Page 81 of The Garnet Daughter
I wake myself fully, begging my mind to clear and come out of the dreamlike state of this place.
The moment I do, I fold back to my sleeping spot on the ground of our camp in the birthlands. But August is not on top of the boulder above when I scan my surroundings, praying for something to ground me in this reality.
“Calliape!” he bellows from some distance away. His voice is pleading and desperate. “Callia!”
“She’s here!” Sav runs over from a different direction.
Still groggy, I fall back into the solid cliff wall as she approaches, her expression as confused as I am.
August brutally jumps down into the sand and heaves on air like he has held it the entire time I was folded away. His hands are on me, squeezing my shoulders and pressing me into his torso in a full-body embrace. His chest quakes a little as he breathes in, asking me if I’m alright and taking my sleepy nod as answer enough.
“You folded.” He holds me by my arms and leans down to meet my eyes. “One moment you were there, and when I looked back, you had vanished.”
“It has not happened in my sleep since Frith. I don’t know why.”
A horrible shriek cuts across open air of the valley below us, bouncing off the rocks and disorientating the pitch in a haunting echo.
Sav scrambles to the boulder above and looks out. “Every animal in the area heard you calling for her.”
August holds up the large gun he has kept slung at his back until now.
“What kind of animal is that?” A chill runs across my skin, sending every nerve ending in my body into a frenzy, making me want to run like a small mammal being hunted by the night predators on the mountain.
Whatever it is, it screeches again, followed by unworldly chirps as it gets closer to the rocks we are sheltering in.
“We need to go!” Sav calls out as she jumps to the next rock without making sure we follow.
August grabs my arm and pulls me along before I even gain purchase in the sand. We break out into a full sprint, leaping over rocks and fallen dead trees. We run relentlessly into the desert, not daring to look back as more chirping sounds are returned from another shrieking animal seeking easy prey.
Chapter
Twenty-Five
We run for so long, the pain in my legs turns to dull numbness, putting as much distance as possible between us and the creatures that made those terrifying sounds.
Every time I think night has finally spread across the birthlands and the last purple hues of conjunction light have transformed into pitch black, the darkness somehow continues to deepen.
Sav takes us to another rock formation, letting us know it is finally night and travel is too dangerous. We’re not able to see even a small distance in front of us now. She seems familiar with the resting spot, having us follow her up a grouping of rocks to a flat area surrounded by cliff-like walls. It’s tucked away and cozy after being in the open for so many hours.
“Will that not be seen?” August asks as we watch her arrange twigs for a fire.
“The walls are high here, and even if it was seen, not even thieves travel this time of night and animals do not care.” Savstrikes two pale-colored rocks together, stoking the embers in an established rock ring from a previous camp.
“How far are we from the bird beak?” I ask, observing her fire-starting technique that is not so far off from my own.
“When dawn comes, you will see it on the other side of that cliff.” She tilts her head to indicate the one behind her.
August stays close to me against the base of a bumpy rock as we settle in for the night. At first, I thought it was too hot for a fire, but just like Frith, the temperature drops to a dangerously low level.
“I won’t be able to sleep, but you can if you want. I will keep watch,” I say, sitting shoulder to shoulder next to him.
“Not tired yet, and we should come up with a plan for tomorrow if we are as close as she says.” He rests his forearms on top of his bent knees, attempting to make a sort of privacy barrier between us and Sav, who has made herself a bed facing away. He leans in so near, I can feel his breath against my neck, the orangey glow from the fire dancing in the whites of his eyes.
I force myself to avert my gaze, only to notice his strong hands and corded forearms just inches from me. I have the sudden urge to reach out and lace my fingers with his.
“Calliape?”
“Yes?” I blink away the wandering thoughts.
