Too Much For Granted
The first chapter is short, but there is more written that is to come.
Disclaimer: I do not own Robin Hood BBC or any of the awesome characters.
Much carefully navigated his way down the embankment to the river. The air this morning was sheer and cold against his clothes, and the bank was covered in frosted dew.
"I hate the cold," he muttered, his breath puffing out ahead of him in a little white cloud. But as the one who cooked, it was also Much's responsibility to make sure they had the supplies they needed for the day well within reach. And this winter morning, the camp was running low on water which is what he needed for cooking the breakfast eggs.
Lovely, he thought, as he grabbed a hanging limb to anchor himself on. Downstream, Much knew there was an easier, more level place to draw water, but he was tired and had a bit of a cold to contend with as it was without walking another ten minutes in frigid Sheerwood. He leaned down, dipping his bucket, feeling the icy freshness reflected off the surface of the river. It parted gently to accomodate the rim of his bucket, the current diverging around it.
Maybe it isn't so bad, he thought. Kinda pretty--
The branch he was holding gave a little in his grasp and he stumbled to keep his balance.
"Oh, no, you don't!" He laughed in victory and gave the tree a haughty glance. "Think you could dunk me, did you?"
His eyes flashed wider when the branch abruptly snapped free.
He grappled for purchase on the slick bank, but the bucket now full kept him in motion. He hit the water with an awkward splash, and howled like a cat. The water was colder than anything he had ever felt before and it hurt.
His hand released the bucket and it bobbed over and emptied, floating away from him with a laughing bounce. He sputtered, shaking off the shock and waded to the bank. Shuddering, he crawled up the hard packed earth. A breeze prickled across the land and Much felt it all the way to his bones. He hissed and clamped his arms around his torso. Camp lie to the east and he was sure to be frozen solid before he got there.
"Brilliant," he said, out loud.