"Great. Just GREAT!" Sketch shouted into the overcast sky. Water dripped down his mane and made puddles in his hoofprints. "Now how are we going to start a fire?" He kicked a branch in frustration, which rolled and bounced a short distance before splashing into the river, which had already begun to flow faster.
Halo watched from the opposite bank of the river. She was frustrated too, but felt helpless more than anything. Fur dripping, her soaked wings could barely carry her back to where Sketch and Viritra were. She hastened a little as she heard Viritra's call. Alighting by Nivium's side, she wrapped her wings around him to warm him. Sketch stood over them, expressionless. "I don't know... maybe the rain will wake him up, or something..." Her voice trailed away as thunder resounded overhead.
The smell of graveyards... Rapses flinched at the thought. But it was worth a try, if it was to help Nivium wake up. He started sniffing around, but stopped abruptly when he felt the first drops of rain on his hide. "Ahh..." he sighed. "I suppose the rain will wash off all the smell. Maybe we should go back..."
At that suggestion, Heka's high, tinny voice started up again. "Oh no you do not. You will stay right here until you find that root. Mark my words, if you dare to go back emtpy handed I..." But Rapses wasn't listening. He seldom listened to Heka any more. He had long gotten sick of her bossing him around.