Her breath was raspy, soft in the night as he held her cradled against his side, staring up through a canopy of trees at a thousand stars above them, more than he\u2019d ever seen in all the years before the meteorfall killed the world they\u2019d known.\u00a0 Dread coiled slowly in his belly as he stared up at those stars, despite the peacefulness of the setting\u2014the smell of smoke from their fire, the sound of crickets in the woods surrounding them, of owls calling softly to each other in the night, and the stars above.<\/i><\/p>\n
How far will we need to go to find what we\u2019re looking for?\u00a0 He was afraid it\u2019d be too far, that they would return too late.<\/i><\/p>\n
These were the moments he\u2019d been dreading for a decade and more, when the visions had finally begun to change, to give him hope where once there had been none.<\/i><\/p>\n
He kissed her temple tenderly in the darkness and murmured into her hair, \u201cWe\u2019ll make it home to him.\u00a0 However long it takes, we\u2019ll make it home to them all in time.\u00a0 I promise.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
He closed his eyes and tried to let himself go to sleep as her arms tightened around him and she pressed closer against his side.<\/i><\/p>\n
The screaming started a moment later.<\/i><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cEarth to Thom?\u201d<\/p>\n
He jerked back to himself at the sound of Tala\u2019s voice, blinking quickly and trying to will his heart to beat a little slower.\u00a0 \u201cChrist,\u201d he murmured, rubbing his head.\u00a0 \u201cWhat was I saying?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat you need me to cook five course meals from our stores for the next five days,\u201d Tala said dryly.\u00a0 \u201cAnd I was telling you how idiotic that would be.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think five course meals are necessary,\u201d he said.\u00a0 \u201cI just think that we need to be a little more festive.\u00a0 We survived the biggest threat we\u2019ve faced so far.\u00a0 It\u2019s the season to celebrate.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you really think that he\u2019s gone for good?\u201d<\/p>\n
He hesitated for a moment, then exhaled.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t know.\u00a0 But I\u2019m also not so sure he\u2019s an enemy anymore, either.\u00a0 Not after what we watched happen today.\u201d\u00a0 The bloody bastard fucking <\/i>saved us.\u00a0 I\u2019m not sure if that was so he could finish us off himself or if he\u2019s developing some kind of insane affection for us.<\/i>\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019ve still got a reason to celebrate, though.\u00a0 We\u2019ve made it this far.\u00a0 If we\u2019ve been able to do that, it\u2019s only right that we celebrate the season.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cChristmas, you mean,\u201d Tala said, sighing softly and pivoting back toward the fire.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t know, Thom.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not like you wouldn\u2019t have help.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho\u2019s going to help?\u00a0 You?\u201d<\/p>\n
He winced.\u00a0 \u201cI could, you know.\u00a0 I can<\/i> cook.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tala shook her head slightly.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s going to be a lot of work, Thom.\u00a0 Could really strain our resources.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGive Phelan and Thordin bows.\u00a0 Hell, give me one.\u00a0 We\u2019ll go take a deer or two.\u00a0 Would that help?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBy light-years.\u00a0 You going to field dress it for me, too?\u201d<\/p>\n
Christ, what did I just volunteer myself for?<\/i>\u00a0 \u201cI guess I could.\u00a0 It\u2019s been a really long time.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sure Thordin and Phelan will remember how to do it.\u201d\u00a0 She looked back at him after a moment.\u00a0 \u201cYou were seeing something, weren\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEh?\u201d<\/p>\n
Tala smiled faintly.\u00a0 \u201cWhen I was trying to get your attention.\u00a0 You were seeing something.\u00a0 It\u2019s been a while since you had, right?\u201d<\/p>\n
Thom grimaced.\u00a0 Weeks.<\/i>\u00a0 \u201cYeah.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI wonder why they started up again now,\u201d Tala said thoughtfully.\u00a0 \u201cThink there\u2019s a reason?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t know,\u201d Thom said quietly.\u00a0 But I\u2019m afraid that we\u2019re going to find out.\u00a0 Just like every other time, I\u2019m afraid we\u2019re going to find out.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Her breath was raspy, soft in the night as he held her cradled against his side, staring up through a canopy of trees at a thousand stars above them, more than he\u2019d ever seen in all the years before the … Continue reading