dirt path. Only then did we stop to rest by a small stream not far from the road.

I sat down on a flat rock and rubbed my arms. The sun was up now, but it was still cold. Haren threw something at me as he sat next to me. I pulled the wad of brown fabric off to find that it was a worn looking cloak. The one he had been wearing this morning. He had also thrown me a black scarf.

"What was that for?"

"Those should keep you warm for now," he said, handing me a riceball from a brown parcel in his bag." We'll get you a thicker coat in the next town." He took a rice ball for himself and tossed the third one to August.

"Aren't these yours?"

"It's fine."

"But--"

"It's fine," He repeated, clearly wanting me to stop arguing with him.

I nodded and wrapped the cloak and scarf around myself. Breathing on my fingers before stuffing them into the pockets on the cloak and rushing to catch up with Haren and August, who had already started walking.

The only sounds in the tranquil forest were the rustling of the tree branches disturbed by the wind, and our feet crunching on fallen leaves covering the path. The wind was now blowing at our backs and throwing hair into my face. I couldn't see very well and followed the sounds of the others' footsteps in front of me. I hadn't noticed they stopped until I had already run into Haren's back.

"Ouch!" I whined, rubbing my nose." Will you quit stopping so suddenly in front of me like that? One of these days I'm going to break my nose and--"

Haren put a hand on my shoulder and pushed me down into the bushes when I tried to stand, covering my mouth before I could finish my sentence. Kneeling next to me his head was slightly inclined to the wind. My hand was becoming increasingly sore from a sharp rock pressing into my palm under the weight of Haren, but I dared not move lest I make a sound.