CIRCLE OF SHADOWS Part 1: Shadow Chaser
† 8 - water’s edge †

Trudging along silently, Virian looks gloomily over her shoulder at Galen sulkily following behind, his trudging half-steps jerking against the ropes binding his wrists and ankles a constant reminder of his presence behind her. Looking at him surreptitiously, she shakes her head in surprise as she notices his eyes constantly flicking from tree to tree, scanning the closely hemmed in forest spread around them and then back to the hidden pathway they seem to be following. Astonished by this show of stubbornness she nods her head, unnoticeably visualising the individual stream of images he is most probably busy cataloguing in his mind before locking the most memorable landmarks in his mind. ‘His busy memorizing the way we are going. Quite surprising. What with the state he is in to be thinking of escape.’ She thinks to herself as a tiny grin pulls at the corner of her mouth.

Increasing the pace a little, she begins to walk faster along the hidden path, turning and twisting around widely placed trees more often than previously and crossing and re-crossing the path they were following. Her breath racing in her chest she casts a quick glance back towards Galen. Sᴇaʀ*ᴄh the FindNøvᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Looking straight at her, Galen smiles knowingly and with a slight nod of his head in a direction past her he says.

‘We need to go that way. That is, if you are still planning on going in the direction we were initially heading in,’ grinning mischievously at her. ‘Or perhaps you got yourself lost trying so hard to confuse me.’

Virian snaps her eyes forward again, eyes flashing with indignation as exasperation floods through her before stalking off in the indicated direction. Walking at a much faster pace she feels the rope jerking awkwardly behind her as Galen tries to match her speed, the rope binding his feet making it very difficult on him to stretch his legs. Smiling she pushes on, her blood racing though her body as the trees flash past her.

Sweat coursing over her face, water drops tickling as it rolls over her nose, Virian stops. Her breasts heaving tightly against her blouse she bends over, her hands resting on her legs as she breathes in with shallow gasps. Turning around she notices Galen leaning limply against a tree, his throat rasping as he breathes, light blue shirt darkened, drenched with sweat. Looking up at her, his coppery face a shade or two paler then before, three-day stubble dark against the pale flesh, he grins weakly at her, pain visible in the tight pull of his mouth and the skin around his eyes. Looking away, a lump forms in her throat, feeling horrible about the way she has been treating Galen since the incident with the porridge, earlier that morning, Virian turns around slowly before moving off at a slower pace. With her own breath racing, thirst burning in the back of her throat she begins to look around for a place to rest, the lengthening shadows indicating the day half way over, nightfall a little while off. Trudging along silently she shakes her head as she mumbles.

‘If I am this thirsty, just imagine how parched he must be. You callous cow!’ She admonishes herself harshly, now desperately looking around for somewhere to sit down. Sighting a slight gap in the tree wall, she moves down this new path, following the faint deer trail leading away from the main pathway she knows well. Stepping gingerly over gnarled roots and around thorny underbrush, birds twittering and chirping noisily in the trees around them before going silent as the humans pass underneath them, they walk deeper into the woodland. A faint gurgling reaches her ears from further ahead and she lengthens her stride, tired legs complaining with each step she takes. Bursting from the enclosing trees, they step out onto a small meadow, the last rays of the day’s sunlight spearing brightly into the open space, stinging their gloom-accustomed eyes. The gurgling spring they heard bubbles merrily into a small pond in the middle of the glade, clear water pooling before churning dazzling over small rocks as it continues the flow into the forest beyond. A small spotted deer snorts alarm, springing away as it catches the human scent and dashing wildly into the trees, fluffy white tail flashing defiantly as it crashes into the dense brush. The two catch a final brief glimpse of the deer as it meets several others between the trees, the sound of it escaping disappearing into the distance.

Sinking to her knees next to the pond Virian looks up as Galen stumbles to a halt next to her, his glazed eyes remaining fixed on the spot the deer burst through, his body shaking slightly before he crumples limply to the ground. Rolling over Galen lies on his back, breathing heavily as he closes his eyes in anguish. Panting slightly Virian edges closer to him, taking off her bag and placing it on the sodden grass next to him before reaching over and dipping her hand in the water. The cool water flows around her fingers and she reaches to the bag, unhooking her cup hanging from a clip. Dipping it into the pool, filling it to the brim before sitting back and taking a long sip of water, the cool liquid burning as it flows past the lump in her throat. Glancing towards the panting heap next to her, she moves closer, lifting Galen’s head into her head before gingerly holding the cup to his cracked lips, cold clear water running down his chin as he swallows sluggishly past his swollen tongue. Jerking upwards, coughing violently as his throat constricts from the cold, Galen pulls away from the cup, clumsily tipping it from Virian’s hand. Water spills down his chest, completely drenching his already sodden shirt.

‘I am so sorry!’ Virian wails at Galen. ‘I have been a complete fool.’ A sob escapes from her lips. A small tear runs down her cheek as she picks the cup up from the ground, turning hurriedly back to the water and scooping up another cupful, bringing it to his lips as he stops coughing. Holding the cup steady in tight fingers Virian watches concerned as Galen noisily slurps the water flowing from the cup.

‘Drink slowly, Galen. That’s it.’ She murmurs softly against his ear. Moving the cup away from his mouth, Galen’s hand flies up, gripping her hand tightly against the metal cup he looks into her eyes.

‘Ow!’ In annoyance, she jerks her hand roughly out from under his iron grip, dropping the cup as she looks angrily at his face.

‘Th...thank you.’ He blurts out weakly before closing his eyes, his voice rasping in his throat, lying back limply on her lap thin strands of unbound brown hair spilling across her knees, hanging in the pond. Coppery face visibly relaxing, etched lines smoothing over, Galen drifts off.

Looking down at Galen, a pained expression flashing in her eyes, Virian dips the cup into the water again, lifting it to her lips and drinking deeply as she stares down on the immobile body sprawled on the ground. Lifting Galen’s head gently from her lap, resting it softly on the ground, she stands up, moving away as quietly as possible not wishing to disturb Galen’s rest. Reaching over with her free hand she picks up the bag and carries it a few yards from the edge of the pond, dropping it to the soft grass before sinking tiredly down next to it. Lounging on one arm folded underneath her she sips quietly as she gazes at Galen. His wet shirt pulling tightly across his chest as he breathes in and out; the gentle curve of an arm flung out at his side shimmering coppery in the fading light; sunlight reflected from the moving water casting shining flashes over his face, a soft lustre returning to the pallid skin. Her eyes trail down his muscled arm, following the contours flowing into the firm wrists where the rope bindings come together. A soft gasp escapes before she can stop it. Eyes fixed, widening slightly, only now noticing the red blotches streaking across the blue shirt. The cup dropping from limp fingers, she crawls over to Galen, gingerly lifting his hand closer to her eyes.

‘Blood!’ Shock reverberates through her body as she grips the blood soaked limb. ‘What is wrong with me? How can I be so cruel?’

Letting go of his arm it flops to the ground, her hand flying to her mouth aghast, she looks away quickly, a feeling of shame and disgust roiling in her stomach, nauseated at the thought of her cruelty.

Looking sorrowfully back at Galen’s peaceful face, she gets up and walks towards the bag, opening the flap before turning it over and spilling the contents onto the grass. Rummaging madly through the spilled contents she pulls out a roll of bandages and a small pot of ointment, carrying it over to Galen. Silent sobs racking her slender form she kneels next to him and begins to methodologically clean and bind the bleeding wounds.

Galen opens his eyes, a painful throb behind his eyes dissipating slowly as awareness comes. Darkness has fallen over the forest glade, the silence hanging thickly in the air only broken by the gurgling water spilling past his head, sporadically interrupted by the rush of feathers of owls hunting or the soft rustle of rodents foraging in the overgrown underbrush. Turning onto his back, he looks up into the wide expanse of a starry sky, glimmering pinpricks of light sparkling in the distance as soft grass cushions his head. A silvery moon, past its apex and getting thinner once again, the silver light cast by the lunar body still bright enough to see quite well in, illuminates the branches swaying gently at the edges of the clearing, the cast in a ghostly glow of grey. A pleasant throbbing, thudding dully up his arms draws his attention away from the night sky, making him lift his arms closer to his face. Inhaling in surprise, he notices the absence of the course rope around his wrists, replaced by a snug fitting bandage of soft cotton. A warmness envelopes his lower body and he looks down in amazement before wriggling out from underneath a blanket covering him, sitting up as he searches through the meadow. With a start, he recalls how he had collapsed next to the water; those warm greenish grey eyes watching him closely as he drank; the soft hand under his, as he clenched the cup.

Splash-h-h-h!

The sound of water splashing drags him from his contemplation. Glancing around him, he searches for the source of the sound. A soft feminine giggle floats through the air from somewhere in the middle of the meadow, towards the gurgling brook splashing into the pool.

‘She must have dragged me up here.’ says Galen as he gets to his feet unsteadily. Shuffling as quietly as possible, he edges towards the splashing, each step placed carefully as he moves onwards. Looking intently into the surrounding darkness he sees the shimmering water of the pond, ripples rolling over the surface reflected in the faint moonlight. A soft aura surrounds the figure, standing knee deep in the water, long wavy hair swishing wildly through the air as she bends down to scoop more water up, splashing the liquid over her head.

Brilliant sparkles cascade over her smooth creamy skin, flowing down shapely contours, falling noisily back into the pool. Galen stands, breathlessly staring at the scene unfolding in front of him, noticing every inch of shimmering flesh, every dimple and every curve. Feeling suddenly very uncomfortable and exposed, Galen worries that she might see him standing there gaping at her naked body and turning reluctantly away he moves back to where his discarded blanket is lying on the grass. Sitting down as quietly as possible, not wanting her to know that he is awake he pulls the blanket up over his shoulders, covering his trembling body with the course material. Images of her wet skin flashes through his mind, swamping his senses; blood, rages hotly through his body as a yearning to touch her building deep inside his chest.

Groaning he turns on his side, clenching his eyes close as he urges his hammering heart to quiet.

Fstt. Fstt.

Soft footfalls sound behind him on the grass. Lying motionless, he holds his breath and listens as Virian walks past close behind him. Muscles tensing he stops breathing, her leg touching his back lightly as she brushes past his prone body. The small gust of moved air carries the heady fragrance of lilies in bloom to his heightened senses and a shudder runs down his spine. Opening his eyes, he turns... looking up into her darkened face. Dark hair hangs wetly in the moonlight framing the thin angular face, a small flash of white in between the slightly parted lips. Looking down at him, smiling in amusement, fingers deftly brushing a loose strand of hair from her face, Virian begins to button up the partly opened blouse as she turns away. Sitting down she pulls a brush from inside the bag and begins to brush the knots from her long hair, constantly watching Galen from the corner of her eye. Putting the brush away as she finishes she sees Galen turning over, his back a silent wall directed at her. Stretching her arms over her head, she looks beyond the darkened meadow and into the darkened trees, suddenly feeling much better than she had in days. With a soft sigh of contentment, she lays back, arms folded under her head she gazes up at the stars. Names of star groups and constellations, natural patterns and swirls of light criss-crossing the sky, pop into her head and she drifts peacefully off to sleep, Galen’s soft breathing soothing in the distance.

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