Yellow light glimmered from the windows of the cottage. It was solid looking, with pale timbers, wattle and daub and a neatly thatched roof. His leg was burning again, and his muscles ached with a weariness that went beyond the distance of the walk. Still, they had arrived and soon he'd be able to rest.
"I'm alright", he grunted, struggling to keep moving. "We're almost there. Just a little while longer..." He closed his mouth tightly, realizing that he was still speaking. He wanted a stick to lean on, something to take the weight off his leg as he walked, but he dared not stop. Instead he doggedly followed the girl, watching her back and the easy way she picked her way through the trees.
His eyes grew aware of a change in the light and he looked up to see the door of the house standing before him. He breathed a sigh of relief, looking at the girl and mustering a smile. "We're here..."
"I'm alright", he grunted, struggling to keep moving. "We're almost there. Just a little while longer..." He closed his mouth tightly, realizing that he was still speaking. He wanted a stick to lean on, something to take the weight off his leg as he walked, but he dared not stop. Instead he doggedly followed the girl, watching her back and the easy way she picked her way through the trees.
His eyes grew aware of a change in the light and he looked up to see the door of the house standing before him. He breathed a sigh of relief, looking at the girl and mustering a smile. "We're here..."
