Are You Thirsty? - Yarti/Snakestone

“Are you thirsty?”

I questioned, my hands rummaging through my purse as I awaited his response. It had been a long walk and it was so dreadfully hot out despite the ever-nearer setting of the sun. His hand left my shoulder, drifting down behind his back, probing about in search of his satchel and canteen. As we both had our deal of searching, we stepped out of the tall grass and into the damp gravel of the creek. My sandals did little to stop it’s flow as we crossed, the frigid mountain water a welcome kiss on my overworked feet. His hand once again taking it’s place atop my shoulder, he sighed. He shook his head, his canteen had been left at home. At last my hands reemerged, emergency mead in hand. His eyes lit up as he licked his parched lips.

Just then, an idea came to me. Rather than chill the bottles in-hand with magic, I turned my attention to the river. Nearly-frozen, it gently rolled past, content in it’s ways. I bent over, dipping the lower half of the bottle into it’s depths. My fingers tight about it’s cork, careful not to drop it. Though that would not be an unwelcome thing. The chase of a mead bottle lost downstream. That would be an interesting story for the kids, would it not? I could do it. Should I had? Hard to say, but in the end, I did not. I gave the bottle a shake then lifted it up enough to run my other hand along it’s bottom. Ice cold. Snake’s confused expression was priceless, but he understood by the time I had finished. I tossed him the other bottle and stood idly by as he did the same. A small part of me hoping that he would lose grip on his. He could have mine and we would have our adventure downstream. But alas, he did not. His grip held as strong as ever.

With a relaxing time ahead of us, we found a nice little outcropping of rock beside a bubbling part of the stream. I sat back against his chest and had a few slow sips of mead while he downed his bottle, and then the rest of mine at my behest. Wiping sweat from his brow, my hand then found it’s place around his neck. We enjoyed some time there, then went back home.  Every day need not be a grand adventure.