Winter Has Come | ✔ #1 Winter Series

Chapter 41

No one has to wake me up the next day because the sun does it for me. A quick glance at my watch tells me it's six am, which under other circumstances is too early. However, when you're in the countryside, it doesn't seem too bad.

When I open the flap of the tent and step out onto the country grass, it's like the world has changed. Dew clings delicately to the frosty grass, giving it a white glassy touch. The grass slowly lowers to a hill and down to a river, where the water trickles quietly down the bank, twinkling in the morning sun. The sky is a watery grey but I guess it will clear up later on.

Mum sits on the grass, wearing a raincoat, heating her hands on the gas stove whilst frying three eggs in a small pan. They cracked on the journey but she made the most of what wasn't ruined to invent some sort of scrambled, gooey fried egg with a special egg shell finish. She's also got some toast next to her, which is waiting in line to go into the pan.

My breath curls into mist when I plop down next to her. She gives me a smile before returning to the eggs, huddled over the stove for some extra warmth.

My little sister arrives and we all eat in silence, admiring the beauty around us. I can see why Mum loves camping so much. It's the wonder of seeing something that is rarely seen before; stepping outside your comfort zone.

We pack up the tent, pulling and getting dirty since we have to crouch on the ground to pull most of the poles and pegs up. I make a mental note to wash in the river when we next can.

Mum seems to have had the same idea. She leads the way down the hill and we stagger after her, huge burdens on our shoulders. When we're by the quiet river, we dump our things on the bank and Mum then decides to take it a step further when she takes off her coat, shoes and gloves and takes a dip in the water, clothes on and everything.

"Get in!" she calls. "It's lovely!"

I'm sure by 'lovely' she means 'it's so cold you're going to get hypothermia.'

I follow her suit anyway, kicking off my trainers and loping my hair into a ponytail so I don't have to suffer the consequences of wet hair, which is a chill. A foot dipped in later tells me there's probably ice forming in that river.

"It's freezing!" I complain.

My mother rolls her eyes and then the unexpected happens. She leans forward, catches my hand and, in one mighty tug, has me tumbling into the freezing icy depths.

A scream escapes my lips as the water freezes my muscles, making them immobile. The coldness is a shock, pulsing through me like a second heartbeat. Get out! Get out of here! My brain shrieks but my arms can't move and my legs can't either.

Somewhere in the distance, my mother is laughing. Then I turn my head round and she's moving her arms. Time slows and the water drenches over my head, some of it crawling down inside my neck.

"What was that for?" I splutter.

She continues laughing. The sound makes me want to retaliate and cause a big commotion. Without thinking, I move my arms and welcome her to a massive spray in her face.

Her laugh cuts off. Instead another spray in my mouth answers for her.

Eventually we're both commenced in a huge water-fight, drenching each other and laughing like maniacs. Maisie watches us from the bank and she seems fully convinced she doesn't want to play.

I turn back to the fight, slapping water all over my mother. She holds her breath and ducks under to avoid most of it and I step back, annoyed. It's amazing how I don't feel cold anymore.

But when I next turn back, just a glance to see if Maisie's ok, I have to do a double take because I'm not sure if I'm seeing things.

"Mum!" I call out to my mother but she's still underwater. She's probably thinking I'm coaxing her up so I can land a huge splash of water in her face.

"Mum!" I yell and, a few bubbles later, she bursts up, leaving a stream of water in her wake.

"What?" she asks, gasping for air. She must have sensed the urgency in my voice because her eyes are now serious, empty of the playfulness I had seen before.

I gesture over to the empty bank next to us.

***

Hi guys. I have the next few chapters ready but I'm sure what to do after that. If anyone has any ideas as to what could come after this and where this story could be heading, please comment here or PM - either one is fine.

I'm going away for the holidays (two weeks to Spain next week) so won't be able to update. However, I will tell you when I'm back so then you can expect more updates.

Love ya all,

xanabanana66x