Re: Cat Hunt ( 3)
Seeing that others were tending to the freed slaves, Jenna says her goodnights and returns to her bedroll. Reaching into her pocket she produces three apples and feeds them to Bailey. Afterward she takes the saddle and reigns from the horse, freeing her to rest easy tonight. The horse whinnies her appreciation and finds a spot nearby Jenna's bedroll to stand and rest.
Jenna lays down and is about to fall asleep when a child approaches her, a young, dark-haired girl, face dirty from the road and clutching a ragged doll. Jenna guessed her age at around five. Can I sleep by you and your big horse tonight? I really like horses.
Jenna sits up looking around for another adult that should be looking for this child. Where are your parents child? You should be with them, they'll worry.
The girl's dark eyes drop toward the grass and her voice is barely audible as she whispers, They're not here. I was took a long way ago. I ain't seen my mom or da for ages. I just been with the other kids, but I saw you and how you talk to your horse and I.. The girl looks up, tears slowly rolling down her face, cutting through the road grit. I just thought maybe I could sleep by the horse.
Jenna pulls her blanket back and motions for the girl to come share the blanket with her. The little girl fairly bolts onto the bedroll and, as if Jenna was some long lost aunt she hadn't seen in years, snuggles up to her and hugs the doll. Jenna smiles a bit, then drops the blanket over the two of them and rests her head on her pack. Bailey drops her big head to both sniff the child and to receive a scratch under the chin from her and nickers her acceptance.
The warmth of the child under the blankets with her turns her mind to her father, how, as a girl, she used to do much the same as this child when the thunder would roll through the mountains around their home and she would be afraid. Though her father would most times reek of ale and sweat she would always feel safe listening to his deep snore beside her. The girl had already fallen asleep, and not long after, Jenna drifted off into her own fitful dreams. Dreams of fire, battle and crack-fanged gnolls.