“You were restless last night and needed to rest as long as possible.”
“It was sweet that he wanted to allow her more time to rest, but they couldn’t afford to be even ten minutes behind the others.”
“I’ll be ready in two minutes.”
“Take your time. You should eat and relieve yourself before we head out.”
Now she frowned at him. “We’re already twenty minutes behind everyone else.”
“There’s no challenge today, we only have to travel to the third campsite. There’s no rush in that. This is the time we can take to recuperate from our previous ordeal.”
“I would appreciate it if you would include me in decisions like that.”
The expression on his face was one of surprise and frustration.
“Look, I’m sure that on your planet, you don't have to ask anyone else for their opinion. But here…” she pointed at him then at herself. “Here, we are partners. That means I get a say in things that affect me. How would you feel if I had let you sleep while everyone else got up and left.”
He grunted. “I am a clan leader, so I do make the decisions and they are usually final. But I understand your point. I will try to include you in future decisions that affect you.”
“Thank you.”
She finished putting her bedding back into her pack. She pulled out a nutrition bar and ate it quickly.
“I will cover the fire if you want to use the woods for privacy to relieve yourself.”
Mara was slightly embarrassed, but it was a natural process. She hurried into the wooded area and found a spot. She could have used the pouch in her pack, but this was faster. Minutes later she was done and used the dry sanitizer to clean her hands. If she had her tent, she would have used the dry sanitizer to clean her whole body. What she wouldn’t give to sink into a nice hot bubble bath.
“Ready?” he called out.
“Coming!”
She grabbed her pack and put it on. Then ran out to catch up to him. The sun was rising, lighting up the world with silver and white. A light breeze made her shiver. She pushed the control panel on her sleeve to adjust the temperature.”
“How long do you think it will take to get to the next campsite?” she asked.
“If all the campsites are about the same distance apart, maybe three hours.”
“Did anyone confess to shredding my tent?”
“No, but any of them could have done it. Don’t trust anyone.”
“No one but you, right partner?”
He grunted.
They walked a distance away from the campsite. Mara noticed that he was being cautious in the path he took. There was another path that was free of broken ice and snow.
“Vaelor, why aren't you taking the smoother path?” she asked.
“Sometimes the path that looks right is the one meant to mislead you.”
She smiled. “That sounds almost philosophical.”
“No one has ever accused me of being that.”
Mara laughed. “It’s a first for you then.”
Their path led them through a beautiful icy landscape. It was hillier than what they had traveled before and this time, she had a view of the clear ocean water in the distance. Her breath caught at the beauty before her.
