98
Something smelled of smoke.
Michaela opened her eyes.
She lay somewhere dark. Somewhere unfamiliar.
There was someone sitting beside her, wherever she was.
Michaela pretended to still sleep while she tried to remember what had happened.
A warm hand reached over and felt at her wrist. Michaela held her breath and waited.
She was in a camp again, although it felt and smelled different than the one before. This wasn’t the tent where she slept those few nights.
Someone walked past the tent holding a torch, and the light illuminated enough of the darkness for Michaela to see.
“Jara,” Michaela said.
Jara’s hand jerked. But then she said, “Yes!” and bent closer so Michaela could see her face.
Michaela smiled an exhausted smile.
“I-I don’t know how to thank you,” Jara said. “What yo
