It Was A Dark And Stormy Night...

[Melara]

"I don't really remember," Josef told her, brows knitting. "I think...I remember something about blood, and snow. I think I died...."

He shook his head. "It's not important. It was just a dream. Silly, really. I haven't had nightmares since I was a kid."

[TwilightsMaiden]

Accepting the fact that Damon and Roan were determined to ride straight through to the next shelter without stopping she had tried to readjust how she was sitting as to be more comfortable. Not that that was going to be possible. Then with lack of anything else to do she leaned back against Roan and drifted to sleep.

************

"It's not important. It was just a dream. Silly, really. I haven't had nightmares since I was a kid."

Amelia looked at him and grew silent, almost broody. She wasn't going to say anything, but she didn't take death dreams lightly. The fact that he was dreaming about dying showed how stressed he was about everything.

After they finished eating they loaded the remaining water skins into their bags and set off through the tunnels once again.

***********

Once Seth had gone through the entire house room to room and established he was alone he returned to the bedroom and began looking through the clothes. He had no luck in the first bedroom as it was all woman's things. The second bedroom he did find some men's clothing, but he reckoned it was a young man not long past his teen years. Fortunately Seth was of a slight enough build that he managed to find some clothes that fit well enough that he wouldn't stand out at a glance. If someone really wanted to scrutinize him he might have some trouble, but then someone that intent on staring at him would most likely notice something was up anyway.

Hungry he made his way back down to the kitchen, but only after he had tied his clothes into a bundle that he could carry along with him. He was trying not to leave any traces of him having been there.

[Melara]

As they reached the next shelter, Amelia set about making the fire.

“I’m going to go up top, look around,” Josef told her. “See if it’s still snowing and get a breath of fresh air after all these tunnels. I won’t be long, ok?”

[TwilightsMaiden]

"Aye, be careful Josef, we do'n know how far they've gotten. Ay doubt they would be 'ere yet, they hadn't been to the second shelter yet this morning before we began walkin but et doen mean they didn't get there short after I was up top." She had made sure to look out the windows while up and there was not a trace of anything in the snow. It was more than waist high at the door and high up on the windows.

As she made the fire, she wondered how it was vented. She hoped it wasn't up through the fire place as then anyone up top would grow suspicious if the cabin were empty

****************

Finally the second shelter came in to view and Eden sighed in relief. She needed to get off of the horse and walk around. When Damon started to go past it she leaned in to Roan,"What is he doing, why aren't we stopping here? We've been riding all day."

**************

Seth found some things to eat and had just finished cleaning up any traces of his meal when he heard noise on the front porch. Grabbing his bundle of clothes he climbed quickly through the window and pulled it shut after him. Then, as he had done earlier, he slunk from bush to bush staying low, to get out of the yard and into the woods.

[Melara]

"Damon, slow up," Roan said in irritation, spurring his horse forward and catching hold of his brother’s reins. “What are ye doin? Et’s foolish te keep on. Ef nothin’ else yer horse es exhausted.”

[TwilightsMaiden]

"They were 'ere last night or 'afore, if'n we stop they will stay one step ahead of us. If'n we keep going until we get te the next shelter we can catch them or get closer. Te allow areselves te stay behind is useless." Damon barked back.

"Ye two can stay 'ere, I'm goin ahead." He spurred his horse forward again. He knew he could leave them as it was no longer snowing so any snow his horse plowed out of the way, they would still have that path to follow the next day.

Eden had had the same thought, but again it was all the more reason for her to want them to stop, above and beyond the fact that she just wanted to get off the damn horse. Them splitting up worked for her though. If Damon ran into Josef alone it would give him a better chance than if he had to go up against them both. She looked up at Roan to see what he thought about it all.

*************

After starting the fire Amelia set about putting together a meal for them to eat.

*************

Seth continued to lurk throughout the day, allowing himself to draw near people near the woods so he could listen to them speak and get more of an idea about what type of place he had ended up in. He didn't want to interact with anyone until he felt a little more comfortable about things, and he needed to think up a good cover story for why he was with no money all alone in a strange town.

[Melara]

Reaching the surface, Josef looked out the windows carefully. The snow had stopped…he didn’t know if that was a blessing or a curse. No more snow might make it easier for anyone chasing them to catch up. When good smells began to faintly waft up into the cabin he headed back down.

**

Roan scowled blackly. Ignoring Eden’s look he took firmer grip on the reins, spurring his horse after his brother.

[TwilightsMaiden]

Eden was miserable as they pushed on through the snow. She wished they had just deposited her there at the cabin and gone on their hunt without her. She hoped that with as much snow was on the ground that beasts, such as the Teegr she had encountered would be staying closer to their homes. Looking up into the night sky she looked for any familiar patterns in the stars, wondering if this were just an alternate version of her world or a completely different one entirely.

**************

When Josef reappeared Amelia smiled, "Ay fixed some biscuits and the stew should be ready soon."

She stirred the pot before pulling the spoon to her lips. "After I'm done cooking I wan to put the fire out. Ay'm afraid the flu might tie into the cabin upstairs. Doen wan anyone te start lookin fer why an empty cabin might 'ave smoke."

[Melara]

“That’s a good idea,” Josef told her. “I looked around topside. Didn’t really see anything, but the snow’s stopped falling. We might want to leave a bit earlier in the morning…if someone is following us they’re not going to be slowed as much now as they were when it was snowing.”

**

Roan kept his arms tight around her, trying to keep her as warm as possible. Without the cloud cover, it was sharply cold…the stars as clear as ice-chips and their breath billowing in front of them. Noticing she was looking upward he asked, “Everythen a’ight?”

[TwilightsMaiden]

So used to him being silent Eden jumped slightly at the sound of his voice in her ear.

"Aside from not being able to feel my backside or my upper thighs anymore, freezing, hungry and tired and in the company of two insane berserker men I'm fine. Just looking at the stars." She sighed and tried to move to gain more body heat from him.

"You two are crazy. All of this for one man who means you no harm."


****************

"Ay, an knowin' Damon an Roan, they will be on horseback."

They chatted and laughed through dinner. Sharing anecdotes with one another, each trying not to think about the fact they were being pursued. As she began clearing the dishes away and cleaning them, Amelia grew more somber.

"Josef...Damon an Roan...ye canna reason with 'em. They mean te kill ye when they find ye. " She opened her mouth and then closed it. She scrubbed a bit more.

"If'n they catch up te ye, ye are garin te 'ave te fight."

[Melara]

“I know,” Josef said quietly, watching her. “I don’t pretend I’m going to be any sort of a match for them. I just hope they don’t hurt you. As long as you’re safe…”

He trailed off and shrugged.

**

“Betimes the passive bite,” Roan murmured, more to himself than her. “An’ the berserk sleep…”

[TwilightsMaiden]

When he stumbled across a paper, Seth found an article about a far away town and decided that would be where he was from. He would say that he was robbed and left in the woods. He hit himself upside the head with a rock and dirtied his clothes before stumbling out of the woods.

Making his way to the nearest group of people he called out, "They beat me, took my money. Can anyone help me?"

****************

"Doen ye worry so much about me. " Amelia finished cleaning and crossed over to him. Her eyes locked with his, all her worries and fears dancing there.

"Ay doen wan te loose ye."

******************

Somewhere in her misery Eden found sleep and her head lolled onto Roan's shoulder.

Damon plowed ahead with determination, not caring that his steed was growing weary as it plodded through almost chest high snow. Once they reached the next shelter they would stop and not before. Casting a glance back he saw that Roan followed only a few feet behind, though it appeared that Eden had fallen asleep.

[Melara]

A dark-haired woman started forward, only halting when a large, middle-aged man held out his arm in front of her, halting her. "Jens, go get some water," he told the younger boy at his side, who darted off. The man lifted his voice to Seth. "Who are you, stranger?"

**

"I don't want to lose you either," Josef told her, lifting a hand to cup her cheek. "And if it comes down to it, I'll do anything, even surrender myself to them, if it means you'll be safe."

**

Roan held Eden steady on the saddle, riding behind his brother in silence. His eyes were dark and sharp, brooding thoughts moving slowly behind them.

[TwilightsMaiden]

Seth stopped advancing as he recognized the cautious behavior, "My name is Seth...I'm from Morganton. I was traveling, I stopped to camp last night but before I could set up my camp someone jumped me...knocked me out. When I woke this morning all my things...all my money where gone. "

He looked around confused, "I'm not even sure where I am."

*************

"Ye will do nothin of the kind. Josef if ye surrender they will still hurt me if'n they 'ave a mind. Do ye hear me." She wanted him to understand the type of people he was dealing with. There was no bargaining, there was no surrender.

[Melara]

“I hear you,” Josef said with a soft nod. Leaning up he lightly kissed her forehead. “We shall just have to see what we see. For now, we’d better get some sleep before we have to be on the move again.”

[TwilightsMaiden]

"Ay." Amelia crossed over to the fire and doused the flames making sure not an ember remained.

"Do ye 'ave a good internal sense a tiem...probably best if we only sleep four or five hours." She slipped out of her clothes and climbed onto the bed.

***************

Seth took the water from the boy and sipped, "Thank you. I'm not looking for any kind of handout. I...well...I guess I need a job. Some way to earn some money."

He looked at the man facing him and wondered what the man was thinking. The dark haired woman and the boy stood just behind the man starring at him.

[Melara]

Josef nodded, hoping he wasn't lying. Normally he was good at judging time but in this underground, lightless place...and with them both so exhausted...

Pulling off his shirt and boots but leaving his trousers on, he climbed in next to her, holding her close. "Good night, Amelia," he murmured.

[TwilightsMaiden]

After a long while the man nodded, "Chester...man who runs the restaurant, he's always looking for help. Kitchen work, dishes, scrubbin floors mostly. " He pointed at the large place across the street.

Seth followed where he pointed. "Much obliged."

Making sure the roadway was clear he stepped across and made his way to the back of the restaurant. He would knock at the back door and explain his need. No need to go in through the front where everyone could see him. He could clean dishes and floors in exchange for money. The large question was how was he ever going to find a way back to his time.

**************

Amelia was already half asleep when Josef slipped in beside her. "Night." She murmured with out opening her eyes, though she did snuggle up against him as his arm had slipped around her.