Azzalea woke up freezing. She could have sworn the salesman at the sporting goods store said this tent was for all weather and was water resistant, but she woke up with damp hair and blankets.
"Oh no."
She slipped out from the sleeping bag and unzipped the first flap of the tent and peered out through the screen. The rain poured down. Now that she realized how loud it sounded tapping on the tent, she didn't see how she slept through it.
The cold air rushed through as the rain changed directions. "I have to stop the water."
She was up on her feet and rummaged through one of her backpacks. She found the tarp she brought for emergencies.
Ignoring the cold rain on her, making her night shirt stick form fitting to her body, she unraveled the tarp and placed it over her tent and fastened it to the stakes with bungee cords.
She rushed back inside and was satisfied when no more drops landed on her. Azzalea rummaged through her stuff again and found her instant hand warmers. She popped a couple and held them tight, appreciating the warmth they brought her.
Everything was a little damp, but not bad. As soon as it's sunny again, it will be fine. She thought and prayed for a break in the rain.
Azzalea tensed as she thought she saw something move in the woods In front of her tent. She caught a glimpse of something brown. Probably a deer or elk.
She quickly zipped her flap back up. Whatever it was, she wanted no part of it.
~~~~
I should have known she'd be wet. River watched the female struggle to set her green piece of plastic up.
She looked so proud as she fastened the last hook.
River moved around to the other side of the tent as she went back inside. He heard her zip it back up. The cool air hit the tiny bit of his exposed face. He was wearing his heavier, thicker fur.
He smelled something like food in the wind.
At least she is eating.
River turned away and walked back to his cave. There was no sense in sitting there watching her get rained on.
~~~~
For three days it rained steadily. Azzalea tried to start a fire and would get nothing but smoke.
She sneezed and coughed. It was getting colder by the second and she was starting to feel sick. She didn't think her hair ever dried from the first day.
She dreaded the coming night. Something told Azzalea the temperature was going to get close to freezing.
I'd rather freeze to death than go back.
Azzalea surprised herself by the thought. She had never been suicidal and would have never harmed herself physically, but if tonight was the night she left the world at least she wasn't with Randy.
She would pass away peacefully and not by his hands.
Azzalea lit the emergency candle she had packed. Either she was just really cold or this thing was giving off a lot of heat in her tent. She carefully set it aside, afraid if she knocked it over the whole tent would catch.
Grabbing a package of tuna, she tore it open and poked at it with her fork. She covered her mouth as a coughing spasm hit her.
She grabbed at her chest and slowly regained her breath. Azzalea took in some water and frowned at her water bottle. It was empty.
Signing she grabbed her jacket, blew out the candle, and exited her tent. She hunched over, pulling the collar up on her coat and heading for the river.
Azzalea noticed it was raised, but she still had some time before it flooded. If it gets much higher tomorrow, I'll move my stuff. She made a mental note to check it again.
She bent over at the water and shivered as the rain landed on her neck, sliding down into her shirt.
She impatiently filled her bottle. Another coughing spell hit her. Azzalea put her hand at her chest. The cold air made it harder to regain her breath.
Her foot slipped.
~~~~
River nearly shit himself as the female stumbled. The rushing water would have taken her and once she had gone under, he'd never see her again.
He lunged forward, ready to scoop her to safety, but she caught herself on the rocks.
Ancestors watch over her.
A useless prayer.
His ancestors wouldn't help her and they certainly wouldn't help him. River was betraying his own kind. If his father was alive, he would have smashed the human and buried her belongings in a deep hole somewhere in the forest.
His mother would have been more forgiving. She would have wanted to scare her, nearly to death, and would hope she would run away. Back to her own people.
River sat still as a stone while the female clutched her chest again. Even through the thick sound of the rain and the rumble of thunder, he could hear her wheeze.
Let nature do what nature's going to do. His mother would have said to him. She decided her fate when she entered the forest. The useless things she brought would do nothing for her now. Nature was going to claim her.
The female spoke. His ears strained to hear her words. He couldn't understand her.
In the short time he's been watching her, River began to love the sound of her voice. She didn't speak very often, probably because she thought she was alone, but when she did it brought joy to his ears.
She wasn't really hurting anything being in the forest. Her fire was never dangerously high, she didn't make a mess, and the animals didn't seem bothered by her presence.
Even though she was sick and River assumed she was miserable being wet and cold, her face still looked pleasantly happy.
River cocked his head to the side. Lost in his own thoughts he didn't notice her coming closer to him. He jumped as a stick broke under the female's foot.
She had stopped and had a hand on her forehead.
She swayed and took another step.
She swayed and took another step.
The water bottle fell from her hand, but it went unnoticed.
She swayed and took another step.
River locked eyes with the female before she fell.
What do I do? Too many thoughts rushed into his mind at once. The voices of his parents guiding him. Ordering him to obey.
He pushed them away. One voice, louder than all the rest, boomed out. Silencing the others.
His voice.
Pick her up and take her with you.
River stepped out from his hiding spot in the woods. He approached the female slowly. He wanted to seem friendly if she awoke.
His heart lurched as she moaned. He watched her head move around in the mud. It was so thick and sticky. She started to sink in and it was going to cover her nose.
River picked her up. She felt as light as a bird. He looked around and didn't know why. The female was alone and so was he. He didn't know what he was looking for.
He pressed her snug against his chest. The wheezing grew louder and coughs rumbled from somewhere deep. The sickness was settling quickly in her lungs. He had to get her out of this weather.
River ran to his cave, desperate to save the female.
~~~~
Azzalea felt something soft and surrounded by warmth. Her eyes wouldn't open. Her lungs felt heavy and wet.
More warmth.
Behind her eyelids, the light grew stronger. She didn't know what was happening. She let out a shaking sigh.
Death must've come for her and she happily relaxed.
~~~~
River had stoked the fire, making it rise higher. He added a few more pieces of dry wood. The entire front half of his huge deep cave was now lit up. He had changed into dry furs after laying the female on his bed.
He laid down beside her, pulling her close to his chest.
River looked to her face as she let out a shaky sigh. She relaxed and her full pink lips formed a smile.
What is going on in there? River wondered about the female's thoughts. He would rest a while with her and then make her some medicine.
He prayed another useless prayer.
Hoping that the ancestors would have mercy on him and the female. That if she awakened, she didn't die of fright.