Page 16 of Drakhana's Secret
Iwake up from the little nest I’ve built myself out of leaves and twigs like we have been taught as fledglings and stretch. My exhaustion gave me a good night’s sleep, empty of any dreams. I cherish that as a boom. I don’t know what I would have done if I had nightmares.
Feeling more refreshed than I was yesterday when I’d woken from having most of my powers drained, I get up and head for the river. I need to wash my face first to ensure that I’m fully awake. Plus, there’s nothing like fresh water to wash out the sleep from your mouth.
When I return to camp, I see that breakfast is already being prepared by the elders. They have always been early risers. It looks like we’re making use of last night’s leftovers. That’s good. I’d hate to waste anything.
The warriors, on the other hand, split their work between guarding the camp and walking the young ones. It seems that many of them also had a good night’s sleep. Then again, I wouldn’t really know since I was out like a light.
Baba hands me a bowl of the vegetable soup from last night. I take a sip of the broth and feel the like return to my veins. The warmth is welcome on this chilly morning.
“Thank you,” I tell Baba. “Were you able to sleep well?”
“As much as can be expected while walking in these old bones of mine,” she says while handing filled bowls to the whelps that come to her.
“Don’t say that. You’ll be here for many more years to come.”
What I don’t tell her is that I can’t bear thinking of her not being by my side. Not right now. I need her more than ever.
We’ve already lost so much. I don’t know how much more we can take. We have to all stick together since we are all we have.
“How is everything?” I ask when she finishes serving.
She picks up her own bowl and moves her chin toward a log. We walk toward it then sit down beside each other. I wait for her to swallow a couple of bites.
When she finally responds, she says, “The clan is looking to you to decide what we will do next.”
I swallow wrong and choke on my soup. In the middle of my coughing fit, Baba reaches behind me and pats my back. I struggle for each breath for a different reason.
“What?” I croak out when I can finally find something to say.
“You saved us . . . twice.”
“I was just doing the right thing.”
“That’s why you deserve to lead us.”
I shake my head. “What about you, Baba? You used to be on the council. Surely, the leadership role should fall to you.”
She sets her bowl aside and takes my hand in both of hers. “I will do my best to support you in your leadership role, but I’m past my prime of being part of the council. I seriously doubt my support of staying out of this fight. Maybe we could have prepared our defenses more.”
“You did what you thought was best for the clan.” I put down my own bowl and squeeze her hands with mine. “I can’t lead this clan, Baba. What if I make mistakes?”
“Then you own up to them, find a new solution, and move on.”
“It can’t be as simple as that.”
“I will not lie, being a leader is a tough position to be in. Not many can do it, but do you remember what you did for us yesterday?”
“It wasn’t much.”
“But it was what we needed. You gave everyone something to do to take their minds off our current circumstances. Trust that instinct. Our clan is willing to follow you.”
“I don’t know . . .”
“Most of our respected elders are dead. The clan is scared, Sapphire. They need someone with a steady heart to guide them.”
I bite the inside of my cheek. Doubt can be a crippling emotion. Facing the unknown is indeed a scary prospect. If only I have a crystal ball that can tell me our fate.
“What do I do?”
