Dakota
I brought myself back to the present, and noticed Kiara studying my face intently. Her blue eyes sad as if it was her pain also. I looked down and noticed her hand in mine, giving gentles squeezes-letting me know it was ok. I couldn’t help but notice how they fit perfectly together. I snapped out of the daze when she gave me a hug.
“You ok?” she asked gently, her eyes never leaving mine.
“Ya,” I struggled to say. Gratitude swelled in my chest for Kiara. She had helped me through my parent’s death and kept her promise of always being there for me. I watched her get up and she looked at me with a frown.
“What?” I said confused. Then all of a sudden she started doing the “sprinkler”… I think. I couldn’t help but laugh at her dance and her goofy expression. I clutched my stomach as I laughed so loud and hard.
Kiara stopped and looked at me with a hand on her hip. “Dakota are you laughing at me?” She said in a stern voice, trying to keep her face serious.
"Yes, I am,” I said between laughs. Soon Kiara joined in and we both laughed until my eyes watered. We finally stopped laughing and I wiped the tears from my eyes. Kiara's face was beet red as she tried to regain her composure.
“I think it’s time for bed,” Kiara said still giggling. She walked over and grabbed both of our bed rolls and tossed me mine, which I caught.
“Yes, ma’am.” I said saluted her. I didn’t plan on going to sleep but she didn’t need to know that.
As if she read my mind, Kiara turned around and put her hands on her hips. She narrowed her eyes and said in a motherly voice, “You are going to bed tonight. You don’t have to stay up all night for watch. You need to rest.”
I must have had a surprised look on my face.
“Yes, I know,” Kiara smirked. “I’m a ninja.”
“Sure,” I held up my hands in surrender. “I promise I’ll go to bed,” I mumbled. She glared at me a while longer before she went back setting up her bed roll. I got up and stomped out the fire, wishing I could have done the same to the fire that had destroyed my family.
“It’s not your fault. You did everything you could, “Kiara whispered earnestly as she sat up in her bed.
I nodded my head. I couldn’t dwell on it. Deep down I knew she was right but it didn’t take the ache away. I pushed all negative thoughts away and thought of the good times instead. I slowly went over and crawled in the bed. I looked over toward Kiara and noticed she had fallen asleep but I knew she was still half awake. I sighed and lay on my bed looking at the stars. The sky was clear and but my mind was clouded. Tonight the air had a slight breeze but not too cold. I fell asleep looking at the beautiful night sky.
Kiara
I woke up to rain hitting my face. I instantly sat up and looked around for Dakota; I saw him packing the horses. I pushed the hair out of my face and got up to pack my bedroll on my horse. I turned toward Dakota and noticed he was working intently. “When did the rain start?”
“Just before you woke up.” He glanced at the sky and shook his head. “We better go before it gets worse.” He mounted his horse.
I nodded my head and mounted my horse. The wind was starting to pick up and I leaned forward to stay in the saddle as the wind pushed against me.We made 5 miles before it poured. I'm not talking about little rain drops falling on my head but huge ones. The wind was howling so loud and the trees were bending under its force. I was soaked to the bone. I wiped my eyes trying to get the water out of them. I leaned further forward grasping the saddle horn trying to stay on my horse. I looked to my left and noticed Dakota was having the same problem. Suddenly a rotted tree branch snapped to my left and fell in front of me. I pulled up the reins quickly and stopped my horse. That was close! Dakota was within inches of getting hit with it! He stopped his horse and looked at me. Without having to speak we both understood each other and pulled out our weapons -Dakota his daggers and me my sword. Something had caused that branch to break. The problem was I couldn’t see anything or hear anything but the wind whistling in my ears. I dismounted and so did Dakota. Adrenaline brought us to full alert.
