I Sit Beside The Fire And Think Novels & Stories

I stood up from the mat immediately as I went outside of the tent in search of him. I hadn't gone far when I caught sight of him, sitting besides the camp fire that was already burning low, as he kept feeding it little sticks if wood to keep it burning. It looked like a sad scene, like if he was lost in thought or remembering an old dear friend. Could that be what he was thinking, what was going through his mind? I didn't have the answer and although at first I didn't feel like interrupting him, I had to go over to find out what was going on.

I cleared my throat and shut the book, placing it on the ground beside me. I stared up at the sky, smiling at the streaks of moonlight that desperately tried to shine through the trees but with no luck. The cold air attacked my skin making me shiver lightly. Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes. I thought of everything I could that was warm. I thought of a burning fireplace and a roaring firepit. I thought of the fire blazing towards me and warming my flesh and the area around me. I thought of hot chocolate on a cold winter’s day and hot tea when I was feeling unwell.

I stare at the flickering fire beside me. “…then I get to decide what she burns down first.”

Right now, I am thinking like a selfish human, and I feel utterly ashamed at that. I lie down beside Raina, the rough floor digging into my side. The fire crackles softly, and for a moment, I close my eyes, trying to find some peace. But all I can think about is what happens next and how, no matter what we do, it never feels like enough. Raina’s breathing slows beside me, and I listen to the steady rhythm, trying to calm the storm of thoughts in my head. We’re not safe. Not here. Not anywhere.

Raven’s POV The fire burned low in front of me, the flames licking the wood gently. My knees were pulled to my chest, my arms wrapped tight around them. Different questions that don't seem to have an answer clouded my mind. I inhaled, breaking another branch and threw it into the fire. The fire seemed to be the only thing keeping me from losing it, so I was bent on keeping alive. “You’re still thinking about him,” Leslie whispered with a sigh. “I’m trying not to.”

I was standing with him. Right where the fire burned hottest.

**Elena’s POV** As the fire crackled softly, casting playful shadows that danced among the trees, I allowed myself a moment of calm to reflect. The warmth was a comforting balm against the night’s chill, a stark contrast to the chaos that lay ahead. The rhythmic snapping of burning wood was soothing, a lullaby that momentarily eased the tension thrumming beneath my skin.

I sit in my den, staring into the crackling fire, the warmth doing little to ease the unease growing inside me. It’s been days since Nyx left, but her presence still lingers, like a shadow that refuses to fade. I sigh, standing up to distract myself, but nothing seems to help.

I could feel him clearly: the satisfaction of the fire lit, the particular contentment of a man who has been carrying enormous things for a very long time and has set them down in a place where that's allowed. "You're thinking very loudly," he said. "I'm thinking about being here," I said. "What about it?" "That we're allowed to be." I looked at the fire. "I keep waiting for something to interrupt it." He came to sit beside me. "Nothing is going to interrupt it." "Something always does." "Not this week." He was very certain about this, which was either confidence or willful decision — both were possible with him. "This week is just this." I turned to look at him. The fire on his face, the bo

KILLIAN'S POV As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the meadows surrounding the pack territory, I found myself sitting beside the campfire, lost in my thoughts. Scarlet, the Beta of our pack, approached me quietly, her soft footsteps barely audible over the crackling of the flames.