Is he down yet?"
Just about... shhh. Now you'll wake him. Again." Marguerite whispered harshly to Roxton.
They were camping out after a day into their long haul of a journey. They had just bedded down, and after several minutes of calming the little tyke was finally hushing up. They were in a small camp, just a tiny fire with enough fire wood to destroy a rainforest. Roxton's protective streak was in full glory. Mother and cub to be protected at all cost.
"Marguerite, we've got to talk."
About what pray tell?"
"Don't you find this a tad... convenient?"
"Camping out in the middle of godforsaken nowhere, away from TWO of our improvised homes, with a toddler in tow? Uh, no John."
I mean this.. me meeting you in the middle of a field.. with no map.. running from savages.. but not sold into slavery.. you being free and Willie safe and healthy? You said yourself that old neighbour lady practically nursed you two back to health."
Cleante. And we've been lucky."
When has either of us ever had luck on our side?" Roxton was met by a weary face, with eyebrow raised and coffee mug tilted.
"Tomorrow?"
Hmm"
They decided to re-enter the issue into conversation the following morning, with Marguerite still a tad under the weather, and the hunter protecting two, if not three charges, energies were flagging.
The explorers slept all three under a blanket. Marguerite naturally was closest to the fire, with Willie in between her and Roxton. By morning their positions would change, Willie having snuggled closer to Roxton by lying directly on him, and Roxton supporting Marguerite's head as a pillow. Roxton's other arm would secure Willie to him with a vice grip, ensuring his safety without actually hurting him.
Roxton felt like no time had passed at all, he had tried to remember his time away from Marguerite but all he stirred up was blurry images. This was unusual and felt quiet strange to the rugged hunter. He had resolved to question Marguerite about her experience away from him in the following days. Roxton could feel it already; questioning Marguerite about the past was never easy. Even if the past was a few days ago.
Roxton had spent the entire day alternating between quick paced walks towards the ocean with Willie secured on his shoulders, to playing until naptime, to making up for lost time with Marguerite. He felt like he missed the world when he was without them. His son. His only son had spent years without him. However, Marguerite had done a hell of a job without him. It was like she had this ingrained knowledge about this little man. Instantly she knew everything: when he needed a nap, why he was fussy, and where the latest injury was. Roxton was baffled at her skills. He was damn curious.
During the last few nights after Marguerite and Willie had nodded off, Roxton had pretended the he too was sleeping. In actuality he had been watching them sleep. It was if they had this secret dialogue between the two, and he was sure neither was aware of it. It wasn't baby talk, or even mangled toddler-speak, but it was a distinct alter-language. He had asked Marguerite about it and she was adamantly clear that Willie hadn't developed her language skills. Positively clear. Willie could barely speak a word of English, yet when night came they had all sorts of interesting, if not completely un-understandable conversations. Roxton was again damn curious.
Roxton had also noticed that Marguerite had their combined positions, she slowly inched Willie off of his stomach, to between the two explorers. She would then link arms with her hunter, and created a sort of bridge between them. Marguerite's protective side was also in full swing. She wasn't overly worried about them, however making sure a toddler was safe in a long journey with guns and dinosaurs involved would tend to be worrisome. When they had finally reunited, Marguerite had already packed which was a funny thing to come home too. Willie's clothes were made well in advance, with extras made larger for later, and even a carrier made from parchment and thick vines. Marguerite had given him a look that begged no questions. He would reserve that right for later. And yet again Roxton was damn, if not ridiculously, curious.
