♝: reading a book together
The fire pops and crackles, competing with the chirping of crickets and croak of frogs. There hasn't been much time to read lately, but with Averill asleep, now is as good a time as any. His wards will tell them if there's anyone in the proximity.
He only manages to get a few pages before she's bolt upright, screaming, eyes wild from a nightmare, and in an instant Garrett has a hand over her mouth and the other on her shoulder. Much as he wants to comfort her, the danger is real, and he can't risk animals or people finding them. After a few moments she nods slightly, calmed, and he settles back on his heels.
"Alright. Go back to sleep."
Both of them fall silent and finally Garrett releases a deep breath and gestures her closer. "Come here. Read with me. This'll put you to sleep."
She hesitates only a moment before scampering over and plopping down beside him, but Garrett scoops her up with a hand on her waist and plunks Averill's small form down in his lap. Arms around her, he can keep her warm against the chill while reading. They're quiet for a while before he realizes she's just staring at the pages.
"You can't read can you--"
"No, you can't. This is a spell book. You'd be drooling and upright if you could understand it."
"Quiet and I'll teach you."
They sit like that for the rest of the night, with Garrett going over the alphabet and finding Averill to be an exceptionally bright student. He's taught others to read before, so this is nothing new to him, and he's patient with her, even when she's half asleep and can hardly sit up straight. Eventually she falls asleep and Garrett goes about taking down the camp, tucking the book into her bag rather than his, so she can start up again when she wakes. For now, however, he'll carry her, and take care of the both of them.