The Guardian of Zamari chapter 6
Darkness was falling when Lexi heard the sound of rushing water.
The thick forest had thinned to mostly shrubs and small trees and soon they were walking along a steep bank. Below, the river swirled and splashed.
The cattails and assortment of other plants that grew along the water's edge were rocked by it's small waves. Crickets chirped loudly from the safety of the bushes and off in the distance a owl hooted.
"We'd better stop for the night." Cedric said. The others were happy to agree.
A short distance from the river they found a sheltered place to sleep.
Lexi and Barwick volunteered to gather wood for a fire.
As she searched along the bank, Lexi smelled smoke. She could see flames flickering through the trees on the other side of the river. Apparently they were not alone.
She quickly gathered her sticks and carried them back to the camp.
Ozzy had a small fire going and was slowly feeding it twigs.
"This is just great weather for building a fire, you know. You can't beat these clear, cool nights for camping either. " The opossum was saying to Aldah, who was laying out her sleeping blanket.
The rat's ears twitch but she said nothing. "Someone else is camping across the river." Lexi said.
"That so? Then I'd better go check it out." Cedric answered. "It can't hurt to be careful." Lexi watched as he silently disappeared into the darkness.
Cedric returned several minutes later.
"We should be find. I doubt they'll try crossing the river at night, but we should keep a watch, just in case." he said.
"That's fine. I'll take the first watch." Lexi answered as she unpacked the bread and dried fruit that would be her dinner. The others had similar meals and after they had eaten, they laid there blankets as close as possible around the blazing fire.
"Hey, Lexi." Cedric called as she was heading towards the oak tree. "I'll take the second watch. Wake me in about two hours."
She waved her hand in acknowledgement and sat down with her back against the tree.
As the minutes ticked by she watched the fire burn lower and lower.
Rippler awoke with a start.
He lay still and listened, but although all seemed quite in the darkness, he knew that something had awakened him. Slowly, he reached for his sword which lay beside him, concealed in it's scabbard.
As silently as possible, he drew the blade.
A twig snapped somewhere behind him.
Now, he knew that he was not alone. He resisted the urge to look behind him and lay very still, hoping that the creature had not noticed him, but knowing somehow that it had. And it was coming closer.
He shivered.
Leaves crunched a few feet from his head and he could hear footsteps behind him as a large weasel stepped from the bushes in front of him. Rippler griped the hilt of his sword tighter as they came closer.
He waited until they were almost upon him, then sprung to his feet.
Lexi paused as she heard someone scream in the distance. She could not tell which direction it had come from, but it seemed to be too far away to be any dander to them.
Noticing that the fire had burned down, she threw some more wood on it. The others had obviously not heard the scream as they were still fast asleep.
For a moment, she watched the flames hungrily devour the logs, then she stood and continued her pacing, which kept her somewhat warm and awake.
Rippler tried not to let his fear show as the three weasels closed in.
He held his sword steady, and after their companion had fallen wounded to the ground, the weasels were careful to stay out of his reach.
Moonlight glinted off their weapons and the young otter know that it was only time before he went down.
"Guys, I'm just passing through. I had no way of knowing that this was your land and I will leave right now." he said, slowly lowering his sword to show them that he meant no harm.
Then they attacked.
He was able to deflect the first blow, but failed to see another's sword until it cut deep into his shoulder.
With a cry of pain, he dropped his sword and clutched his bleeding arm.
He was knocked to the ground by one of the weasel and held still as his hands were tied behind him.
He struggled against the weasels, but they were much stronger and easily overpowered him.
As they ruffly hulled him to his feet, he kicked out at them, which only earned him a painful blow to his head.
With anger burning inside him, he was hurried led though the woods.
Lexi warmed her hands over the fire as she watched the flickering flames of orange, yellow and blue spread over the logs.
Fire had always been a mystery to her and she never understood how it could feed on wood and then turn it to ashes.
But she figured that it did not matter muck anyway, as long as it kept her warm. Soon she felt herself growing tired, and judging the time by the moon, she decided that the two hours were probably up and she went to wake up Cedric. Not wanting to bother the others, she quietly approached him. She noticed that while he slept, he tightly griped the hilt of a dagger. She gently shook him until his eyes opened. "My turn?" he asked.
"Yep." she answered quietly.
"What is it for?"
"What?" he asked somewhat confused, as he rose to his feet.
"The knife." she answered.
He sheathed his dagger and moved closer to the fire and looked back at her. "Just in case." he said solemnly.
"In case of what?" she questioned, but the silver-furred fox kept silent.
With a sigh, Lexi lay down on her blanket and quickly fell asleep.
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