Hannah's Hero - Ruby Dixon Page 0,34
all people appreciate, it’s someone that sticks to their guns.” She gives my cheek a pat. “Just enjoy your time away and forget the rest of the world for a while.”
“I can do that.” I manage a smile. Brooke really is nice. I’m so glad she’s let me come with them.
J’shel jogs up to us, and I notice that his color seems to be flaring from a lighter blue to a deeper shade, then bleaching white again. He moves to the edge of the boulder and leans in, frowning at me. “Are you upset, H’nah? What is it?”
I watch, fascinated, as his tail lashes back and forth. One of his arms is full of dvisti cakes, but he reaches for me with one of his lower hands, as if determined to comfort me. It’s kind of…sweet. I’ve been unfair to this guy, I know I have, and he still reaches for me with kindness. “I’m okay,” I promise him. “Nothing a bit of hot tea won’t solve.”
Taushen dumps a pile of cakes near the boulder and then starts to dig out a pit for the fire. “Tea will be soon. There is a cache near here we should check as well.”
“We’ll take care of the fire if you guys need to check on the cache.” Brooke slides down the front of the boulder and lands with a little hop, her boots sinking into the snow. “Just promise me you’ll wash your hands before you make the tea.”
Taushen straightens and grins at his mate, then tries to grab her with his dirty hands. She squeals with laughter and races away as fast as she can in the deep snow, and then they fall into the drifts, laughing and tickling each other.
It’s so cute. They’re clearly in love and I’m envious of how happy Brooke is. I glance over at J’shel, but he’s still watching me with concern.
“I’m okay,” I promise him again. “Really. It’s just…nice to get away, you know?”
He leans in, his big hand touching my leg, and I can practically feel his warmth through the thick leather of my pants. “I should have taken you away days ago. I did not realize you were so unhappy.”
“You had your reasons to stay behind.”
“Foolish reasons,” he says with a shake of his head. “I realize that now.” He glances up at me and his color flashes slightly again. “But I am here with you and I will take care of you. I promise.”
And what can I say to that? So I just nod and smile and try to ignore the fact that Brooke and Taushen have stopped giggling and gotten quiet, even though they’re still lying in the snow together. Now I see why I needed a buddy. Even on an ice planet, a third wheel is never welcome.
J’shel finishes making the fire and sets up a tripod of water atop it, adding leaves. Taushen and Brooke eventually detangle from their impromptu makeout session, and she returns to her spot on the boulder next to me. When the tea is ready, Taushen produces two cups and then Brooke and I sip the hot tea on our perch while the hunters head a short distance away to what looks like a stick with markings poking up from the ground. The cache, I imagine.
I look at J’shel’s bulging pack and Taushen and Brooke’s full packs as well and realize for the first time that I’m an idiot. I’ve ran off half-cocked without a pack of my own. I was just so anxious to get away I didn’t even think about it until I was handed a teacup made from the carved bone that they utilize for everything. “I didn’t bring a pack,” I admit to Brooke. “I just…ran out of camp with J’shel when he suggested it. I’m an idiot.”
“It looks like your friend brought enough stuff for the two of you,” she says, raising her foot and pointing her boot at J’shel’s overstuffed pack. “While it’s not the smartest decision, don’t worry. We won’t let you starve.”
“I really do have a lot to learn about survival,” I admit, chagrined. If this was Raahosh or R’jaal, they would be furious at me…and rightly so. Only a doofus goes out into the wild without any sort of preparation. And doofuses don’t live long in these sorts of situations, I imagine.
“Then learn what you can while we’re out here,” Brooke says easily. She sips her tea and then glances over at me. “I’m surprised you