Chapter 29 - 28
The next morning—
"Huff... huff... Brother, wait for me!"
Lumberling turned back and smiled as he saw the girl struggling behind him, flushed and panting. He had brought her along on his daily jog.
"I can’t run anymore, Brother..." she whined, tears forming in the corners of her eyes.
Lumberling stopped and walked over to her.
"Sigh. Come on, get on my back—I’ll carry you."
"I’m sorry, Brother..."
"It’s fine. Hop on."
He gently hoisted her onto his back and resumed jogging, her small arms loosely wrapped around his neck. Before long, she had drifted off to sleep, her breathing soft and steady. Lumberling glanced back and smiled, then lightly tapped her nose with a finger, amused as she wrinkled it in her sleep.
Back at the carriage, he carefully placed her inside the tent. She instinctively curled up beneath the blankets, snuggling deeper with a contented sigh. He watched her for a moment, a quiet smile lingering on his face, then stepped away and resumed his own training.
Later that evening, as the campfire crackled low and the stars emerged above, he spoke to her softly.