by T. R. Graves
* * *
I didn't awaken until the arms holding me close and keeping me safe were snatched out from around me.
"What the hell, Carlie?" Jayden asked.
The door to his tent was open and there was no mistaking the sun rising up over the horizon.
I jerked up with as much surprise as Jayden so clearly had.
"I-I must have fallen asleep. Oh my God! I can't believe I did that," I groaned.
"Me either," Jayden barked, crawling out of the tent.
He was disappointed and angry that I'd let him down.
I followed him. I could tell by the stiffness of his back and the grip of his fists that he'd been met by something unexpected. As quick as a flash, I was standing next to him and preparing to fight anyone who'd invaded our camp while we slept.
There was no amount of preparation that could have readied me for what we found, who we found sitting next to the very tree we'd huddled up next to before the rain.
Gran.
He was bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and looking like he'd been waiting for hours for us to get up.
In unison, Jayden and I both asked, "Where's Tawney?"