Next chapter posted! Enjoy :)
Carter lead Lily to one of the larger bonfires in camp. There were a few tables lined up in a row with trays of different types of food. Lily grabbed a plate, eating utensils, and got in line. She filled her plate, grabbed a drink, and went to go sit on one of the many pillow seats circling the bonfire pits. She sat next to a small group of people that varied in age. The oldest being a woman who appeared to be in her fifties. While the rest, ranged from what looked like as young as eight years old to mid/late thirties.
The youngest who looked like she was eight smiled and went to sit next to Lily. "Hello, are you the woman Uncle Carter brought into camp?"
"Maggie leave the young lady to eat." Said a man in his thirties, who actually had strikingly similar features to Carter.
The girl got a sad look on her face and stood up to leave. "No, it's okay. She can sit here if she wants. I don't mind."
He gave a brief smile and nodded. The little girl plopped back down on the pillow. "I'm Maggie. What's your name?"
It was nice interacting with kids again, she really missed her class. "I'm Lily, it's very nice to meet you."
She held out her hand for the girl to shake. She took her hand and shook it quite enthusiastically. "That's really pretty, just like the flower."
Lily chuckled. "Yeah in some ways it is. It's actually short for Liliana."
Maggie started looking around for someone. "Where's your friend you came in with? I didn't hear much about him. Except Uncle Carter says he's pretty grouchy." She says, while wrinkling her nose.
Lily couldn't help it, she bursts out laughing at the very accurate description of Frieza. As soon as she got her laughter back under control she answered Maggie's question. "He's pretty tired from all our traveling. So he stayed behind in the tent to rest."
"Actually, I came out to see how you are fairing. Though you appear to be in company." Said a voice behind her.
It shocked Lily to see Frieza out and about. Maggie jumped up and held out her hand. "Hi Mr. Grouchy, I'm Maggie."
Lily almost choked on her sip of water. 'Oh No, pleased don't be pissed,' she prayed. Frieza looked down at the little girl with a raised a eye ridge. "Ummm, hello child." He said and shook Maggie's hand.
Maggie put her hand on her chin and eyed him up and down as she circled him. "Your kind of cute. Are you Lily's boyfriend?"
That did it, Lily swallowed her water the wrong way causing a huge coughing fit. While Frieza had a horrified look on his face. "NO!" They yelled at the same time.
This caused Maggie and the people sitting next to them to laugh. "She's merely just a traveling companion, nothing more." Frieza told the little girl.
Maggie gave a toothy grin. "Riiiiiigggghhhhhtttttt." She dragged out as she sat back down on her pillow.
Not knowing what to say to that Frieza just shook his head and sat down on a pillow behind Lily. A woman with long blonde hair set in a single braid sitting a few heads down from Lily spoke. "Sorry about her, our daughter can be quite the handful at times. She also doesn't have much of a filter either."
Lily laughed. "It's fine, I work in an elementary school with kids around her age. So I'm rather use to it."
The woman who identified herself as Maggie's mom smiled. "So I heard my brother in-law Carter say you two were headed west as well?"
Lily took another sip of water and nodded. "Yeah, it's going to take time to get there. But we're not letting the long distance stop us."
The Carter look a like then spoke. "Just be careful. Keep driving all the way through. Don't make any stops until you hit civilization or another well guarded camp like this one. I'm Adam, by the way. Carter's my brother."
'Well that definitely explains they're similar features. "Thank you for the advice, we will do just that."
They chatted animatedly for another half an hour or so before it became to much for Lily to stifle her yawns. "Dear don't let us keep you up. You should go retire for the night. You look like you really need it." Said the oldest woman sitting closest to her.
" I think I will, thank you. Good night everyone it was very nice talking with all of you." Lily told them.
She received a chorus of good nights plus a hug from Maggie. She then headed back to the tent, with Frieza trailing close behind her. She pulled back the covers and plopped down face first on the bed. As she was closing her eyes, someone else came into the tent. It was the older woman from the party sitting by the bonfire. "Sorry Dear, I don't mean to intrude. But You look as if you haven't slept in days. So I came in to give you this."
The woman held out a round container. "It's a liquid with mixed roots that have natural components that will help put you to sleep. It has a small cup attached to the side of the container. Just a drink a small teaspoon a night. No more than that. Works very well too."
Lily reached out and took the offering. "Thank you, very much."
She took a teaspoon of the liquid as instructed and handed it back to the lady. But she held up her hand. "No you keep it, you will need it for your long journey."
She didn't know what to say and just thanked her again for the generous gift. "I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch you name out there."
The lady smiled. "It's Nora, Carter and Adam are my boys. The other young woman you met was my daughter in-law, Virginia. And Maggie is my granddaughter."
Lily smiled. "You have a very lovely family there Nora. And I can't thank you all enough for letting us join your camp for the night."
"Your Welcome, my son never was someone who could leave anyone behind. Especially knowing those dreaded demons are out there. Anyways, I'll leave you to your rest. Have a good night Dear and see you in the morning. And you too young man, have a good night."
"Good Night." Said Lily.
While Frieza nod's his head. She exits the tent, leaving Lily and Frieza alone yet again. Frieza wanted to talk to her about last week. But decided to wait for morning and just let Lily sleep. As soon as her head hit the pillow she was out like a light. Frieza laid down on the bed across from her and shut his eyes.
Looks like Lily made some new friends and an ally out of Carter. Next Chapter looks ahead to the following day where they leave camp to set of on their journey. While Frieza struggles to find a way to apologize for his heinous actions from last week. Will Lily listen to what he has to say or continue to give him the cold shoulder? Find out next chapter. Until Next Time ;)