Page 5 of A Winter Awakening

“It’s all right, Daisy!” a surprisingly cheery voice said. “I’m sure it’ll catch alight anytime now. I’ve just got to rub the sticks a little more.” Still cheery, but Orteo heard the quivering terror beneath it.

He came towards the cave entrance. The human knelt awkwardly, shivering as he rubbed two sticks together. The horse walked around the cave, chewing on something.

“Everything will be all right, Daisy.” The man laughed, but it trailed off into a sob. “Everything will be just wonderful. I’ve just got to start this fire, and we’ll be fine. You’ll see.”

Orteo’s heart twisted. The poor man.

“Hello,” Orteo said.

The man’s eyes widened. His fingers spasmed, and he dropped the sticks. “Who’s there?” His eyes darted around. No doubt he couldn’t see Orteo through the darkness.

“It’s the oread. We spoke earlier,” Orteo said. It had been years since he’d spoken the human tongue, and the words felt clunky. “I followed you. I thought you might need help.”

“Really?” He stared in the direction of Orteo’s voice. “You’re here to save me. Truly?”

“Yes,” Orteo said, stepping into the cave.

A smile split the man’s face. “I thought I was going to die!”

Orteo pulled out some dried fish from his pack. No doubt the man was hungry. “Here’s some fish,” he said. Orteo took the man’s arm and placed the food against his hand. The human’s skin felt icy.

He frowned. Humans felt the cold terribly. It could kill them. He needed to warm the human. And soon. He glanced at the horse. The horse also probably needed warmth.

“Thank you.” The man bit into the fish, tearing at it with his teeth.

“I’ll start a fire,” Orteo said.

“I couldn’t do it.” The human swallowed. “I’ve been trying for ages. But I just couldn’t,” he said, voice strained.

“I’ll see what I can do.” Orteo didn’t want to tell the human that the man clearly had no idea what he’d been doing. He’d just been rubbing two sticks together, but even if he’d managed a spark, there had been no kindling or anything to catch alight.

Thankfully, the cave had a supply of small sticks, twigs, logs, dry leaves, and grass piled to one side. Although, not much grass. He noticed remnants of grass in front of the horse. Looked like she’d found it and eaten it. That was good. He didn’t have much food for the horse.

He cleared space in the firepit and set up some leaves and twigs. He pulled out flint and steel from his bag. He struck the steel against the flint and kept striking it. Sparks landed on the kindling. It caught alight, and he quickly added more small sticks to the flames.

“Amazing!” the human said.

Orteo glanced up at the man.

The human’s gaze filled with wonder. Fire danced in his lovely green eyes.

Orteo placed larger sticks onto the fire. And then logs. He kept going until the fire blazed, steady and hot.

“Better?” Orteo asked.

“Yes. Thank you.” The man nodded, leaning towards the fire and its warmth. “Thank you so much. You’re incredible.”

Orteo blushed and looked away. No one had ever called him incredible before. He reached into his pack and pulled out more dried fish and some berries.

“Here you are,” Orteo said, handing them to the human.

“Thank you.” The man placed the berries onto his lap and started shovelling the fish into his mouth.

When had he last eaten?

Orteo pulled out some seeds and oats and fed them to the horse. It wasn’t much, but hopefully, it would be enough until he got help and more supplies. After feeding the horse, he melted some snow in a wooden cup he carried with him. He handed the water to the human, who gulped it down greedily. Then Orteo did the same for the horse.

“Who are you?” the man asked with awe and wonder.