#y’all get a sneak peek you lucky ducks

[skillzyo]

Chapter 12 Sneak Peek

Just a glimpse at Chapter 12 to hold y’all over :)

The sun had yet to rise over the woods when Waverly awoke. Beside her, Nicole still slept with her face buried in Waverly's hair. Carefully, she freed herself from Nicole's limbs to keep from waking her and quietly crawled across the tent to the pile of bags Gus and Curtis had sent with them. She rummaged through them until she found a clean tunic and the gloves that had been packed away. While she tugged the green tunic over her head, a soft rustling of blankets reached her ears. After she smoothed the wrinkles out of the tunic, she looked over her shoulder and found Nicole sitting up with the furs pooled around her waist while she rubbed her eyes.

"I was trying not to wake you."

"S'okay," Nicole mumbled, her voice still heavy with sleep. "Told Ruthie I'd see her first thing in the morning. Lucky for me, I have a tent mate who can't sleep past sunrise." A yawn followed, and Waverly smiled as she watched Nicole shake her head, as if trying to jostle herself awake. "You off to meet Champ?"

Waverly nodded, unable to hold back the excited grin.

Nicole scratched the side of her head then pushed the furs off her legs.

"You know, I've always found it much easier to train with my hair out of my face," she said as she joined Waverly at their bags. She dug through her own pack and pulled out a wooden brush and a worn ribbon from one of the pouches. "I could braid yours for you, if you like."

Waverly smiled at the offer. "You'd do that?"

"Of course. I offered, didn't I?"

Waverly followed Nicole back to the bedroll and settled herself between long legs. After Nicole ran the brush through her hair and worked out the knots as gently as she could, she placed the brush to the side and started on the long braid. Waverly enjoyed the early morning hush that fell over them while Nicole worked.

However, the braid was only halfway done when Nicole's fingers slowed, then stopped. Waverly's brow furrowed. She felt a soft touch against the back of her shoulder before Nicole's breaths tickled her neck. Slowly, she turned her head and found Nicole with her cheek pressed against her shoulder and her eyes closed. Her hands had dropped from the unfinished braid and now rested on the ground.

She'd fallen asleep again.

Waverly smiled at the sight and, very carefully, brushed the short locks away from Nicole's face so she could get a better look. But Nicole startled at the touch and pulled away from Waverly's shoulder, a look of confusion on her face.

"You went back to sleep," Waverly explained.

A hint of red colored Nicole's cheeks and she cleared her throat.

"Sorry," she said. "I'm almost done."

The braiding resumed and, once it was finished, Nicole tied it off with the faded ribbon. A tap against Waverly's shoulder told her she was done.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome," Nicole said as she started to cover herself with the furs again.

"What are you doing?"

"Going back to sleep. It's too early."

"Didn't you say you have to meet Ruthie soon?"

She paused. "Damn it, I did say that, didn't I?" Waverly nodded and Nicole sighed. "I suppose if I don't go, she'll just drag me out of the tent, and that's a little too embarrassing for me."

Waverly laughed and shook her head as she searched for her cloak in the pile of bags. When she found it, she tightened the clasp around her neck and looked over her shoulder at Nicole.

"You're not going to fall asleep again if I go, are you?"

Nicole waved her away. "Don't worry about me. Go meet Champ for your lesson." Waverly grinned as she stood up and crossed to the entrance of the tent. "And Waverly?" She paused and looked back at Nicole. "You'll do great, okay? You're a fast learner and Champ is lucky to have you as his student."

Waverly felt her cheeks warm and, after a quiet 'thank you,' she ducked her head and slipped through the tent flaps into the brisk morning air.

#In Fate's Hands #my fic #wayhaught fic