Changeling

Chapter 19

It quickly became dark and like the first night in the cave, with no fire, it was cold. We'd spent hours discussing our plan, the current situation in Eden and the things we may face on our journey tomorrow. Now it was time to hunker down and try to stay warm until morning. We were going to leave at first light, or just before it. Cason had a stash of supplies somewhere in a hidden location not far from the cave and insisted we stop there before heading toward the Moon's Well.

He explained that the  Unification forces kept hidden stockpiles all over Eden so they could be accessed by those who were in remote places away from the city. This particular location was where he fetched all of our current supplies from. He said there were things there we would need to make the trip we were embarking upon safer, but didn't specify what those things were, and I didn't ask.

I learned alot about Eden in our planning conversation and most of it wasn't good. Eden was a war zone. A battleground between the Opposition which was comprised of the Hellions and those that were against my father, and the Unification, comprised of the fey and those for my father. Now that I understood the situation, I wanted to be mad at Ariton for bringing me here, but I wasn't. His intentions were good. He brought me here because he wanted to save me and he needed my help. He promised to protect me and keep me safe but there was no way I could hold him to that anymore. He'd done his best. He'd practically killed himself doing it and the reality had become glaringly obvious that none of us were safe. 

If everything I was being told was true, and I now believed it was-- it meant that if I was alive, I was in danger. It didn't matter where in the universe, or this layer cake I guess, I was. At least for now I wasn't alone; I had allies. Yet, at some point I needed to return to my home, to Earth, despite how Ariton maintained this was my home. I didn't know what I would do or where I would go once I returned to Earth but I knew I could survive there on my own if had to. I'd been doing it for the last thirteen years.  I could hide somewhere, adopt a new identity, find a job. It was more than I could do here. I didn't know this land. I didn't know the people. I didn't know how to live here. And living here under the current circumstances didn't seem feasible.

I learned enough about my parents murder. They were killed by the Others, by the Opposition in an attempt to claim me. Ariton was my only reason for being in Eden now and I didn't believe he had any intention on helping me get back to Earth so, I would have to do it on my own. And I'd have to figure out how to do it safely. But first I had a mission to complete. I was brought here not only on the premise that he would help me but that I would help him and I intended to do that.  He had saved me twice, once from Goldin and once from that dark angel. Three times if I counted him saving me from myself when he came for me after I ran away and fell down the river embankment. It was my fault his current state of health was so poor. I would make sure Ariton was healed before I left.

Assuming control of our small operation, Cason ordered that we all get rest because tomorrow was going to be a long day. I stomped down the part of me that needed to resist taking orders from him. As much as I regretted to admit it, with Ariton ill and me being a newcomer to Eden, Cason was our best hope right now. He took the spot he slept in the previous night, down in the dip of the cave floor, and quickly became invisible in the dark. I took my spot next to Ariton. He insisted we stay close to stay warm so, I laid down next to him on the soft mat. I couldn't tell if he was nervous, but I was. It was the first time we both consciously chose to share space together like this.

I laid on my side facing the cave mouth with Ariton behind me. He didn't touch me with his hands, but his warmth radiated with his heart beat gently across my back. It was a pleasant sensation and my heartbeat quickly matched the rhythm of his.