Jealousy
In the caravan itself, there was a terse discussion going on. Everyone had woken up, and the hot tea on the brazier had been shared about, then the discussion had begun as they sipped on the soup that had been waiting.
It was painful to accept that they had been saved by the vampire, and difficult to determine why. Was he keeping them for amusement? For food? As hostages to Abraham's good behavior? He had given no sign that he was doing it out of the kindness of his undead, unbeating heart, so why had he come racing to their rescue? They would have been doomed if he had not arrived then, instead of minor frostbite on their extremities. Right now, wolves would be gnawing their bones, instead of being wrapped up snuggly in a gently rocking wagon as it rolled down the road. The back window showed them several bobbing horse heads as their mounts followed behind the wagon, and behind them a pair of lanterns marked what was most likely the other wagon. They would have liked to speak with Abraham, but he had left while they slept. The last thing anyone remembered was the growling vampire and Arthur changing sleeping places with Abraham; the prolonged exposure to the cold had sapped their energy and even now, they were stiff, tired, and groggy. When Abraham had at some point arose and left, along with the vampire, they had slept through it.
It was a few hours past sunset when the wagon they were in rolled to a gentle halt. Not long after, Abraham pulled open the door.
"We're taking a short break. Both your driver and I need to stretch our legs, and I've no doubt each of you could use a short break as well." He delicately did not mention the full bladders that the soup and tea had created. "Please do not stray out of sight of the lanterns. The storm has stopped, but the wind still gusts and can make visibility poor. The ponies need a rest as well, so it'll be some time before we start up again." A pause, then a very solemn look. "I am so very, very glad that each of you made it through that storm. Had you done a single thing differently, I don't think even the Count could have saved you. I have never been so glad as when he returned to me to tell me that you had all been found, and in time. You were too damaged at the time to speak, but I would like to ride back with you and talk for the remainder of the trip." With that, Abraham left to take care of his own full bladder.
Behind, at the end of the wagon, a pair of red eyes watched and sharp ears listened. A wave of...jealousy? suspicion? swept through the vampire, and the hands holding the reins tightened and briefly became clawed before relaxing back into simple fingernails.
