Page 42 of Wolf's Whisper

Chapter 10. A nightmare

Completely ready to escape all the turmoil, I happily closed my eyes, ready for sleep. I had almost forgotten about everything that had happened, until I was pulled out of my slumber by a whisper.

"Hey, pssst, Akira."

My eyes fluttered open as I stared at Cece. "What?"

"I’m bored, can we play?"

I shook my head. I was too tired to play. "It's time to sleep..."

"But I’m not tired," she pouted, her yellow eyes shimmering innocently. Of course, she wasn't tired, freaking cat.

"Try to sleep, we can play games tomorrow..."

"Shhhh, we are all trying to sleep here!" Danny suddenly growled from her corner, her voice a tad lower than usual.

As if she couldn't even hear the redhead, Cece happily babbled on. "What do you guys do for fun?"

I groaned as I pressed my eyes shut. I was tired, it had been a long, stressful day. I couldn't believe how long of a day it actually had been. I just wanted to sleep. "Can we not talk tomorrow?"

"Yeah, be quiet," Darren chimed in and I seriously suspected he was looking for a rock to throw at the Puma.

"So, where are you going, Akira?" Cece inquired, totally ignoring all the glaring eyes prickling in her back. It was like she couldn't even feel them.

I groaned, deciding I didn't have the energy to keep debating with her. Answering her questions was probably easier. "East," I muttered vaguely, hoping it would shut her up.

"The East? You don't happen to be heading towards Coyote Country, are you?"

A collective groan was heard as if the whole group just knew what the next question was.

"I can guide you if you want. I know how to get there," Cece happily chirped in, as she twirled her long hairs around her fingers. She seemed totally oblivious to the angry snarls she was receiving from Darren and I wasn't sure if she was just pretending to piss him off even more.

"Of course you do, you traitor..." I heard Danny mutter under her breath, but loud enough that everyone could hear it. She tended to do that a lot, now that I thought about it.

"What? Coyotes like me," the Puma innocently smiled, looking far too happy with the bow she made from her own hair.

"Can we just stop the bickering and go to sleep? If not for me, then for Regan. He needs rest." I proposed, a heavy sigh escaping from my lips. I really wasn't in the mood for more fighting.

"Sure. But am sleeping with my knife under my pillow."

Darren's grumble was followed with a snort.

"You always sleep with your knife under your pillow. Am surprised Danny hasn't gotten jealous yet," Aspen mocked, earning him a growl.

“You’re the one that made the call to keep her alive. And now she is sleeping in our cave. Excuse me for being a little bit sceptical," he sarcastically called back, as he angrily threw a little rock against the wall.

"Watch your tone."

"You watch it."

"Guys!" Danny called out, knuckling Darren over his head. "This is not the time, nor the place."

I threw the redhead a grateful look and mouthed a quick thank you. She was right. The tension definitely was running high, even for this group.

With a grumble, Darren demonstratively placed the knife under his head, while Aspen let himself fall down next to me.

Somehow there was an unspoken agreement that we slept in two piles of people. Danny and her men and me with my... Twins... Yeah, go me. Hurray. Totally not awkward.