The Shelter of the Cave

 

The smell of salt accompanied them even as they followed the path through the trees to the cave. Smelling the fat smoking in the fire, Alpen worried that the smell would attract larger animals.

Fallon argued that larger animals could not easily scramble up the rock to the floor of the cave. Crouching slightly, he practiced a spear throwing motion. "This is a good hunting platform. Let them come."

“I worry that Erthen might fall down the rock face,” Alithea argued. “It’s hard to relax.”

“I wish you could be content with good enough,” Fallon complained and looked to Bebe for support, but she shrugged.

“It would be nice if we could have a ledge or some kind of barrier,” Bebe said. “We could let the babes run free in the cave.”

The meat was fatty but delicious. Fallon convinced Alithea to let the babes eat a little bit. Feeling engorged, they fell asleep. Alpen shook Fallon awake and made the warrior’s battle sign for silence. Outside the cave, Fallon could see that the light was still bright.  The rustling sound outside the cave was familiar and Fallon made the gesture of questioning. Alpen nodded but signed that he could not identify it.

Taking one step closer to the edge of the cave floor, Alpen readied his sword. They had left the travois on the ground just below the cave, so Fallon had no weapon. He glanced at the embers. He might burn his hands, but he planned to throw a handful of the embers at the animal when it showed its head above the lower edge of the cave.

Both were surprised when a Fae rider appeared on the left side of the opening. Slashing with his sword, Alpen stepped toward  the edge of the cave but the Fae rider sat atop a Sprint out of reach. Fallon stooped to grab some embers, but his reason fought his instinct. He looked back to Erthen, Alithea and Bebe. Erthen had jumped into Alithea’s arms. Bebe shielded the playpen with her body and looked with terror at the horrid sight outside the cave. Another Sprint and rider came into view, then two more behind them.