Wielder's Awakening by T.B. Christensen Page B

dry, thorny bushes that seemed to grow all over the plains and started to build a small fire.  He called the bushes thornweed and said that they actually burn for quite a long time and make good fodder.  As soon as the fire was going, Hank pulled out a small pot from under the seat of the wagon and sent Traven to go and fill it up with water.
    Traven took the pot and headed for the river.  He crossed the road and slowly made his way down to the edge.  As he bent to fill the pot, he noticed that he could see all of the stars reflected in the water.  Gazing at the river was almost the same as gazing at the sky.  It was beautiful.  It was hard to imagine how many stars there were above.  He suddenly felt insignificant under such a large canopy of never-ending sparks of light.  Slowly the stars in the river began to wink out.  As he glanced up at the night sky, he could make out the clouds that were rolling in.  He quickly filled the pot and made his way back to camp.
    “Some clouds are moving in.  Do you think we’re going to get some rain?”
    Hank and John peered up at the sky as Traven set the pot down near the fire.  After a few moments, Hank shook his head and looked back at Traven.
    “I was hoping we wouldn’t have to travel in any rain, but it looks like we might just get caught.  Don’t worry about it raining on you tonight.  Those aren’t rain clouds, but rain clouds are almost certain to follow them.  We’ll probably run into rain sometime tomorrow morning.  We better eat quickly and get some sleep.  We need to start early and get as far as we can before the rain bogs us down.”
    Hank put the pot on the fire and started to cut vegetables into the water.  He then cut in some mutton and threw some spices over the top for flavor.  After the water had boiled for a while, he pulled the pot off of the fire and pulled out a wooden bowl and spoon.  John did likewise, and Hank began to spoon the stew into their bowls.  Hank then turned and looked at Traven.
    “Well, are you going to get out your bowl and have some stew or not?  We’re not going to wait all night for you.”
    “Um, I don’t have a bowl,” Traven replied sheepishly.  “I didn’t even think about needing one.”
    “You don’t have a bowl?” Hank asked incredulously.  “How did you expect to eat food if you didn’t have a bowl and spoon?”
    “Don’t be so hard on the boy.  This is the first time he’s traveled.  Traven, you can use my bowl and spoon after I’m done eating as long as you clean up after the meal for me.”
    Traven thanked John and settled down to wait for him to finish eating.  He watched them eat and tryied to keep his stomach from growling.  After having a second helping, John handed his bowl and spoon to Traven and went over to the wagon.  Traven quickly dished up a large bowl of the stew and downed it quickly.  He emptied the rest of the stew into his bowl and walked over to see what John was doing.  John had pulled out a large tarp from under the wagon seat and was tying two of its corners to the seat.
    “This is just in case it does rain tonight.  If this wool gets weighed down with water, we’ll be moving at a snail’s pace.  We keep this tarp in the wagon just in case something like this comes up.”
    Traven helped him pull the tarp the rest of the way over the cargo and fastened his corner down.  He then took John’s bowl and spoon and the pot down to the river to wash them.  When he returned, both John and Hank were already curled up next to the coals of the fire.  Traven could hear their breathing come at slow, steady intervals, and he put the newly cleaned utensils away as quietly as he could.
    He then pulled out his cloak and settled down on the other side of the fire.  He lay there feeling the hard ground beneath him.  He certainly missed sleeping in a bed.  However, he was grateful to be laying down.  He just couldn’t get comfortable no matter how he positioned