It didn’t take us long to find a stream gurgling happily. She paused to splash us both with water, which gave us a quick moment of refreshment. It wasn’t quite the same as a bath. But after being stuck in a van for days, it felt amazingly good.
We followed the stream uphill, knowing it would most likely lead to the top of the mountain. Having a nearby water source would be useful when we picked the spot for our hut, so it made sense to observe the flow of the water as we walked.
We walked a while longer, but soon the light began to fade from the sky. In this thick canopy of trees, it wouldn’t take long for it to go completely dark. Even during the brightest part of the day, it was shadowy and dim. So, we decided to stop for the night.
We found a patch of tall grass near the stream, in an area where the trees parted long enough to permit some sunlight. I tramped it down, making Claire a soft bed. I wished that I could do more for her, sensing how exhausted she was.
I knelt while she untied the load on my back. Most things slid off immediately, but since I was already laying down, it didn’t have far to fall. We moved the items just far enough to give us a comfortable sleeping space.
As we shuffled things out of the way, Claire emerged with a sleeping bag and blanket. It really did amaze me how she’d prepared for every possibility, but still brought so little. She knew exactly what she needed, and brought nothing more, nothing less.
When I fled my home planet with virtually nothing, it had been a momentary impulse born out of the desire to survive. There had been very little planning or foresight, and it was luck more than anything that it had worked.
Claire, on the other hand, seemed to think of every eventuality. She had this down to a science. I had to believe that there was no scenario impossible for her, no challenge she couldn’t meet. It was both impressive and subduing, and it felt like there was no end to the ways that she could amaze me.
She handed me the blanket, then rolled out the sleeping bag. Kicking off her shoes, she climbed inside. Her eyes drifted shut almost instantly, though I could tell she was fighting to stay awake.
I laid down beside her, draping the blanket over myself. Then I softly stroked her hair, urging her to relax. I had no expectation that she would stay awake for me. Nothing would’ve made me happier than for her to finally get a good night of rest.
I watched as the sun began to set. It had already dipped behind the trees, hidden from view, but the orangey-red hue that lit up the sky told me what time it was. It was a marked improvement over that terrible lab with fluorescent lights that buzzed and burned around the clock.
I continued to stroke her hair calmly, and my wish came true only a few moments later, as she fell asleep. Soon, her breathing shifted, and I knew that she was down for the count.
I smiled to myself, glad that she could relax. She had been carrying the weight for me for a long time, so to speak. I hated putting her in that position, but had been left with little recourse.
As I drifted off to sleep beside Claire, my arm draped protectively over her, I knew it was time to pick up the slack. She had gotten me away from the humans, out of a dangerous world that I was ill-equipped to protect myself from.
But now that we were here together, on this mountain, I was back in my realm. I had survived in a place like this for the last five years. I knew what needed to be done. From now on, Claire was going to get the chance to relax and depend on me. It might not be easy, but she wouldn’t be doing it alone.
She stirred in her sleep, one hand shifting out of the sleeping bag to hold onto my arm. I smiled to myself and kissed her forehead. Soon, I too succumbed to my makeshift bed. It wasn’t much, or the most comfortable, but with her in my arms, I barely noticed.
I woke early the next morning, as birds began to call. It was subtle, but enough to rouse me from my sleep. I glanced around in the dim light, taking in my surroundings.
It wasn’t officially dawn yet, though it was close. Only the most minimal light was detectable at this point, but it was enough for me. I pulled my arm away from Claire gently, moving slowly so that I didn’t wake her.
I hadn’t forgotten my resolution from the night before. I was going to carry some of this burden and show Claire that I could provide for her. We were partners, and it was time to do my part.
I knew that I couldn’t have designed a more perfect mate for myself. But I wanted her to feel the same way about me. I wanted her to be as proud and pleased as I was of her. And I knew just how to start.
I was going to find the perfect spot for our new home. We had already located a water source, and I was confident that we had to be close. When she woke, I would be able to show her the location – an idyllic spot where we could begin to build.
I couldn’t keep the silly little grin from my face, imagining how I would surprise her the way that she’d surprised me by saving my belongings. I cantered quietly through the woods, without a second thought of leaving her behind. She was sleeping, and I knew she would be fine. I wouldn’t be far away.
Besides, soon, it would all be worth it. I couldn’t wait to return to her with good news.
Chapter Eighteen
Claire
The morning light shined harshly on my face, seeming impossibly bright. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block out the sun. The warmth of it felt good on my skin, but it was a startling way to wake up.
After a moment, I blinked my eyes open. Staring up overhead, I could see the bright blue sky through a patch where the tree canopy parted. Belatedly, I realized that stopping in the one spot where grass grew had an unintentional side effect. I should’ve known better, but I had been too tired last night to think straight.
The problem, of course, wasn’t the sun itself. If it was this high in the sky, it was already much later than I’d intended to wake up. But if it had rained, we would’ve been completely exposed to the elements. We didn’t even have the natural umbrella of the trees to shelter us.
It didn’t matter now, however. We had gotten through the night unscathed. I had spent enough time camping on my hunting expeditions that I was no stranger to sleeping out in the woods. But in spite of – or perhaps, because of – that, I still had a healthy respect for the power of nature. I never let myself get cocky, knowing that one of the keys to surviving out here was modesty.
Those who thought they could simply “tough out” the forest were the first ones to get injured or sick. You were never in charge, just along for the ride. The sooner that you worked with your surroundings instead of trying to show them up, the better.