Chapter 5
The relentless twin beams of light streaming through the opening of the shelter succeeded in waking Zoe. Lazily shifting to a sitting position, she yawned and stretched her arms. Judging by the angle of the suns, it would be around eight o'clock in the morning, at least as time would be measured on Earth. She was uncertain how much sleep she'd had last night, but felt quite rested. It then dawned on her: Jamie had allowed her to sleep almost straight through her own time to stand watch. Her frown slipped as she allowed herself the possibility he'd done it out of care and concern for her.
Turning to her left, she found Jamie was gone. She exited the shelter, looking around curiously until she spotted him sitting atop a fallen log in front of a small campfire. The air was as chilly as she'd expected for this time of day and was glad Jamie had got the fire going. She sat next to him, rubbing her arms. "Good morning," she chirped.
Jamie merely grunted as he fiddled with something in his hands. Looking closer, she found him trying to unwrap the sprill bread but not having much success. He finally turned to face her, his face worn with exhaustion and his hair disheveled.
"Oh, Jamie," she crooned sympathetically.
"What?" he snapped sourly.
"How much sleep did you get last night?"
Jamie shrugged. "I dunno." He looked away from her, his attention back on the bread. "Doesnae matter. There are more important things for me tae worry aboot."
She didn't even have to ask what that meant. "Look, Jamie, I appreciate you looking out for me, but you do need to get some sleep every once in a while."
"I'm used tae it," he said.
"I suppose you're not aware of how lack of sleep can negatively affect your health, both physically and mentally."
"Dinnae care."
"Well, I do," she said firmly. "Please, promise me next time we take turns at watch, you'll not allow me to sleep through my turn."
Avoiding her gaze, he heaved a sigh.
"Jamie …"
"Alright, alright." He turned back to her, his grouchy expression softening into a hint of a smile. As much as Zoe's nagging irritated him, he found it comforting. He wasn't used to her caring for him to such an extent. It actually felt nice. "I promise I'll wake ye when it's yer turn from now on."
Zoe smiled brightly. "Thank you. That's all I ask." Her smile quirked into an amused grin as she caught sight of his disheveled state once again: his hair flipping up around his ears, his fringe haphazardly sticking up and sweeping off to the sides of his face, revealing the fading bruise.
The corner of his mouth twitched into a wry smirk. "Ye caught me before ma beauty routine." Zoe, tickled by the phrase coming from Jamie, tried to suppress a snort of laughter. Jamie broke off another piece of the sprill bread and popped it into his mouth before offering her a piece. "After breakfast I'll go get cleaned up."
Her hunger catching up on her, Zoe gratefully accepted the bread from him. Her brow furrowed in confusion as she ate. "Cleaned up?"
Jamie nodded. "At that lake," he replied vaguely.
"There's a lake?"
"Aye. It's aboot twenty paces away from here." He pointed to a body of water on the map just east of their location.
Zoe nodded in thought. Her suppositions were proving to be correct: they must be near the edge of this copse before a transition to another biome. Having had her fill of breakfast, the resulting spurt of energy made her eager to explore. However, catching sight of Jamie's disheveled appearance forced her to put it on hold for a little longer.
"Alright, you go get washed up. I'll straighten up here," she said, gesturing vaguely to the bit of mess surrounding their supplies and packs.
Jamie grunted in acknowledgement as he removed a linen towel and set off in the direction he'd earlier indicated. As Zoe watched his back grow smaller, the thought of his destination caused the vivid memories of their encounter at the hot spring to resurface with a vengeance. She fought the urge to follow, eyes widening at the realization that she was even considering following him. She and Jamie were friends. Friends didn't do that.
What was wrong with her? And why did those particular memories keep returning? Blame her eidetic memory for its being so firmly embedded in her mind; she couldn't banish it even if she wanted to.
And she didn't want to.
Zoe flushed with embarrassment and bit down on her lower lip to force her mind back to straightening up their supplies. A light breeze came up out of the East, cooling her burning cheeks.
Bending down to rewrap the loaf of sprill bread, her eyes widened as she discovered they had just less than half a loaf left. Their supply of food was really beginning to dwindle. She quickly got to her feet and had a good look at the surrounding area. She wondered if there were some shrubs with edible berries. A quick glimpse around located some bushes and dwarf trees that looked promising and her mind went into overdrive, trying to recall the species she'd read about in the Azurian records and their physical characteristics …
Stop, she silently admonished herself. We've still got close to half a loaf of bread left. Wait until Jamie gets back. Perhaps the two of us can figure something out.
The sound of familiar footsteps ripped her from her thoughts and she looked up to find Jamie returning. His clothes looked a lot more orderly than when she'd first seen him, and he was rubbing his hair dry with the towel. Zoe grinned at the sight of his locks, which didn't appear any less in disarray than they did before he'd left. Jamie had obviously noticed and leveled a scowl in her direction as he tried to smooth his hair down.
She attempted to appease him with an apologetic smile. "Feeling any better?"
Jamie smiled, appearing almost refreshed. "Aye, the water is rieeght bonny. Like goin' fer a dip in the Loch." His smile faded as he met her gaze. "Would ye like tae get cleaned up? I'll show ye where it is."
Zoe shook her head. "No, I'm fine. But you've piqued my curiosity. I'd like to see this lake."
"Alright then, I'll take ye there."
Zoe nodded and tried to suppress a grin as her gaze fell upon his hair once again. It had already started to dry thanks to the strong sunlight and he had begun fussing with it, trying to make it somewhat presentable. His efforts were for naught, however, and it simply had begun drying in different, funny directions.
"How does my hair look?"
"Like a bird's nest."
"Och," Jamie exclaimed, rolling his eyes. He began to fuss a little more with it. "I wish we had a mirror."
"I could comb it for you," she offered, heading for one of the satchels and rummaging for the comb their hosts had provided.
"No, 'm fine," Jamie insisted. "I can do it m'self."
She handed the comb to him and he proceeded to comb his hair as best he could with no visual reference.
"Any better?" he asked, eyebrows raised.
A frown knitted Zoe's eyebrows and she shook her head, earning her a sigh as Jamie handed the comb back to her. "Alright, I'll leave it tae you," he conceded.
Zoe squinted as she picked out several snarls and combed down cowlicks, and then through his fringe to get it into some semblance of order. Once she had finished, she stepped back, satisfied his hair now looked more as it usually did.
"Better?"
She gave him a definitive nod and a smile. "Now, take me to that lake you found."
"Of course, m'lady," he returned with a small bow, his expression light with a hint of joking. "Oh, but first …" He stopped and rummaged through the large pack, a satisfied smile as he pulled out a long, narrow object. Upon closer inspection it was revealed to be a fishing rod, one of Rodin's creations he had given them. Fishing? There were fish in this lake?
As Jamie led the way, Zoe snuck several glances at him and smiled. He looked much better than he had earlier, and she wondered if this lake had any therapeutic properties itself, much like the hot spring did.
They soon reached a bit of a break in the copse and Jamie slowed, pointing to a large body of water a short distance away. "There it is," he announced.
Zoe's mouth opened but no words came forth. She gazed at the lake, impressed. It appeared very different from the hot springs of the Azurian territory, but was just as picturesque. She took a few steps closer, admiring the lovely flowers with small pink, white and purple blossoms that grew along the water's edge. The crystal blue water looked quite clear, almost resembling a mirror. It complemented the serene atmosphere of this location itself very well. No wonder Jamie had been raving about it.
"'Tis quite bonny, isnae it?" Jamie said softly, coming up alongside her.
Zoe smiled contentedly and nodded. It was so nice and peaceful here. She was content to just stand there and admire the view with him.
But Jamie had other plans. "Ye know, I saw some fish swimmin' in there earlier." he began, studying the fishing rod in his hand.
Zoe wrinkled her nose skeptically at him.
"I did!" he insisted. "Mebbe we can catch some. It'll give us somethin' a bit different tae eat alongside the bread."
Zoe considered it and conceded he had a point. She wasn't sure exactly how much further they had until they reached the human settlement - if there still was a human settlement - and they didn't have a lot of bread left for the two of them. Any other sources of food they could find would be more than welcomed.
Provided the fish were edible, of course.
"Look!" Jamie exclaimed, his voice cutting through her reverie. Blinking, she looked ahead in the direction he was pointing. Something was swimming several feet away in the shallow water. It closely resembled an eel and Zoe's eyes widened upon the surface of a particular memory: She had come across this species in her research at the Azurians' records repository!
Jamie kept his eyes on it for a long time, so long that Zoe was about to ask why, when, in a sudden movement, his hand plunged into the water. In the next moment Jamie had the eel. He held it up, looking at it askance as it squirmed, flopping wildly against his grip. "Never seen anythin' like this before. D'ye think it's safe tae eat?"
"No, not that one," Zoe replied with a frown. "The Azurians have used them, but not for food. Something about a particular enzyme that's unsafe to eat and toxic at higher levels. I don't think we should take a chance."
Jamie plunked it back into the water, gazing at the spot forlornly until a faint splashing sound much further away caught his attention. Zoe turned in the direction of the sound and caught sight of ripples in the deeper water.
Jamie was pointing at the spot. "Hey, I wonder what tha' could be!"
"Only one way to find out, I suppose." Zoe nodded toward the rod in his right hand.
"Aye." He appeared to study the device and then Zoe herself, a lopsided smile inching across his face. "Would ye no' like tae do the honors?" He held the rod out to her.
Zoe's throat went dry. "M-me?" she stuttered. "Jamie, I've never fished in my life."
"S'alright, I'll help ye." He took her hand and placed the fishing rod in it. Zoe just stood there, staring at the pole.
"Now what?"
"Ye cast out," Jamie replied, mimicking the motion. Zoe tried to imitate and would have caught the hook on Jamie's kilt if he hadn't stepped out of the way.
"Whoa there, lass!" He chuckled nervously. "Here, let me help ye." He put his hands over hers and fixed her grip on the fishing rod. "Now, this is how ye cast it out …" He assumed a similar position and mimed the move again of pulling the rod back then sweeping it forward.
Zoe tried to copy his moves, but with her smaller stature it was a bit unwieldy. The line and hook swung in another, slightly hazardous arc.
Without a word, Jamie positioned himself behind her and, reaching around her body, put his hands on top of hers to steady her grip. His solid chest and torso against her back helped strengthen her stance. Zoe stiffened slightly, not expecting it, nor the slight tingle that ran through her body.
"Ye alright?" Jamie asked, his breath just stirring her hair.
She nodded. "Yes, I'm fine."
He tilted his head to gaze tentatively at her for a moment before helping her sweep the rod back and then cast the line forward. The moment the line went into the water Jamie let go and stepped away. Zoe shivered slightly at the loss of warmth.
For several moments, nothing happened. Zoe's eyes widened as she suddenly felt a tug on the end of the line. "I think I've got something!" she exclaimed, an excited smile spreading across her face. Then the line unexpectedly slackened. Zoe frowned. Had she lost it? Suddenly the fish gave it a sharp, violent tug, catching her off guard and causing her to stumble forward slightly.
Jamie's arms were immediately back around her to help reel it in.
At the end of the line was indeed a fish—and not just any old fish—an Earth fish. Zoe cocked her head to the side as she studied her catch. The size, color and physical characteristics held a certain familiarity.
"Y'know what tha' is?" Jamie suddenly cut in. "Pollock!"
She looked over her shoulder at Jamie, their eyes connected as they both mirrored surprise. She then turned back to the silver colored fish that was putting up quite a fight at the end of the reel. "Pollachius genus. 'A saltwater predatory species and a member of the cod family …'" she murmured almost automatically as she accessed her mental database.
Jamie's brow furrowed for a moment. "Aye, um, I s'pose so. But I've caught them back in Scotland when me an' my brothers would go fishing. Beasties put up quite a fight but were no match fer us." He smiled proudly. He gently tugged the rod from her hands and began the fiddly task of unhooking the fish.
Zoe cracked an amused smile before studying the fish once again. "This one doesn't seem to be putting up that much of a fight. Unless the conditions of this planet have forced it to adapt its behavior …" Her eyes widened and she trailed off, an important realization hitting her. "Do you know what this means, Jamie? This species is from Earth. We must be getting closer to the human settlement!"
"Eh?"
"Well, think about it. If there are humans here, it's quite possible they had stocked the bodies of water with Earth fish at some point. Perhaps they had brought representatives of the species with them from Earth. I can't think of any other explanation." She smiled, feeling great relief at the possibility they were nearing the end of their long journey.
Jamie seemed to be considering it as well before his attention was back on the fish "These make great eatin'. Help me make a fire so we can cook it."
Zoe's smile evaporated. "Cook it?"
"Aye. First we scale it, cut the heid off, then the tail, an' then gut it," Jamie said, shrugging casually as if it were second nature to him.
Zoe felt her stomach do a belly flop but tried to hide her distaste with a quick smile. "Alright."
She helped him gather the required wood and within minutes they had a good fire going before returning their attention to the fish.
Zoe cleared her throat. "Well, then," she began, lifting her chin. "Let's begin."
Jamie nodded a bit too eagerly for her liking as he set the fish down on a large, flat slab of rock. He grabbed the sgian dubh from the sheath on his belt and with a clean motion, cut off its head. Zoe swallowed hard and winced.
Jamie noticed. "Och, come on. The eyeballs are the best part," he said with a teasing grin. He grabbed the fish's eyeball and popped it in his mouth.
Zoe could no longer keep up her clinical facade and started to gag. Jamie stared at her, startled. "I was only teasin', lass!" he exclaimed incredulously. "Fer heaven's sake…" He opened his hand to reveal the eyeball still there. "Jist pretendin'."
"Well, don't, please." She held her hand out and turned away, refusing to witness anymore of his technique.
Jamie's chuckling faded and he offered her an apologetic smile. "Alright, I'm sorry." He laid a hand on her shoulder. "Look, I'm all done now." He pointed to the now filleted fish. "Let's get cookin'."
Feeling her queasiness ebb away, Zoe managed a smile of her own as he took the fish and placed it on top of the fire, turning it every so often.
Several minutes had passed and the fish seemed about done before Jamie reached out with his knife to take a piece, which flaked off, signaling it was ready to eat. Eating it right off the end of his knife, he closed his eyes and smiled.
"Mm, tasty," he remarked before swallowing it. He took another piece and held it out to Zoe.
She regarded it tentatively before finally taking and eating it, smiling herself at how good it tasted.
"Good, eh?" Jamie prompted. "A nice change from jis the bread."
"Yes," Zoe mused with a nod, still trying to rid herself of the unpleasant image of fish eyeballs. It was nice to have a bit of variety; not to discount all Leara and Rodin had provided them with on this long journey.
Having had their fill, they spent a bit more time exploring the lake area before finally heading back to camp. Zoe had picked a few of the flowers for later study. She wished they could stay longer, but they needed to get back on course.
Having been at their trek for quite some time, Zoe took note of the suns' lower angle; it was now sometime around late afternoon, perhaps three o'clock in Earth terms. They were still technically within the copse area, but she could see a transition to a more grassland area just off in the distance.
Her gaze went back to Jamie, who seemed to be growing tired underneath the weight of their supplies. She frowned, concerned for him after the great distance they had traveled since they'd packed up and left. Directing her attention at the scenery before them, she smiled. It was as if it was just inviting them to stop and take a load off.
"Jamie, why don't we stop here for just a few minutes?" she asked, gesturing to the small, sparsely wooded, grassy area dotted with several large boulders.
"Nae, 'm fine," Jamie replied casually.
"We've been walking for hours," she insisted. "You look exhausted."
"Well, I'm no'," he shot back stubbornly. "I can go fer another … oh, say, ten miles."
Zoe's eyebrows shot up to her hairline. "Ten miles? Ha!"
"Ye dinnae believe me?"
Zoe began to chuckle. "No, I don't!" She managed. "Look at the bags under your eyes! I could practically hide in one of them!"
"Daft lassie," he grumbled, fixing her with a pout. He appeared ready to say more until he sighed deeply and shut his eyes.
Zoe's grin faded and she now regarded him in concern. "Really, are you alright?"
He uttered another, smaller sigh. "Aye. I jis' … Mebbe we should have a wee break."
With a knowing, but sympathetic look, Zoe led him over to the spot and then helped him remove the large pack, followed by one of the satchels. She sat upon one of the rocks, which was large enough for both of them, and patted its edge, inviting him to join her.
Jamie sat next to her, appearing relieved to have a break from all that heavy weight. He nodded to her, his lips lifted in a sheepish smile. Zoe returned his smile and then turned around, getting more of a glimpse of their new surroundings. Her eyes widened at the view just behind them: the grasslands were clearly visible, and there were even some mountains further off in the distance, their snow-capped peaks a stunning contrast to the richly-colored sky. Zoe tapped Jamie on the shoulder, prompting him to turn around. The Highlander's jaw dropped at the view.
"Jis' like the Highlands," he murmured softly. Zoe's gaze shifted from the stunning vista to her friend, a peaceful smile upon his face. His eyelids were still heavy and the dull, purplish bags under his eyes hadn't faded, yet he already looked more refreshed and content than he had before. The sight gave Zoe a sense of relief.
Several minutes later, his lack of sleep finally caught up to him and Jamie had closed his eyes, his breathing shallow and serene smile remaining as he dozed peacefully, his back resting against the trunk of a sturdy tree.
Zoe let him sleep. As she watched the Highlander rest a surge of fondness rose in her chest. Zoe purposely turned her attention back to the marvelous view stretched out before them.
She wasn't sure how much time had passed before she felt something brush against her leg and quickly jerked her head up, drawing in a quick breath. She must have dozed off herself! Turning to Jamie, she found he was still asleep and was glad she hadn't woken him. Looking down at the ground before her, she found the culprit: a small animal, approximately the size of a squirrel and anatomically similar, except its head resembled that of a rabbit, right down to the floppy ears.
Zoe smiled at the cute animal as it studied her, its little pink nose twitching away. She fought the urge to reach out and touch it. She was still a bit guarded after the attacks they'd experienced in the Azurian territory. But would a cute little animal like this be capable of mauling them? Perhaps if it suddenly grew large, razor-sharp teeth and claws, and grew to ten feet tall …
It wiggled its fluffy tail at her and then scampered over to Jamie. It stopped before him, sitting up on its hind legs and staring at him. It then moved a bit closer and brushed up against his leg, causing him to stir.
"Uh … Zoe, wha' is it?" Jamie asked groggily. Failing an answer, he blearily opened his eyes to find a wee animal much like a rabbit staring right back at him, appearing surprised.
It then tried to dart underneath his kilt.
Jamie screamed. The animal, clearly frightened itself, darted quickly away from him and leapt into Zoe's arms.
"Honestly, Jamie," Zoe admonished him. "Did you have to shout at it like that?"
Jamie's mouth hung open in disbelief. "That wee beastie appeared outta nowhere!"
Zoe grinned in amusement. "A big, strong Scotsman like yourself who fought the Redcoats can't handle an inquisitive little animal?"
Jamie glared. "Would you stay calm if that thing was making an expedition up yer skirt?"
Zoe smiled gleefully. "Are you equating your kilt to a skirt?"
Jamie glowered back. "Dinnae get smart wi' me right now, lassie -I'm nae in the mood."
"It's not a wee beastie," she told him with a scolding frown before turning back to the animal, lips pursed as she reached out to pet it. It flinched at first, but then seemed to relax into her touch. "See? We're long out of the Azurian territory. These animals haven't been trained to attack humans. They're not hostile at all, especially this particular species." She smiled as she continued to pet it and it made a sound similar to a cat's purr. "It's adorable."
Jamie pointed his finger at her. "No! Dinnae get attached tae it!"
Zoe pouted slightly, but knew it was probably for the best since it was a wild animal. She set it back down on the ground.
"We'd best get movin' agin," Jamie told her. Nodding, she helped him secure the pack on his back before picking up one of the satchels. As they started the next leg of their journey, she risked a look behind her and found the little creature sitting still, staring at them. She eyed it sadly, wishing they could stay here just a bit longer. Oh, well. Perhaps they would find more friendly little creatures along the way.
As they walked, she heard a soft movement of little feet behind her. Turning, she found the animal had begun to follow them.
Jamie had also noticed. "Och, go on wi' ye. Do ye no' have family that're missing ye aboot now?"
Zoe tried to arrest the giggle threatening to bubble up from her throat but was unsuccessful.
Jamie turned to her with a pout. "What're ye laughin' at?"
"You just sound like a grouchy old man."
"Old man?" he shot back defensively. "I'll have ye know I'm only twenty-four!"
"Twenty-four going on eighty-five."
"Hey, now, I'll jis' thank ye tae -"
"Sorry," she returned with a laugh and apologetic grin as they got moving once more.
The little scampering of feet kept following, however. Slowing, Zoe risked another glance behind her and found the animal right behind her. It jumped up, its front feet up against her legs much like the behavior of a small dog. She turned to Jamie. "Aw. Can't we take him with us?" she asked him, her eyes pleading.
Jamie heaved a sigh and gazed at the animal once again. His irritated expression softened as it scampered up to him. It seemed to sense he wasn't all that pleased with it, but brushed up against him and looked up at him, making that little purring sound. "Och, alright." He turned back to Zoe, sternly pointing a finger at her. "But ye're carryin' him. No' me."
"Fair enough. I'm sure he can walk on his own just fine. If he gets tired, I'll carry him." She smiled and scooped up the little creature, petting him again.
Zoe had secretly always wanted a pet.
Zoe frowned and pulled at the collar on her dress as she trudged along with Jamie down a wide path that cut through a grassy field. She was glad she'd stored her coat in the heavy pack. It was quite hot today. The ambient temperature was very mild itself, but the strong suns made it feel at least ten centigrade warmer. She stopped herself from reaching for the canteen, wanting very much to have a drink of water but reminding herself they had very little left and needed to conserve it. As of late in the afternoon the day before, they had also eaten up all their food.
Her gaze fell upon Squirbitt, her new little pet. His name was a near perfect meld of the two animals he greatly resembled. Jamie thought it silly and had suggested Stewart. It was a good, Scots name, he'd told her, and she could call him "Stew" for short. Zoe had scowled at the lame joke, let alone the suggestion of calling a rabbit-like animal "Stew."
The heat hadn't seemed to affect the little creature, and his diet seemed to consist of grass, seeds and a plant resembling clover, all of which seemed in abundance in the areas they had passed through. At least he needn't worry about food shortages ...
They had been traveling for a couple of days now with no human settlement in sight yet, and Zoe had to admit she was growing bored. To pass the time, Jamie started singing ...
At first Zoe found it irritating. As they walked, she kept running through the possible problems they'd encounter for which she had to have some survival strategies at the ready. Not to mention, the low blood sugar from having hardly eaten in nearly twenty-four hours, coupled with her exhaustion in general from their long trek, was making her a bit cranky. The strong, late afternoon suns beating down on them wasn't helping, either.
After a while, however, her mind finally wandered away from her ruminations and she found herself listening more closely to his singing. The more she heard, the more she found it lovely. She'd never heard him sing before, never stopped to think whether he could sing, but he was certainly proving himself.
She then noticed something peculiar about the way he was singing …
"I'll hmm hmm o'er the lea-rig,
My ain kind dearie O.
I'll hmm hmm o'er the lea-rig,
My ain kind dearie, O …"
"What tune is that?"
Jamie stopped, a bit surprised to find her showing interest. "Er, well, 'tis a traditional tune," he replied simply with a shrug.
"And what's a 'lea-rig'?"
"A lea-rig is a grassy ridge o' land left untouched in the middle of a plowed field."
"Ah." Zoe nodded thoughtfully. Jamie looked very much as if he were hoping she didn't have any further questions. But she wasn't done. "What about those parts you were simply humming? Have you forgotten the words?"
"No, I havenae forgotten," he replied enigmatically with a slightly rakish grin.
Zoe regarded him curiously. "Then why are you humming over them?"
Jamie's face flushed. "Er, I cannae tell ye."
"Why not?"
"Because ye'd kill me if I did."
"And why would I do that?"
"Well … the parts I hummed over are nae fit for a lady's ears."
"You think so?"
"I dinnae think so, Zoe. I know so," Jamie deadpanned.
Zoe rolled her eyes. "I'm sorry I even asked."
Jamie quickly frowned, his lip jutting out in a pout. He remained silent as they continued walking.
Only a minute had passed, though the silence made it seem much longer and made Zoe uncomfortable. "Well, keep going."
"No."
"Then sing something else."
Jamie remained silent. The sight of his scowl caused Zoe to roll her eyes again. "Don't tell me you're going to sulk now." Off his continued silence, she added, "Come on, I want to hear you sing some more."
"No," he repeated stubbornly. "Ye've ruined the mood."
Zoe gaped at him. "'The mood? Oh, for pity's sake, Jamie!"
"Don' ye 'pity's sake' me," he ground out. "We've been walkin' a long way an' there's nothin' in sight! No place tae stop an' rest, no shelter, no one aroond, complete silence. I was tryin' tae make the best of it by singin' an' ye had tae ruin it by askin' me wha' it meant."
"It was an innocent question!" Zoe insisted.
"Well, mebbe ye should keep yer innocent questions to yerself!" Jamie snapped.
"Fine, I'll go off exploring on my own," Zoe huffed, giving him one final glare before quickly picking up her pace and getting ahead of him.
"No, wait! Zoe, I didnae mean that, I was jis'... Come on, don' run off! One of those giant beasties could find ye an' attack ye!" He watched her retreating form grow smaller and smaller. "I'd never forgive m'self," he added quietly. Without another thought, he set off after her, as quickly as he could given the heavy weight of their supplies.
Zoe slowed her pace, stopping to catch her breath. At some point in her journey, her quick walk had transitioned into a run. She wanted nothing more than some peace and to be free to explore on her own after her petty argument with Jamie. She just needed some space to herself, and surmised he probably wanted some as well. She bent slightly at the waist, noticing Squirbitt staring up at her in apparent concern.
She bent further to scratch his head, murmuring soothing words. But he still seemed disquieted. Zoe's brows drew together in confusion as she studied him. He spun around, looking ahead in excitement.
Zoe straightened and, looking beyond him, was shocked to find structures that resembled dwellings some twenty yards ahead. She gazed at them in disbelief. Could it be a mirage? After all, she and Jamie had been walking for what seemed like miles. They'd long since run out of food, and had been conserving the very little water they had left.
No, that was silly. This wasn't a desert by any environmental conditions didn't allow for such phenomena! She shook her head, embarrassed she'd even entertained the thought.
Squirbitt remained in step with her as she drew closer, squinting as she got a good look at what lie before them. Yes, this little collection of structures did appear very real. She noticed it was more than just a little collection of random dwellings. There were small, clapboard houses, cottages, and other structures laid out almost like a small village, although in a hodgepodge of styles. As she got even closer, she found the beginning of the settlement marked by an ornate, dark, iron gate surrounded by hedgerows.
"Come on," Zoe directed Squirbitt quietly as she strolled up to the gate. She studied it a brief moment and frowned upon realizing it was locked. Sighing in frustration, she wondered if there was a way to trip the lock somehow. Before she could even think of a way to check, the gate abruptly swung open of its own volition.
Zoe's eyebrows shot up. It was almost as if it read her mind. Actually, she found the very idea disturbing. The small settlement appeared quite deserted and a small part of her was eager to explore, but more than anything she wanted to rest, preferably somewhere cool and shady.
After regarding the gate in confusion, she shrugged and, picking up Squirbitt, stepped through. Her eyes widened upon hearing some high-pitched electronic sound emanating somewhere around the gate. Could it be a security system of some sort? Were some guards about to pop out and arrest her for trespassing? She stood and waited several minutes but the area remained deserted. Her attention was back on the gate, its fine craftsmanship and especially the locking mechanism. How she wanted to study it, but the hot sunlight beating down on her and her now sore feet were too much of a distraction. Hopefully she could return to it later - if Jamie would let her.
She wandered over to a small cottage, its walls made of gray stone and darker shingles covering the high-pitched roof. The windows had small overhangs and narrow, iron bars on the outside. Zoe frowned, but surmised the architect had their reasons for such a style. Peering inside, the dwelling was dark but seemed vacant. Circling around to the front door, she gave a tentative knock. After several moments with no answer, she tried the handle and was surprised when the door opened easily. She winced at the loud, creaking sound it made. "Come on, Squirbitt," whispered Zoe. The little animal was right beside her as she carefully padded inside.
Apart from the sunlight streaming through the windows, the house was quite dark. Zoe was barely able to make out a couple of wooden chairs in the front room and sat herself down on one. Squirbitt stopped in front of her, his little head darting back and forth as if trying to survey their location. He finally turned back to Zoe and hopped onto her lap.
She briefly shut her eyes and inhaled deeply. It was good to have just a little break from Jamie. They had been walking for miles and unable to locate a place to stop and rest. It was no surprise tensions had been running high between them.
She sat still for several minutes, absorbing the welcome solitude. The only sounds were the tiny whistling noises coming from Squirbitt's nose as he exhaled. It wasn't long before the quiet began to unnerve Zoe, not to mention the shadows cast about the room by the dim light. She quickly found herself becoming uneasy and wishing Jamie were here.
Refusing to allow fear to consume her, she tried hard to think of something else. Gazing around the room, she wondered who actually lived here. Being a complete stranger to this area - let alone this planet - she didn't expect them to greet her warmly. Who knew what they would do upon finding her here?
The sudden sound of the front door creaking, followed by footsteps, caused her to jump. Looking around the room frantically, Zoe wondered where she and Squirbitt could quickly hide. She located a very small door across the room, perhaps a cupboard? Would they even fit in there?
Before she was given a chance to make her escape, the footsteps stopped at the edge of the room, revealing their owner.
Jamie set his heavy pack down, rolling his shoulders a bit as he gazed at her. In the dim light, Zoe could easily recognize the worry etched across his face.
"There ye are!" he exclaimed in overwhelming relief. His expression became a trifle scolding. "Ye shouldnae have run off like that. Ye had me worried."
Zoe gazed at him, nonplussed. "I did?" Her brow knitted. "I hadn't gone that far."
"Aye, well, I didnae exactly get here as soon as I'd wished." He began to self-consciously scratch at the back of his neck as he looked away from her.
Zoe blinked. "What happened?"
Jamie's cheeks flushed to a bright pink as he stared at the floor. "Er, weeell, let's just say that wee pack o'er there needed some adjustin'."
Zoe let his words sink in before the corner of her mouth twitched into an amused smirk. She pictured Jamie trudging along, the pack on his back shifting, perhaps various objects falling out. She fought the urge to giggle and instead regarded him contritely.
"Look, I'm sorry," Jamie suddenly blurted as he neared her, taking a seat on the other chair. "I shouldnae have snapped at ye like that."
Zoe sighed. "That's alright, Jamie. I'm sorry, too, for being so petty about your singing. We were both pretty short-tempered. It's no surprise considering how long we've been traveling and how long it's been since we've eaten."
Jamie nodded, his mouth flattening into a grim line. He then looked around the room. "Have ye explored this place at all?"
"No. I was so tired from walking I only wanted to sit down."
"I wonder who lives here." His stomach growled. Loudly. "An' if they have any food."
Zoe chuckled sympathetically. It would be wonderful to find some food.. She followed Jamie out of the room and into another small room just opposite across the short hallway. It appeared much like a kitchen with an old-fashioned oven, washbasin, cupboards, and a large, wooden table in the middle.
At the moment, Jamie was most interested in the table, or, more correctly, what was on the table. On top of a large plate sat a crumbled portion of bread.
"Look!" Jamie exclaimed. He immediately reached out to grab a piece of it. Zoe quickly raised her arm to stop him. Who knew how long that bread had been sitting there? Jamie turned to her with a glare and reached out again for it. He was about to put a piece in his mouth …
"Stop! Don't touch that!" a voice behind them exclaimed.
Wheeling around, they found a man around his late twenties or early thirties. Hands up to stop them, he held their gaze urgently.
"Why no'?" Jamie demanded. "We're fair famished an' havenae eaten in at least a day!"
The man's serious expression morphed into a ghost of a smile. "Because we've got better food. And you can help yourself to it."
Note: The song Jamie is singing is called (as the lyrics would suggest )"(The) Lea Rig." It dates back to the 17th century, although Robert Burns reworked and revised the lyrics in the late 18th century. That being after Jamie's time, he's singing the earlier version.