Chapter 238 Keeping watch

Chapter 238: Chapter 238 Keeping watch

Talia’s POV

I looked at her, and I forced a smile. "I am fine, Piper."

"You are not fine," she said. "I know you too well, Talia. You are scared."

I was quiet for a moment. "Yes," I admitted. "I am scared. But I am more scared of not trying, and I am more scared of giving up."

She squeezed my hand. "We are all scared, Talia, but we are not giving up. We are with you."

Jax walked over. "Piper is right. We are not going anywhere. We came this far, and we are not turning back now."

Silas nodded. "We are in this together."

I looked at the group, and I felt the tears prick at my eyes. "Thank you," I said. "All of you."

Night fell, and the forest grew dark. The fire crackled, and the shadows stretched long across the clearing.

Before anyone could stand up to watch, I spoke. “I volunteer for the first watch tonight.”

“No, Luna, I will keep watch, while you rest.” Silas said.

“Thank you, Silas, but I will watch first.” I replied.

“But, Luna, I... ” Silas tried to argue.

I shook my head. "I am fine, Silas. I need to do this."

Silas stepped forward, his face firm. "Luna, with all due respect, you need to rest. You used your power yesterday, and you are still recovering."

"You do not need to do this," Kaelen added, his voice gentle but firm. "Let one of us take the first watch."

"I am not going to argue about this," I said. "I am taking the first watch."

Jax raised his hand. "I can take it, Luna, I am not tired anyway."

Piper crossed her arms. "Jax, you fell asleep on your horse twice today."

"I was resting my eyes, Piper," Jax said. "That is different."

"It is not different," Piper countered.

Silas stepped forward again. "Luna, please. Let me..."

"No," I said, and my voice was firmer than I intended. "I need to do this, and I need to feel like I am doing something. I cannot just sit here and wait."

Kaelen looked at me, and I saw the understanding in his eyes. "You are doing something, Talia. You are leading us, and you are the reason we are here."

I felt the tears prick at my eyes. "I know. But I need to do this. Please."

Kaelen was quiet for a moment. Then he nodded. "Fine. But if you get tired, you let me know immediately."

"I will," I said.

Piper looked at me. "I can stay with you."

I held my hands up before anyone else could say anymore. “Please I just want to watch first, then another person can go next.” I looked at everyone. “And I do not want it to be a topic for arguments, please.”

“But I can watch with you, Talia.” Piper blinked her eyes playfully.

I smiled at her. "Thank you, Piper. But I need to be alone right now."

She nodded, and she squeezed my hand. "Okay. But I will be right here if you need me.”

Everyone else nodded, and did not say anything else. They let me keep watch first, even though they were not comfortable with the idea.

I sat by the fire, with my eyes fixed on the trees. The cold air bit at my skin, and I pulled my cloak tighter around me. I thought about my mother, I thought about the warning, and I thought about everything I had been through to get here.

Kaelen walked to me and sat beside me. "You should rest."

"I cannot rest," I said. "Not while she is out there."

He reached over and took my hand. "We will find her."

I looked at him, and I felt the tears prick at my eyes. "What if we are too late?"

"We are not too late," he said. "She is still alive. I know it."

"How do you know?" I asked.

He looked at me, and his gray eyes were steady. "Because I can feel it, and because I believe in you."

I squeezed his hand. "Thank you."

Piper walked over and sat on my other side. "I can stay with you if you want."

I smiled. "Thank you, Piper."

She leaned her head on my shoulder. "We are going to find her. I know we are."

I looked up at the stars, and I gripped my pendant. Somewhere out there, my mother was waiting for me. And somewhere out there, the enemy was watching.

I whispered to the darkness. "I am coming, Mother. I am coming."

I sat in silence for a long time, watching the flames dance and flicker. The fire was warm, but the cold in my chest would not go away. I thought about the dead wolf, I thought about the warning, and I thought about my mother.

Kaelen reached over and took my hand. "What are you thinking about?"

I looked at him. "I am thinking about her. About what she must have been through, and about whether she is still holding on."

"She is," he said. "I know she is."

"How do you know?" I asked. “You always seem to know everything.”

He looked at me, and his gray eyes were soft. "Because she raised a daughter who refuses to give up. That kind of strength does not come from nowhere."

I felt the tears prick at my eyes. "I hope you are right."

He squeezed my hand. "I am right."

I held onto his hand, and I let myself believe him. Somewhere out there, my mother was waiting. And I would find her.

No matter what it took.