I wasn't sure if Gabriel wanted me to follow him, but I figured that since he was almost within eyesight, I was safe to doze off here in the forest. I relaxed against the rough bark of the tree, trying to ignore the hot flush under my skin and the way my heart was pounding faster than usual. This time, though, Gabriel had nothing to do with it; it was the strange sickness I was coming down with. I felt a pang of worry but pushed it aside. Almost of their own accord, my eyes drifted shut. My body desperately tried to catch up with the sleep it had so sorely missed out on over the past two days.
What felt like minutes later (but was likely at least an hour or so), I woke up to Gabriel's voice urgently calling my name. I blinked, blearily, not feeling much better. That hour or so had served
