It didn't work. No matter how hard I tried, no matter for how long I gave my everything. I didn't manage to fall asleep. Still trying to block out all from the outside, I found myself only listening to the others of the group.
I could hear each and every single beat of their hearts, every breath they took, and most of all every word they spoke.
"Do you really think Gustave is alright?"
It was Allenya. I could tell that she was sitting the closest to me. Next to her sat Alex. Gert was the farthest away from me along with the nun and Yohan who was sitting next to him. Between Alex and Yohan sat Elisa.
"Don't tell me you feel sympathy for that demon." Gert clicked his tongue and then spat on the ground.
"Gert, please he helped us. Didn't he?" Yerald spoke in a calm yet strong tone only a parent could speak in.
I moved my tail to a more comfortable position. This made the soft sound of grass snapping under the pressure of my movement.
Suddenly the others became quiet.
"Are you sure that he is asleep?" it was Elisa. I could hear her heartbeat accelerating along with her breathing.
("So, they are talking about me while thinking that I'm asleep? That kind of hurts.")
"He hasn't slept for days and the fight with that plant creature clearly took a heavy toll on him. I'm quite sure that he sleeps."
I could hear movement from Gert's direction as he probably took some food from the fire. The heavy smell drenched the cold air and spread like the roots of a tree. It smelled delicious, like the cooking of your mom when you get home or some luxurious dich in a inn, however I was still feeling sick so instead of asking for some, I choose to keep trying to sleep.
("I would probably only throw it up if I were to eat something now.")
A sharp voice broke the momentary silence. "that doesn't answer my question! Do you think he is alright?"
"well." Alex hesitantly spoke. "He was different."
"What do you mean?" Allenya spoke in an almost mocking tone.
"Well… You see. I don't know if you noticed, but when he woke up his scales chanced. Also, when he looked at me, I felt some sort of pressure. I don't know how to describe it, but it was like a heavy weight pressed on my mind. "
("Wait. Pressure? could he be talking about what I felt when I met that demon in the castle?")
"Can't you see? That demon is gaining more and more strength. By the time we reach the stone city, he will be strong enough to cause great damage. I don't think he wants to join our side at all, he just wants enough experience around humans to know how to manipulate them better or something like that!"
"Gert watch your mouth! He protected us."
"Don't you realise that what you just said is the proof? You were scared of him the most, and now even you stand behind him!"
Yohan gave a low grunt. After that it remained silent for a few moments.
"Shouldn't we wait a little longer? I… I mean, he has yet to harm any of us."
"Shut up Elisa! If we wait till, he attacks it will be too late."
Yohan snapped his fingers to draw the attention to him. I could hear him standing up.
"The two of you should stop fighting. He ensures the safety of our trip and has indeed yet to harm us. As for what he could do upon entering the stone city. If it falls because of one demon it wasn't a safe place to begin with." He sat a few steps in the direction of the tents. It was like the sound of his footsteps made soft vibrations in the air that helped me be aware of my surroundings, even with closed eyes.
"As for now we should sleep. We still have a long way to go. And you Gert. Since you have so much energy to quarrel you should keep watch."
Gert gave a low grunt, but nothing about his posture seemed to indicate that he didn't accept his task.
The others got up, only the nun was left under Gert's supervision. Once they entered their tents the night suddenly fell quiet. There were no animals walking around, only the noise of the rustling leaves reassured me that not all sound had faded from the world.
Solely when I focused on the others, I could hear their breaths and heartbeat. But with the quiet jet overwhelming sounds of the leaves it had just degraded to merely background noise.
Eventually I managed to fall asleep.