Chapter III, Reading 12

She continued this way for several more hours, glancing occasionally at the sky.  It was no longer blue and the clouds were getting darker and more threatening in appearance.  The wind also carried the smell of snow.

Flindra knew that she had to find shelter and had to find it quickly.  She took out the crystal sphere and checked it for direction.  It still showed that she should continue north - straight up the mountain.

"All right, we will keep following this trail, but if I see anything more promising I'll go that way," she muttered to herself.  She still didn't trust the orb entirely.

The wind was growing stronger and there were now a few snowflakes being blown in from the north.  The temperature was dropping precipitously.

Flindra knew she was in trouble.  She looked at the orb again and saw that it was directing her in an easterly direction.  Quickly reining Deru to the right, they started to the east.  At least the wind was coming from the side and not straight into her face.

There was no trail here and Flindra had to guide Deru around fallen trees and boulders.  Snow was starting to collect on the ground, hiding fallen branches and exposed roots.  She had to go slowly to avoid a fall, which could injure Deru or herself.  The only positive thing about the snow is that it would hide her passage from anyone who might be following.

She continued in this fashion for another hour.  Deru's steps were lagging and his head was starting to hang.  Ice was forming in the whiskers around his nostrils.  Flindra was huddled in the saddle, staring at the crystal orb.  Without warning, the crystal stopped glowing.  She moved it from side to side without a change.

"There must some meaning to this," she muttered to herself.

Shielding her eyes from the blowing wind with her hands, Flindra looked around.  At first, she saw nothing.  Then she noticed that there was a dark area beyond the trees near a rock outcrop.  It was too dark to be a shadow, besides the snow was masking the sun so there were no distinct shadows.  She dismounted and led Deru over to the dark spot.

It was the entrance to a cave!  The opening was narrow, but if she unsaddled Deru, she could get him in.  She quickly hauled the saddle from his back and pulled him into the cave.  Flindra immediately bent down to start a fire.  As usual, she had some dry kindling in her pockets.  She put some pine needles before her on the ground.  Striking a piece of flint with her knife, she sent a few tiny sparks into the pile of needles.  The needles smoldered for a moment and then they burst into flames.  She was careful to add the rest of her kindling slowly so as not to smother her awakening fire.  Patience was necessary when coaxing a fire to life.

The light from her small fire illuminated the cave.  In the back was a sizable pile of twigs and branches - collected by generations of pack rats.  She gathered some of the twigs and placed them slowly on the fire.  Soon she had the warmth of a pleasant fire before her.

Flindra then tended Deru.  She covered his back with the saddle blankets to help him stay warm.  He was wet from the damp snow and it wouldn't do to have him get too cold and get sick.  Then, she slipped a feedbag over his nose.  He stood at the back of the cave and slowly chewed his grain.  He relaxed with one of his hips slacked so his hoof was tipped against the ground.  In the manner of horses, he rested.

She then stockpiled some of the pack rat nesting material next to the fire.  There was enough fuel in the cave to last her several days, which was a great relief.  If the bitter cold continued, she would have to keep feeding the fire to keep from freezing.  She spread out her sleeping furs by the fire, knowing that the cold would wake her and remind her to add wood to the flames.

As exhausted as she was, she knew she must spare a moment for a prayer of thanksgiving.  She had made it safely to this cave and knew it was the hand of the Spirit, which had pointed the way.

Flindra kneeled on the blankets.  "Spirit," she whispered.  "Thank You for all your help on this journey for I know You've been with me.  Grant me the wisdom and strength I need to even claim my identity.  I'm so ignorant of what I must do.  Help me and guide me, Beloved One.  Make me an instrument of Your Will."  She bowed her head.  "Thank you."

She then sat and pulled off her boots so she could rest more comfortably.  Finally she snuggled into her furs and knew the sleep of utter exhaustion.