It Wakes in Me Read Online Free PDF Page A

carried on the evening breeze, along with the thunderous cracking of deadfall caused by a whipping tail.
    Another alligator roared.
    “Two males fighting,” Feather Dancer said.
    “Don’t worry,” Flint called over his shoulder. “I know a trail that veers around their pond. Those two old men won’t have a chance at us.”
    Feather Dancer followed Flint into a dense cluster of palmettos. Fronds racked his leggings as he jogged past.
    A short time later, Flint said, “Here it is,” and turned onto a deer trail. “This will take a little longer, but we need to make camp soon anyway.”
    “No, we don’t. We can travel for another two hands of time,” Feather Dancer answered. “We should keep going until it gets too dark to see the trail.”
    “I decide when and where to camp, War Chief. I planned to make it to the southern shore of Jasper Lake tonight. That’s just ahead, and that’s where we’re going to camp.”
    “But that’s ridiculous. The longer we are on the trail, the more poison we must give the chieftess to keep her asleep. For her sake, we must run as long and as hard as we can every day.”
    “No,” Flint said coldly. “The only thing you must do is what I tell you to. We will make camp where I say.”
    By the time he saw Jasper Lake come into view, Sister Moon’s gleam coated the surface, turning the dark water into a broad twinkling expanse of light and casting silver reflections upon the ancient oaks that lined the trail.
    “We’re going to camp right over there.” Flint used his chin to point. “I’ve used it many times.”

    Feather Dancer saw the sandy spit surrounded on three sides by moonlit water, and his belly muscles knotted.
    Flint stopped at the edge of the water, and they lowered the chieftess’ litter to the sand. While Flint stretched his taut back muscles, Feather Dancer surveyed the location. Charcoal from old fires dotted the spit. People must camp here often, but that fact did not alleviate his concerns.
    “This is not a good spot,” he said. “We must move.”
    Flint groaned and flapped his arms, which made his black cape billow. “Feather Dancer, it’s surrounded on three sides by water. It’s far more defensible than an open place where we could be attacked from four sides.”
    “The advantage to an open place is you can run in four directions. Here, they can come at us from the land, force us into the water, and almost certainly capture or kill us.” He reached down to grip the litter poles. His fingers cramped. “Come on. Let’s move.”
    “No,” Flint said. “I have camped here many times. I know it’s safe! Besides, I’m dead tired and starving. Aren’t you?”
    Feather Dancer’s stomach had been eating a hole in his backbone, but he said, “I can starve for a time longer to ensure the safety of my chieftess. Grab your end of the litter. It won’t take long to find a better place.”
    Cursing under his breath, Flint lifted the litter, and Feather Dancer led the way out of the spit. They walked along the lakeshore for a good hand of time, until he spied an old sand dune that overlooked the lake. “We’ll camp there.” He pointed with his chin.
    “You actually think that tiny hump is better than my spit?”
    “It will be once I’m through with it.”
    They trudged up the sandy slope and rested the litter on the very top. Chieftess Sora rolled to her side as though close to waking. Her long hair spilled over the litter poles.

    The powerful scents of rotting vegetation filled the air. Feather Dancer removed his waist pack and gratefully dropped it to the sand, then placed his bow and quiver beside it. He still had his war ax and stiletto tied to his belt.
    Flint said, “If you’ll go scavenge for dry firewood, I’ll tend to Sora’s needs.”
    “You look for dry firewood. I have more pressing concerns.”
    Flint propped his hands on his hips and in exasperation, shouted, “Have you forgotten that Matron Wink ordered you to obey me as