Second by Hogarth M.C.A

Author:Hogarth, M.C.A.
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: adventure, military sf, hiking, anthropomorphic, buddy story, retreat, canoeing, camaraderie, social sf
Publisher: Stardancer Studios
Published: 2014-01-02T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

As the minutes stretched into an hour, and then two, Alysha began to relax and Taylitha was able to surprise her into laughing several times. Still, they were both exhausted when they chose a likely place to guide the canoe toward the shore for the night.

"Beringwaite's going to be livid," Taylitha said, examining the blisters on her hands. "He expected to be at the bottom by the end of the day today."

Alysha dropped her hands behind her head and stretched outward, curling her back. "He should have known better. Though I can't imagine us getting all the way down the mountain in another day."

"Me neither, but I'm no good judge of distance in the mountains. I didn't grow up near any, and things seem to twist back on each other and curve upward and become impassable too much," Taylitha said. She squinted upstream. "You know, the brochure said there should be call-stations along the trail. I'd really like to find one before it gets too dark. I'd hate to wait until an emergency to find out that Beringwaite's sent us down an unmarked trail."

Alysha's ears flattened and she instantly stopped putting up the tent. "Let's go look."

It took them ten minutes, but they did indeed find a call station, a short pedestal set back from the shore some hundred feet. A light at its base assured them both it was operational even if its display panel remained dark. The rumpled earth around it suggested recent upkeep, though neither of them could decide whether the grass had been ripped away for replanting or if it was intended to be left bare.

Back at camp, Taylitha took care of the fire and food while Alysha hung the tent. When Alysha tried to take over, she shooed the woman away. "Rest."

"And you shouldn't?" Alysha asked with a chuckle, though she did drape herself carefully across the ground near the fire. "You've been working as hard as I have."

"Once we got on the water," Taylitha said. "But up until then you had all the hard parts, dealing with Beringwaite."

Alysha rolled onto her back, pillowing her head on her hands. "You just like taking care of people."

"No," Taylitha said. "I like taking care of you." She stopped mid-stir of their supper. "Hey, I didn't know that."

Alysha glanced at her.

"Well, I didn't," Taylitha said. "I pulled my weight at home, but it was a relief to get away from all my little sisters and brothers for a change and only take care of myself. I don't like taking care of people. It's exhausting."

"But this is somehow different?" Alysha asked.

"This is very different," Taylitha said, satisfied. She tapped the spoon clean and set it aside. "How are your hands?"

"My hands?" Alysha withdrew one of them and studied it. She opened and closed a fist. "Sore."

Taylitha ducked into their tent and returned with her first aid kit. "Do you ignore every injury you get?"

"Only if there's something else that needs to be done," Alysha said with a rueful smile.

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