Awakening

by Hayden Pearton

  *

  The rising sun's light was Barsch's first greeting of the day, followed by a cheery “Good morning!” from Kingston. Alza had already risen, and was nowhere to be found. Before Barsch had time to begin panicking, Maloch appeared and informed him that she had gone to pick breakfast, and would return shortly.

  A few feet from the camp, they found a small groundwater pool. After running a full set of analytical tests via Maloch's built in software, it was declared safe for consumption. They quickly drank and filled their water bottles, before each was allowed a five minute bath. As Barsch sat in the cold water, he thought on the nature of dreams, and how strange his had been since he met Alza.

  Thinking back, he realised that he had had similar dreams when he was a very young child, but they had faded over time, as he had become more mature. However, the dreams he held now were far more dark than the dragons and knights conjured by his younger self. He could never quite remember all of his dreams, but what he could recall sent chills of fear throughout his chest. Recollections of violet eyes crying crimson tears, and of beasts that dwelt within.

  He briefly considered telling Kingston of his dream about the broken plaza, but decided against it, knowing that the old man probably wouldn't understand. Remembering back, he recalled his father calling dreams, “Our fears and hopes given form.” If that was the case, then he must have a great deal of fear lying beneath his waking thoughts. He was jolted out of his peaceful reflection by a soft yet firm voice saying, “Your time is up.”

  Startled, he spun around to face the voice, and blushed when he saw Alza standing a few feet from the pool. “Alza! What are you doing?” he said whilst hurriedly trying to cover himself. After making sure that he was quite decent, he eased his body out of the shallow pool. During the whole ordeal, Alza had not once showed signs of discomfort, nor had she made any effort to avert her pretty eyes from his embarrassed visage. Sliding towards where he had left them, he recovered his clothes and dressed with the speed of the terminally distressed, while Alza continued her impassive stare.

  “It is my turn to bathe. Kingston asked me to get you.”

  Barsch suddenly remembered the mischievous look the old hermit had had in his eye when they had first found the pool. “I'm sure he bloody well did. That meddling old coot!”

  “Is there a problem?” Her voice was still cold, but to Barsch it seemed slightly warmer than before. Still, anything was better than a mocking tone.

  “No! No... I'll be ready in a sec.”

  Alza took a step towards the already panicking young man and said, “Very well.” Without waiting for him to gather his things, she sat down and began undoing the laces on her fine boots. In response, he gave a squawk of embarrassment and tried to quickly leave the area. He was temporarily conflicted, as his teenage hormones battled against his long instilled sense of chivalry, with the decider being Alza's calm stare that promised a cold rebuke if he overstayed his welcome. He left to the sound of her attacking the laces on her dress, and, in a moment of insight, knew that his all of his dreams in the near-future would be re-enactments of this moment.

  After Barsch had left, Alza quietly slipped into the refreshing pool. She brought a hand up to her cheek and was surprised to find heat. With a start, she realised that she had been blushing, the realisation of which was strangely accompanied by a mental image of the amber-eyed girl. She dunked her silver hair beneath the cold water, trying to clear her head from thoughts of Barsch and the mystery girl.