Inktober Day 7: Drip

 Chapter Five

Sir Wendell and Magda had set off some four hours prior through the forest on their way to  Tìrmàgach. The sun had finally begun to set and Sir Wendell set up a camp for them in a little nook against a steep hill. Wendell had decided it was better to stay off of the road they had been using, so their path was difficult and tiresome for the young princess, as rocks, vines, and hills had to be overcome. It was also slightly unnerving, as the forest was impossibly quieter than the road had been and whenever a rustle of leaves broke the silence, Magda started with a fright. She was, of course, determined to show herself a brave traveler, so she had begun to reign in her reactions as they walked.

They still had some food from the provisions that were brought with the king’s host, so after eating enough to satiate their hunger, Wendell instructed Magda to lie down and get some rest.

As she lay on the ground, she tried to arrange her sack under her head to avoid the stones jabbing into the side of her skull. As soft and welcoming as a forest floor might look, it was harder and colder than Magda predicted. It was easy enough to walk over, but as soon as her back hit the ground, she may as well have been lying on a stone. Worse still, though Wendell had tried for a comfortable spot, the almost imperceptible tilt of the land caused Magda to roll over accidentally a number of times before she could tuck her blanket under herself for balance.

She thought she had just gotten comfortable enough to drift off when she felt three damp plops on her cheek. Drip, drip, drip. She heard it too. Drip, drip, drip. 

Agitated, she bolted up to see where this offensive moisture was coming from. The water continued to drip but she could not see from where. Though their hill was not very high, it was covered with dense foliage such that she could not see the top of it. She turned to make sure Wendell was not looking in her direction before pulling her boots back on quietly and sneaking away to find the source of the dripping.