Dreamwalker's Bride - Chapter 353

Chapter 353: Getting warm
Mia moved around the curve of the cliffside and quickly did as Ford had suggested. She’d been so worried this whole time that she hadn’t even considered her own comfort. She really should be dry so that she could help as much as possible.

Thankfully, Harper’s height had kept everything in the saddlebags from getting wet, and Mia was soon dry. She even managed to be back in her place next to Seth when Ford reappeared on the other side of the water.

He took a few moments, pointing around, obviously explaining the presence of the other monsters to Anaisa, Daniel, and Grandpa. The reactions were varied, and Mia dearly wished she could be over there to explain everything she knew instead of relying on Ford to relay messages.

The separation was more frustrating than she expected it to be, and, of course, much longer. She didn’t like the idea of having the group apart for an entire night.

That would mean two watches, and less sleep for everyone. Which would mean a more difficult journey the next day.

“Papa, I’m going to have to stay up all night, or at least as much as I can,” She told Seth quietly.

They prepared to throw rocks again, and aggravate the monster once more. How long before it tired of their antics and went to more extreme measures to make it stop?

She wasn’t sure.

“No, you need rest,” Seth responded with only half a look at his daughter.

“I need to constantly be looking for danger,” She told him. “To look for the nearest monster, the worst one, look for ones ready to attack.”

“You can’t keep that up all night, you’ll exhaust yourself and your magic,” He chastised her. “I can’t allow it.”

“We haven’t seen this thing leave its pool. What if that changes at night? What if it goes out for walks? It has legs,” Mia swallowed, fearful. “I have to be able to scream and warn the others to run.”

“You’re not staying awake all night,” Seth told her. “I can’t let you keep sacrificing yourself for the rest of us.”

“It’s mostly my fault, isn’t it?” Mia challenged. “I started all this. So why shouldn’t I sacrifice my rest to make sure everyone stays safe?”

“Did I not brag a few minutes ago about how much you’ve already done to keep us safe?” Seth asked her. “If you can’t see that you are at your best when well rested, you’re fooling yourself, Mia. If you drop dead from exhaustion, we’ll all be lost.

“I also thought we were past the point of apportioning fault,” He concluded, raising one eyebrow. “So stop that.”

Mia’s eyes clouded with tears, but she blinked until they evaporated.

“Get ready, he’s about to start,” She lowered her voice.

They could argue more once Ford was safely with them. Right now her primary mission was keeping the monster as far away from him as she could.

Just as before, Ford turned invisible, and the horse moved forward. Grandpa waited in his place, and urged the creature into the pool. Just as it vanished, Mia and Seth began pelting the monster with small projectiles.

It was Anaisa’s horse this time, another well behaved creature that crossed without any visible incident of bucking or excessive splashing.

“The others will be more difficult,” Seth murmured a few minutes later as Ford handed him the mare’s reins. “Grandpa’s horse isn’t quite as ornery as he is, but it’s close. And the pack horse… it’s the youngest, and least predictable animal. I’m half a mind to just release it instead of trying to get it across at all.”

Ford’s eyes showed a deep exhaustion that concerned Mia greatly.

“Whatever you think is best, Sir,” The younger man replied.

“Go get changed,” Mia told him quickly, “I’ll lay out your bedroll.”

“Where, though?” Seth pondered aloud. “Nearer to the water will be warmer, with the heat from the hot spring, or whatever is warming the place, but that’s also nearer to the monster. Where’s the balance between risking being frozen and being eaten?”

Mia quickly searched for the safest place to sleep. There was no pull, and she frowned.

“I guess no place here is safer than any other,” She said, feeling defeated.

“That is not a failing on your part,” Seth told her firmly, seeming to sense her mental self recriminations. She shrugged. If her magic was stronger, she could do better, keep everyone safer.

“Stop that, I mean it,” Her father said more firmly this time, and she capitulated. These sorts of thoughts were getting her nowhere.

“Yes, Papa,” She sighed.

By the time Ford was dry and in his bedroll, shivering, Seth had tended the horses and given them what food there was for them in the saddlebags with an unreadable expression. He was brushing them down carefully, and Mia sat near to the man who had done all too much today.

“Do you need more of the water?” She asked.

Two glaring eyes peeked out from under the blanket.

“Don’t you dare waste another drop on me,” He warned.

“It wasn’t wasted, you needed it,” Mia protested.

“Need is a very strong word,” He told her. “Besides, I’m not hurt, just exhausted.”

“Are you sure?” Mia searched what she could see of his face.

“Yes,” His teeth chattered slightly. “I’ll be fine once I warm up and get some rest.”

“Warm up,” She repeated softly, thoughtfully. The first way that came to mind–which they had employed before, would be–

“Don’t you dare,” He hissed.

She pressed her lips together. Ford was right. Her father would be very opposed to such a thing.

“I’ll be right back,” She popped to her feet and went to get one of the canteens. An empty one.

Tying a leather cord to its strap, she uncorked it and walked to the edge of the water. She looked for the monster. It was getting dark, but the direction it was in…

Quickly, she lowered the canteen into the steaming pool, and drew it back up again when it felt heavy.

Very, very pleased with herself, she quickly corked it, dried off the outside on her skirt, and brought it back to Ford.

“Hug this, or put it down by your feet. You should warm up in no time.”