"Come and sit by the fire, all of you! I won't let anyone harm you. Trust me,” says Baine much to my relief. Unfortunately, but expectedly it does not warm my new family to me anymore. In fact I think I may have just alienated my husband from me a little bit, because he is staring at me quite strangely. I forgot I was only about half dressed, but I’m too cold to want to cover myself with a colder wet cloak.

I hand Toad to one of the girls to watch over, while I dig out the dry clothes I had in the oiled leather wrap of my pack. I fuss over them each getting them into my short leines. The ligher-haired girl wrinkles her nose at me as I hover over, but accepts it as she gets a story. The boy, however, and I have a glaring contest about if he’s really going to wrap himself up in my dry brat, while his clothes dry. I won.

As Baine begins her story she prepares the meager food they had, I offer the foods Sean had packed up from our last picnic as well as some dry strips of meat and hard bread I had. It’s not much, but it’ll add to the stew. She looks at me with a question of appreciation. I was traveling so why wouldn’t I have some of the necessities of travel with me. I wave away the offer of food saying that the children can have my portion, but readily accept some sweet tea. I’m just as cold and hungry as anyone else, but I’ve done this before many of times. And the way Keu is glowering at me. I don’t want take anything off his plate and I value both my hands.

I keep a fierce eye on the children, but relax my distance a bit. I’ve backed into a bit of the shadows. My cold wet skin is creating a wispy vapor as my internal body temperature takes over. In the right places the firelight plays tricks with the vapor and shadows making it look as though I’m shape shifting.

Sean is watching me, but I can’t tell if he’s memorized or regretting bringing me along, our eyes meet for a fleeting moment. I turn away with a slight blush into my cup of tea. Then turn my attentions to the still pouring rain. The thunder is getting fewer and farther between. No lightning has struck our poor horses nor has the rain trickled in to make for wet beds.

I turn back with a sigh and pull my knees into my chest, holding my cup of warmth close. Soon the children’s things would be dry, then I’d be able to get my trews dry. My cloak waits by the fire drying as well. The little ones seem to be enjoying the story for now and even playing with Toad. But I’m not sure it’s the story they wanted to hear. Nion snorts in his sleep and mumbles about evil toads every now and again. Eventually, the warmth would make them sleepy, wouldn’t it?

I take the time to braid my wet hair into four plaits. Not necessarily to show everyone my ears, but it is plain as day now that my ears are not on the top of my head, but they really are that long. My thoughts are wandering and I’m not paying attention. I hear a step close by and look up…