Things Unseen: (An epic fantasy adventure series) (The Caris Chronicles Book 1) (13 page)

Caris wished she had her saddlebag; she was so hungry she thought she could eat an eppet on her own. That’s what she needed to do, she realised wearily, she needed to get some food and build a fire. Though the days were hot and humid in the forest, the nights were cool, and she knew Crispin had no reserves to fight off the cold of night.

Caris forced herself to her feet and wandered over to check Crispin’s breathing again. It was still there, but no stronger. His skin had started to warm in the sun but his hands and feet were as cold as fish fresh caught from the stream back home. She sat beside him and began to chafe his hands and feet. After awhile they began to warm. There was a huge lump on the side of his head, which Caris supposed accounted for his losing consciousness.

She wandered down to the river, unable to muster enough energy to move any faster now that the immediate crisis was over. She found some small cold rocks in the water and carried them back up to Crispin. Gently she placed them under his head, tilted his head to the side, and rested the lump on top of them. Then swiping a couple of insects off his body, she rose once again and crept into the forest.

Caris had never hunted without her bow and arrows before and wasn’t sure how to go about it, but she knew that both she and Crispin needed nourishment so they could get their energy levels back up again.

She wasn’t familiar with this kind of forest; it was different again to the bush she had been riding through as she chased the grey people. It was denser, greener, more humid, and alive with mosquitoes and other insects. Long vines hung down from the tall trees that seemed to stretch forever into the sky. The undergrowth was soft and lacy, or plants that seemed made entirely out of leaves with no trunk or branches. It was alien and slightly scary but, to Caris’ eyes, immensely beautiful.

She found a large clump of pale blue plants with long stems hung with tiny soft leaves and quietly worked her way into the middle of it. She sat on some uneven hard roots hoping that would be enough to keep her awake.

Caris slowed her breathing and let the surrounding environment wash over her. At first, everything seemed deathly quiet but after awhile she became aware of the sound of insects. Their constant hum was so loud she couldn’t believe she hadn’t noticed it before. Her nose began to pick up the pungent smell of rotting vegetation and the smell of damp earth. She looked intently at every aspect of the trees and bushes surrounding her, and began to see unfamiliar signs and trails of small animals.

A small pale pink furry animal hopped into sight. Caris watched, with held breath, as it began to nibble on some long green grass. She forced herself to breathe quietly as she pondered how to catch it. If she had her bow it would be an easy shot, but that was not an option. As quietly as all her hunting experience had equipped her for, she left her hiding place and crept up behind it. It turned to her, but instead of jumping away as she expected, it sat and watched her inquisitively.

She lowered herself to the ground and, making herself small and unthreatening, slowly inched her way forward until she was only an arm’s length from it. The animal showed no fear. Caris considered pouncing on it but suspected that it’s strong hind legs could move quickly once startled, so instead she sat and making herself comfortable began to slowly and quietly draw in the dirt, feigning no interest in the small creature.

After a while, it lost interest in her and went back to chewing on the grass. Caris waited until it was absorbed then eased herself into a ready position. Without hesitation, she shot out her arms and grabbed it.

It fought her, hind legs kicking violently, tearing at her shirt. Caris managed to turn it around so its legs were thrusting at empty air. She hugged its back to her chest and found that with both arms wrapped around its stomach she could carry it quite easily despite its struggles.

It was only when she got back to the river she remembered she didn’t have a knife. She looked around and realised that the rocks would answer her need. Putting the animal on its side on the ground, she pinned it down with her knee. It was so cute and had been so trusting it seemed a shame to kill it, but Caris had been hunting for years and Crispin and her need was great so, picking up a rock slightly bigger than her hand, she brought it down in a heavy strike against the creature’s head.

It died instantly.

A bit sorry, but with a stronger feeling of relief and satisfaction, Caris wandered wearily down to the river for a drink. She felt more rested after her time sitting in the forest. Though her body was battered and bruised all over, her muscles had relaxed, and though still really tired, it was easier to move and think. After her drink, she grabbed some more cold rocks from the water and took them back up to place under Crispin’s head. She was pleased to find that he had warmed up. Concerned about sunburn, Caris retrieved his mostly dry clothes and draped them over the top of him.

She went back into the forest and returned with a large leaf, easily big enough to cover his face, but stiff enough not to smother him.

When she had finished seeing to Crispin, Caris went and stood over her kill wondering how she was going to skin it. Finally, with a shrug of her shoulders, she set about trying to find a broken rock with a strong sharp edge. She found one that was far from ideal, but the best in the area, and set to work skinning her dinner. It was a messy job. The rock did not cut clean, much of the time, she felt like she was trying to pull the skin off, rather than cut it free. It took her three times longer than it should and, in the end, she was left holding a mangled carcass with bits of fur stuck to it
. But, it’s edible,
she thought,
and that will do me.

By the time Caris was finished skinning the animal, the sun had gone behind the trees. Caris calculated that she would still have plenty of time before dark, but there was no longer any point staying on her small beach. It would be colder by the water come nightfall. She wrapped her kill in large green leaves and leaving it on a rock, set about dressing Crispin and dragging him in amongst the trees away from the river.

She only went about thirty paces before she found an area clear of undergrowth. It was small, but she decided it was big enough for a small fire and two people to sleep comfortably. Leaving Crispin there, she went back for her meat.

It was with a sense of accomplishment that she began to gather wood for a fire. Getting Crispin dry, warm and relatively safe, catching dinner without her bow and arrow, and pushing through the afternoon when so exhausted, had been harder than anything she had ever done before, much harder than following the grey people had been or shooting at an enemy from a safe vantage. She had done it, the day was almost over, all she had to do was build a fire and cook dinner, and then she could eat and sleep.

It wasn’t until she had collected all the wood and prepared it to light, with a large pile of wood nearby to keep them warm through the night, that she realised she didn’t have a flint.

Though overtired, Caris felt energised by a new discovery about herself − she had more strength than she knew and she could work out how to do things that seemed too hard or even impossible. With a new confidence in her ability, she went back to the river and collected a couple of rocks.

It took her a long time, but by repeatedly hitting one rock on the other, Caris finally created a spark and her tinder caught.

She carefully built up a fire and, as the gloom around her increased, she was happy for the light and warmth it shed. She roasted her meat on a green stick over the fire. She was surprised by how beautifully tender and tasty it was.

Caris was disappointed, however, in feeding Crispin. She was not able to get him to swallow even the smallest morsel. Finally, she gave up, put some more wood on the fire, placed Crispin in the best position to benefit from its warmth and though she felt self-conscious doing so, lay down beside him. She wanted to be close if he woke disoriented in the night or if a threatening animal came to visit them.

Caris expected to fall asleep immediately, but found herself wide awake. Though an arm’s length away, the nearness of Crispin was disconcerting. She had never slept so close to a man before. She wondered what she would do if he didn’t regain consciousness come morning. She would find a way to get him back to the road and the next town, no matter what.

I won’t fail him the way I failed my mother
. A deep sense of shame filled her; she had proven to herself what she could do that day, but when her mother needed her, she had not saved her. Always she had felt out of step with the rest of the world, as if she didn’t really belong and had nothing of value to offer those around her. Caris had wanted desperately to one day prove to everyone that she was of use, but in the end, she had only confirmed their assessment of her.

Not that anyone lived to know how terribly hopeless I really am
, Caris thought with a quiet sob. A deep longing filled her; she missed them so much, she would gladly live out her days low in their esteem just to have her family close to her again. Heavy of heart, Caris fell into a deep sleep.

Caris woke, before first light, shivering on the cold damp ground. She was so tired and sore; the effort to warm herself didn’t seem worth it. She was drifting off to sleep again when she remembered Crispin. Startled awake by her concern for him, she sat up and lent over to feel his skin. He was too cold. The flames had died away but there were some bright orange coals burning hotly still. Caris set about building up the fire. When she had it going strong she piled on the rest of the wood, until it was almost too hot in their small clearing.

She went back to Crispin and found him still cold, his heart was beating fast but his breathing was steady. She chafed his hands and feet and then, tossing modesty to the wind, lay down beside him and wrapped an arm and leg over the top of him, willing her own warmth into his body. As she felt his body’s temperature slowly begin to rise, she drifted back into a deep sleep.

Caris woke again late in the morning. She smiled at the feel of the body next to her. It amused her that Cherri at the age of fourteen still climbed into bed with her when she’d had a nightmare. She snuggled close to her; there was a deep ache in her stomach that she couldn’t account for. She only knew she wanted to hold her close and never let her go again. She knew however, Cherri was not going to stand for that once she awoke.
Maybe I can convince her to come down to the creek with me today, it’s ages since we’ve had a picnic down there. It feels like it’s going to be another hot one.

There was something different about the feel of the heat though; the air almost felt damp, and why were they lying on the ground? Cherri never went hunting with Caris and her dad.

Caris opened her eyes and was confronted with walls and ceiling of trees. She looked down to find it wasn’t Cherri in her arms. Reality crashed into her like an out of control horse. For a moment, she thought the pain would crush her. She slammed an internal door and, without thinking of anything, went to relieve herself behind a tree.

Still refusing to feel or think, she went down to the river. The beauty of the colourful bush, as the morning sun reflected off shiny leaves, and water splashing in the background was lost on her. She knelt by the river, washed her hands and had a long thirst quenching drink. As she splashed her face with the cold water, Caris began to feel a bit more like herself. She walked slowly back to the camp, allowing herself to acknowledge some of the disappointment she had felt at not awakening with her younger sister.

Caris wearily sat down beside Crispin and took his hand in hers. She had slept long and deep, but any physical energy she might have gained had been sucked out of her by her emotional exhaustion. She looked down at Crispin; she had hoped that he would have woken by now. Concern for him filled her. She didn’t know how to help him
. No! I will not let this happen, I will help him!

With renewed resolve, Caris headed down to the river again. She ripped some of her shirt off and soaked it in water, then carried it back to Crispin and wrung it out into his mouth. He swallowed and Caris almost whooped for joy. Twice more she filled the rag and brought it back to Crispin. By the time she had finished wringing it out the third time, she had made her plans.

Caris dragged Crispin back down to the river and found a sandy spot under a small tree that would afford him shade for the day. She resisted the urge to waste time hiding him. She had seen no sign that anything human ever came here, and an animal predator would smell him out anyway
. The important things are shade, and that he can see the water to drink if he wakes,
she told herself. She filled the rag with water once more and put it in his hand, though she didn’t really think it would do him any good.

Hating to leave him and wishing there was more she could do for him Caris forced herself to turn her back and begin the trek upriver. The urge to move quickly was strong but she forced herself to gather greens as she went. If she ate now, the trip would be quicker in the end. She looked at where the sun was in the sky and judged that even with her late start she should have time to get to Indira and back before nightfall
, if I can find a path that is manageable for Indira down that wretched cliff!

Caris walked along the river’s edge gathering plants she was familiar with and eating them as she walked. There weren’t a lot that were the same as ones from home but she found others that were similar. She knew that one plant that was edible might have a close relative that was highly poisonous, but this was an entirely new environment to her and she had no one to show her what was what. If she were to get Crispin out of this jungle alive, she would need to learn what was edible on her own.