A Winter Awakening

Excerpt

Orteo followed the hoof-prints through the snow.

What am I doing? I should just return to my cave.

Surely the cute, young human had found his way to Ores by now.

But something about that interaction hadn’t sat right with Orteo. The human just didn’t make sense to him. When the man had appeared on the massive horse, decked out in fine, elaborate silver-and-white clothing, Orteo and the other oreads had been taken aback.

Who was this beautiful, grand-looking human?

But as Orteo had looked closer, he’d noticed the slightly askew clothing, his messy hair, and his bright-green eyes, wild and panicked.

The human’s whole situation didn’t make a lot of sense either. What had brought the man to the valley? Why had he dressed in such a way to come there? And how had he gotten lost? He’d asked for the nearest village, not Ores in particular, which meant he had no idea where he was or where he was going. Had he come from Bordertown, Castle Evermore, the inn, or somewhere else?

And although the man’s tone had been cheery, there had been something off in his voice. Like the cheeriness had been forced.

The interaction had been bizarre. So Orteo, rather than leave the valley and return to his cave, followed after the strange man and his horse.

After minutes of walking, Orteo paused. The hoof-prints left the path. An easy enough mistake, since the path lay blanketed beneath the snow. But the path could still be determined by the lack of shrubs and trees on it. The human seemed to have ridden straight through a shrub.

Orteo quickened his pace. How far could he have gone?

Night had descended. No moon or stars could be seen through the clouds and fog. Nothing to light the way for a human. And they had such poor eyesight. He followed the tracks onwards, listening for any sound.

“It’s all right, Daisy!” a surprisingly cheery voice said. “I’m sure it’ll catch alight anytime now. I’ve just got to rub the sticks a little more.” Still cheery, but Orteo heard the quivering terror beneath it.

He came towards the cave entrance. The human knelt awkwardly, shivering as he rubbed two sticks together. The horse walked around the cave, chewing on something.

“Everything will be all right, Daisy.” The man laughed, but it trailed off into a sob. “Everything will be just wonderful. I’ve just got to start this fire, and we’ll be fine. You’ll see.”

Orteo’s heart twisted. The poor man.

“Hello,” Orteo said.

The man’s eyes widened. His fingers spasmed, and he dropped the sticks. “Who’s there?” His eyes darted around. No doubt he couldn’t see Orteo through the darkness.

“It’s the oread. We spoke earlier,” Orteo said. It had been years since he’d spoken the human tongue, and the words felt clunky. “I followed you. I thought you might need help.”

“Really?” He stared in the direction of Orteo’s voice. “You’re here to save me. Truly?”

“Yes,” Orteo said, stepping into the cave.

A smile split the man’s face. “I thought I was going to die!”

Orteo pulled out some dried fish from his pack. No doubt the man was hungry. “Here’s some fish,” he said. Orteo took the man’s arm and placed the food against his hand. The human’s skin felt icy.

He frowned. Humans felt the cold terribly. It could kill them. He needed to warm the human. And soon. He glanced at the horse. The horse also probably needed warmth.

“Thank you.” The man bit into the fish, tearing at it with his teeth.

“I’ll start a fire,” Orteo said.

“I couldn’t do it.” The human swallowed. “I’ve been trying for ages. But I just couldn’t,” he said, voice strained.

“I’ll see what I can do.” Orteo didn’t want to tell the human that the man clearly had no idea what he’d been doing. He’d just been rubbing two sticks together, but even if he’d managed a spark, there had been no kindling or anything to catch alight.

Thankfully, the cave had a supply of small sticks, twigs, logs, dry leaves, and grass piled to one side. Although, not much grass. He noticed remnants of grass in front of the horse. Looked like she’d found it and eaten it. That was good. He didn’t have much food for the horse.

He cleared space in the firepit and set up some leaves and twigs. He pulled out flint and steel from his bag. He struck the steel against the flint and kept striking it. Sparks landed on the kindling. It caught alight, and he quickly added more small sticks to the flames.

“Amazing!” the human said.

Orteo glanced up at the man.

The human’s gaze filled with wonder. Fire danced in his lovely green eyes.

Orteo placed larger sticks onto the fire. And then logs. He kept going until the fire blazed, steady and hot.

“Better?” Orteo asked.

“Yes. Thank you.” The man nodded, leaning towards the fire and its warmth. “Thank you so much. You’re incredible.”

Orteo blushed and looked away. No one had ever called him incredible before. He reached into his pack and pulled out more dried fish and some berries.

“Here you are,” Orteo said, handing them to the human.

“Thank you.” The man placed the berries onto his lap and started shovelling the fish into his mouth.

When had he last eaten?

Orteo pulled out some seeds and oats and fed them to the horse. It wasn’t much, but hopefully, it would be enough until he got help and more supplies. After feeding the horse, he melted some snow in a wooden cup he carried with him. He handed the water to the human, who gulped it down greedily. Then Orteo did the same for the horse.

“Who are you?” the man asked with awe and wonder.

“I’m Orteo.” He knelt in front of the man.

“Orteo.” The human said the name as if tasting and savouring it. “You saved me and Daisy, Orteo. Thank you.” Tears glistened in the man’s eyes. “You saved us.”

“I just wanted to help.” Orteo looked away, unnerved by the intensity of gratitude. “And what is your name?”

“I’m Gael, and this is Daisy.” Gael gestured to the magnificent horse. “See, Daisy, I told you it would be all right. Orteo saved us, and now everything is all right.” Gael gazed at Orteo. “Isn’t he wonderful?” Brown hair tumbled messily across Gael’s forehead and fell into his eyes.

“I can never thank you enough.” Gael reached out to take Orteo’s hands, but the man flinched and grabbed at his ankle. He hissed.

“What’s wrong?” Orteo asked.

“I hurt my ankle earlier. I leaned on it just then.” Gingerly, Gael stretched out his leg in front of him. “It was a stupid mistake. I jumped off Daisy. I didn’t realise a rock was under the snow, and I twisted it.” He laughed. “So stupid. I’m such a silly bumble-head.”

“May I?” Orteo asked, reaching for the boots.

Gael nodded, face twisted in pain.

As carefully as he could, Orteo undid the boot and removed it. Gael bit his lip, clearly in great pain. Orteo pulled down the stocking.

He frowned. The ankle looked angry, red, and swollen. He didn’t dare try to move it.

“I’ll go get a healer.” Orteo placed the foot down and stood. He needed to get someone competent and who knew what they were doing. “There is an oread healer who lives in Ores. I’ll go get him.” He took a step towards the cave entrance.

“No!” the human cried.

Orteo paused.

“Please don’t leave me. Please,” Gael said, clearly panicking.

“I’ll only be gone a short while,” Orteo said. “You’ve got the fire and Daisy. You’ll be fine until I get back.”

The human’s eyes darted out into the darkness.

“Surely it can wait until morning.” Gael gave a weak smile. “It’s not so bad. Really.” He swallowed, Adam’s apple bobbing. “Please don’t leave me alone. Please.”

Orteo really should go get help. Gael was injured and needed to be cared for by someone who knew what they were doing. Not Orteo.

But the vulnerability and fear in Gael’s eyes kept him firmly in place.

“All right,” Orteo said and returned to Gael’s side.