Bones of Faerie - Janni Lee Simner [31]
I set the bow aside as Allie stepped into the light of our fire. The bundle squirmed. Two damp ears poked out from beneath oiled leather. Allie reached out, handing the bundle to me.
“You forgot your cat,” she said.
Chapter 10
Tallow climbed into my arms and licked my nose once, then leaped to the ground and stalked beneath the tarp to the fire. Her wet fur stuck out in all directions. She began licking the mud from her coat. I stared at Allie. “What are you doing here?”
“Watching out for you. Because you wouldn't promise to watch out for yourself.” Allie sullenly pulled off her pack, followed Tallow to the fire, and warmed her hands by the flames. Her face was smudged with dirt, her dripping hair loose and tangled. She pulled a chunk of bread from her pack and bit into it fiercely. “You two walk fast, you know that?”
Matthew looked at her, looked at me, then silently filled a pot with water and put it on the fire. Allie huddled down near the flames. My stomach ached as I watched her. She seemed younger than I could ever remember being, too young to be out here. “I thought you weren't allowed Outside,” I snapped, not knowing what else to say.
“Yeah, well, you're not allowed to go around slicing your hands open, either, and then tell me you can't even say it won't happen again.” The firelight cast shadows on her face. “I'm your healer. You're my charge. I understand that, no matter what Dad or Caleb says. I can do what needs doing, too.”
“You could have been killed out there. Don't venture out alone into the dark—”
“It wasn't dark when I left.” Allie sank cross-legged to the ground and let Tallow into her lap. She petted the cat, smearing more mud on them both. “I didn't think you'd go without Tallow. That's why I hid her. But you left anyway, so we both had to follow. Tallow would never abandon you.”
My hands shook. I couldn't find words. Beyond our shelter, rain fell steadily in the darkness. Matthew stared into the hissing pot, steam condensing on his nose and eyelashes. After a time, the water began to boil. He filled a metal mug, tossed in a handful of tea leaves, and handed the mug to Allie. She clutched it tightly as Matthew poured cornmeal into the rest of the water.
“Your father will be worried,” Matthew told her. “Did you consider that?”
Allie scowled into her tea. “Dad's always worried. He wants me to wait until I'm a little old lady to do anything.”
“He wants you to be safe!” My voice rose. “You're going back at first light.”
“I'll follow you again. As often as I have to. You're my charge.”
“Did you leave word?” Matthew's voice was much calmer than mine. “Did you tell someone where you were going?”
“Of course not. I'm not stupid.”
Matthew stirred the cornmeal with a metal spoon. “Listen, Allie. I left to follow Liza, too, so I understand about things that need doing. But you have to let your dad know you're all right. I made sure my grandmother knew before I went.”
Allie sipped her tea. “Did your grandmother try to stop you?”
“No. Gram was worried, she was frightened, but she understood.”
“Your gramma's different, then. Dad would stop me. Caleb and Karin, too. All of them.”
“They should stop you!” I said. “We're going as far from your safe town as anyone can go!”
Allie nodded fiercely. “I know. And I'm going with you. You need a healer anyway. It's dangerous out here.”
“You don't know what danger is.” I didn't have time for this. I needed to be thinking about Mom, not trying to keep this child safe. “We're taking you home.”
Allie set down her tea and began working the tangles from Tallow's coat.
“Did you hear me?”
Allie scowled again as she looked up. “A healer can tell when a healing's not done. Things feel all unfinished, itchy beneath your skin, you know?”
“The only thing I know is that you're going home!” I grabbed her shoulders. She endangered us all—herself, me, Matthew, Mom—I realized I was shaking her only when she tried to