Chapter 25
Chapter 25
Morning comes too soon. Birds sing just past the open window that let's in a sweet gentle breeze. Asher is a warm weight against my side.
As much as I would love to stay in bed all day, I've never been the lazy sort. Granted, I didn't have much choice growing up. The Dursley's would punish me if they even thought I was being lazy. Perhaps it's a little too ingrained, a little too trained into me for me to ignore. I slip out of the bed, careful not to wake Asher as I leave the room.
Carol and Sofia are already in the kitchen. There is a growing scent of cinnamon and sweet bread and a bowl of pale icing on the counter. A platter nearby holds slices of various fruit. I nod a greeting as I pass through the front room to step out on the front porch.
Daryl sits on the porch swing, one knee tucked up close while the other foot pushes the swing to sway. A woven basket sits beside him with several arrows tucked within while a pile of rough sticks lay beside it. Daryl pauses, the small knife flicking away a tiny wood curl before resuming it's smooth glide.
"You gonna drag us off on another hoodoo business?" He drawls, not bothering to look up from the stick he's carving.
"Not today."
I settle into the wicker chair nearby, looking out over the front garden glowing in the warm morning light. It's a peaceful morning. The corn stalks shift minutely. The apple trees sway while a few bird twitter in the branches. The tall steel wall glares brightly in the sunlight.
"How'd ya know?"
I look over at Daryl who's watching me intently. He clarifies, "How'd ya know that a herd was gonna hit? Merle says it was more'n what was in the city. Way more'n I ever seen."
I shrug, "My magic pulled me there and it just felt like they weren't safe. I just knew if I didnt do something to keep them safe then they would all die."
"Like how ya found ma brother?" He asks, looking back down at the arrow taking shape in his hand.
"Like how I found Asher," I correct. "And why staying with the other group wasn't safe. And how I found this place."
"Ya somethin like psychic?"
"More like instincts that have an awareness of more than I do so they lead me where I need to be."
He hums, focusing back on making arrows so I look around, finally noticing Merle messing with a motorcycle by the gate. Where did he find a motorcycle? Oh well, as long as he's careful.
"Me an Merle was talkin," Daryl comments, picking up a new stick and making smooth cuts to start shaping it. "Last night, you told Carol and them kids that it's energy and it was so bad because it was like too much without eating or somethin like that."
"Yeah," I admit sheepishly, "I definitely should've eaten with how much magic I was using but I didn't think of it until it was too late to really help."
"So if you had eaten, it wouldn't've been so bad."
"If I was planning ahead and had the time, I would've eaten a big breakfast and taken a large lunch and a few snacks with me."
"Then you wouldn't've passed out?"
"Exactly."
He hums thoughtfully, tilting the arrow to view along the sides before once again taking the knife to the sides.
"We was talking about maybe doing that again," he comments, nodding towards his brother too far to hear us. "Ya know, sealin off some woods or a lake or whatever. Only if ya can do it without passing out."
"If I have time to prepare then yes, I can do it, no problem."
He nods, putting the arrow aside and picking up another stick. Carol calls us from inside the same time Sofia and Asher come racing out the door to shout, "Breakfast is ready."
Breakfast is iced sticky buns and sliced fruit. Carol cuddles Easton to her chest, a bottle tucked beneath her chin as she feeds him while taking bites herself. Sofia and Asher giggle, making faces and wiggling sticky fingers at each other across the table.
"Daryl says ya can wall up some more woods," Merle comments as he snags a second sticky bun from the plate in the center of the table.
"So long as I eat well and have plenty of snacks, it shouldn't be nearly as exhausting as yesterday."
"Day before," he corrects, stuffing a large bite in his mouth and talking around it, "ya slept all o yesterday."
I hadn't realized that but it's not surprising. "Again, I didn't eat anything and I was rushing," I explain. "If I had the time to rest more and eat or even doing it in parts, that would be easier."
"Cause if ya can do that again, may be best to do it soon 'for later, ya know."
I grab a third sticky bun, tearing it apart slowly, "We can go today and gather more containers. Perhaps tomorrow we can pick an area to wall in. Another the next day."
"Can ya bounce back that quick?"
I meet Merle's stern gaze, almost smiling at the concern in his eyes. "I can do it, no problem."
He holds my gaze a moment more before nodding acceptance. "Want us to help again?"
"If you two can help find the containers and some good areas to secure, that would be a huge help."
"Can I help!" Sofia asks but Carol is quick to deny her with a softly stern, "We're staying here where it's safe."
"Besides," I offer her an olive branch, "You all can work on the gardens while we're gone."
Sofia sighs loudly, throwing a pouting look at her mother who ignores it to focus on burping the baby.
"Safe home is a blessen," Merle tells her pointedly. "Don't go scoffin at what others would kill for."
"When are ya wanten to head out," Daryl asks, throwing his brother a warning look that Merle ignores.
I grab another scoop of fruit, "We can leave once everyone is done."
"Containers first, right?"
I nod back, "Yeah, containers today and tomorrow we can start making little protected areas."