Rise of the Warrior Queen (Kaia and Silver) novel Chapter 54

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CHAPTER FIFTY FOURE

CHAPTER FIFTY FOUR

SILVER’S POV

I crouched near the dead fire, flicking the lighter again and again. Each spark flared and died like it was mocking me. The wood was damp now, too soaked to catch. The stupid map that asshole alpha gave me had burned fast the first time–about the only thing it was good for. That was the only reason I was able to make the fire in the first place. But now I had nothing left. No paper, no dry grass, no

“Damn it,” I hissed through clenched teeth, jabbing the lighter harder as if force would change the outcome. Just burn, for goodness‘ sake. Come on!”

Nothing.

The cold crept deeper into my skin, and my breath still misted in front of me. I rubbed my hands together,

trying to keep the feeling in my fingers. I needed that fire. I needed warmth. I needed something that made

sense.

Why isn’t anything making sense? Why is nothing working out for me?

A sound caught my attention. A soft flutter, followed by the sound of something light landing on wood.

I paused, looking up just in time to see a small bird fly into the cave.

It perched awkwardly on one of the thicker logs near the wall, water dripping from its soaked feathers. Its tiny

body trembled as it ruffled and fluffed itself, trying to shake off the water and cold.

I stared at it, confused. What the hell was a bird doing flying around in this storm?

“You’re out of luck too, huh?” I muttered, chuckling softly. “No fire. No heat. Just my luck. Welcome to my

nightmare, buddy.”

The bird didn’t move. It just looked at me with round, dark eyes that glowed slightly in the cave’s shadows.

I sighed and looked down at the useless wood again. “I’m trying. Believe me, I’m trying. At first I managed to

get it burning, but then some creepy wind blew in with rain and put it out. And now there’s nothing to make a

fire with.”

And I was losing it again. Talking to a bird.

I facepalmed, shaking my head in frustration. “Sorry, buddy. Must be the cold getting to my brain.”

To my surprise, the bird fluttered off the log and made its way across the cave. It landed near a jagged stone along the far wall–one I hadn’t even noticed at first. I watched in confusion as the bird pecked at something

on the ground, hopping and shifting until it dragged out a clump of what looked like…

Grass?

I stood slowly, squinting to get a better look. It pecked again, this time tugging at a bundle of brittle twigs

and what looked like the remains of a long–abandoned nest. There were bits of dried leaves and feathers tangled in it, and the moment I saw it, I knew–it was perfect kindling.

(

“You little genius,” I whispered, hurrying over.

I knelt beside the nest and carefully scooped the driest parts into my arms, careful not to crush it. The bird

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CHAPTER FIFTY FOUR

hopped back out of my way, watching me with an oddly calm expression.

I brought the bundle over to the fire pit, stacking it gently in the center, then placed a few of the thinner slicka on top. My fingers trembled as I brought the lighter to the edge.

This time, the fire caught immediately.

A tiny flame curled to life, eating through the dry grass and flaring up into a glow of light and heat. I leaned

forward, shielding it with my hands until it grew stronger.

Warmth washed over me, and I let out a shaky breath.

Goddess. Finally.

I sat back on my heels, watching the fire with gratitude.

The bird had returned to its perch near the edge of the cave, its feathers puffed up as it watched the flames.

It didn’t try to leave. It just sat there, calm and quiet.

I glanced at it.

“Thanks, buddy,” I said softly. “I don’t know why you helped, but… thanks.”

It didn’t answer, of course. I didn’t expect it to. It was still a bird after all. But I had the strangest feeling that it

understood.

I leaned back, letting the warmth of the fire soak into my skin. The bird still hadn’t moved.

I still had no idea where it came from or how it knew where to find those things to make fire.

Better still, how did it know that I needed them?

I sighed.

Birds around here were really quite strange, weren’t they?

First it was the one from the other night who… Hold on a moment…

I paused, my eyes shifting back to the bird as my thoughts went back to that night.

Now that I actually think about it, something about it felt… familiar.

My brows pulled together as my mind drifted. The bird that left the ring.

It looked just like this one.

What if…

“You,” I muttered under my breath, narrowing my eyes. “It was you, wasn’t it?”

The bird tilted its head slightly, as if acknowledging me.

I stared at it a moment longer, torn between awe and suspicion. “Why do you keep showing up? What do you

want?”

It didn’t answer, of course. It just ruffled its feathers and gave a sharp little chirp.

My stomach grumbled then, pulling my attention away from the bird.

I sighed.

Right.

2/4

CHAPTER FRIT

I hadn’t had anything to eat all day, and I hadn’t brought anything with me since I didn’t know I would be staying out here for this long.

Great

I stood, rubbing my stomach absently and trying to push away the ache.

Then, suddenly, the bird made a sound, causing me to turn to it. It fluttered to the entrance of the cave and

perched there, just beneath the dripping stone overhang.

It chirped again–louder this time, to the point where it sounded urgent.

I blinked at it in confusion.

“What now?” I muttered.

The bird flapped its wings and flew a short distance outside, landing on a low shrub just beyond the cave’s

edge.

I hesitated. The rain had eased a little, though the ground was still soaked and slick. Not to mention it was literally the middle of the night. Probably not a good time to go walking around out there in the woods. But

curiosity tugged at me like a string, and the next thing I knew, I was following.

I stepped out carefully, keeping to the rocks to avoid the worst of the mud. The bird chirped again and flew

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