trans_9 | Snow Sheltering [Closed]

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Snow Sheltering [Closed]

Today's trek to Pelau's glass desert had started as more of a ridiculous dare than a serious idea for Billy. Terrain to conquer just because he could? It sounded reckless, but the risk carried a reward for it too. If the rumors of a beautiful display of lights were true, he definitely wanted to be out there. Rumor also had it that a few of his friends were going, and he didn't want to be left behind.

After packing his supplies and telling a few people where he was going just to be sure, he'd set off. It was a long, slow trek, and he was sure that the others who had gone this way had long surpassed him. He was a Southern California native! The desert he was accustomed to trekking was considerably hotter and sandier.

Finally, though, he stumbled across a small half-finished shelter that another traveler had built for themselves some time ago. Exhausted as he was, he set about securing it. When it was comfortable enough for a few hours of rest, he put out a call to any friends who might be in the region. Oh, he hoped they were there.

{{Hey, it's me, Billy. Are any of you hungry? I have some food in the shelter.}}

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Ronnae wasn't expecting a hug, having been lost in thought while looking at the landscape.

"Oh, ah, yeah. I actually think Billy would be rather good at creating them since he's very clever and ingenious. It's be just as many of the inventions he already makes just with a set purpose."

He'd always been smart as far as she knew, not just smart, really damn smart. So she was more than confident that he'd succeed at anything he put his mind to.

"I'll do my best," Billy promised the group, gladly accepting the hugs. He was finally starting to feel better. Inventing and working were normal. He could do that.

"I wouldn't say all that," he said modestly, but he smiled at her regardless. "But I'm sure I can handle it. Did you want to get ready to head out?"

Kaya loved the hug, but even she had neglected her foamy, marshmallowy goodness with sprinkles...which seemed to at least be calling to her a little bit.

"Of course you wouldn't, that's what we're here for," Kaya said, ruffling his hair a bit. "But give us a moment to finish up our drinks, and then we'll see what's what."

Being warm with her friends, after all, was the best feeling she had in awhile.

If anything, he was probably the fastest to finish his meal and the slowest to drink that chocolate milk. One might have thought it was some fine wine with how patiently he drank in an attempt to enjoy the creamy flavor. And the sticky marshmallow now stuck in his barely-there mustache.

Once he'd finally finished, he thanked Billy once more and raised his arms in a cat-like stretch paired with a yawn.

"Ready."

Ronnie smiled and finished her drink early, deciding to start grabbing her things while the others finished so she'd be ready for their trip.

Once she was done, she gave a thumbs up to the group and sat down near the exit.

"Ready when you all are~" she chimed in.

Billy used the time to take care of putting out the fire. It was cold out there, but they had enough warm and dry clothing. They'd make it. He piled snow atop the ashes methodically, using the repetitive action as a means to get himself back under control. Spilling his heart out all over the place didn't reflect well on him.

When he was bundled up and ready to leave, he felt almost normal and confident again. "I have everything I brought. It should be sufficient for building."

Kaya had been pacing herself, but now that she had finished with her food and drink, she looked refreshed and ready to go. She was glad to have this time with her friends, but now she was at least refreshed.

"Let's get going then." She was already in "go" mode, actually. This was her sort of her climate, after all.

Fontaine's yawn soon followed his master's, but he did not move just yet. It was a feat cramming himself into the small shelter--if he tried to leave first he'd have to bowl over everyone.

Nokosi walked to the door of the little hovel to wait, but paused along the way to smooth his hands over Kaya's, lace them together, then lay a kiss near her ear.

Ronnae hadn't seen much of what was behind her, she had already slipped past and out of the shelter, excited about the trip and the prospect of a good adventure together as a group. Even if there might not be any of the typical combat situations or anything, a nice walk, hike, fun time with her friends was very, very much needed!

So she waited outside with a pleasant smile on her face.

And there was Ronnae with her head in the clouds. Billy slipped past Nokosi and Kaya to give them their precious private moment, heading straight out into the cold to have one of their own. It definitely wasn't fair that the other two got the warm place.

He hiked over the snow to reach her side, still not quite confident in his snow legs yet. He was stable but slow. When he did get out there, he reached for Ronnae's hand.

"You'll bring all the glory home," Billy whispered to her with a smile, trying his best to integrate their ideals about hunting. "Or most of it. We'll help."

Kaya understood that her boyfriend was unique in the way he went about being in a relationship, but somehow, even with all of his quirks, he had a way of making her feel like she was walking on air. She flushed slightly at the kiss on the ear, and returned the favor with a nip to the neck.

She knew they would be out to join the others soon, but she did just want to say something to him.

"Thank you, for being here," she said. "I know we haven't been lovers long, but after everything that happened recently in the last fight, you were the reason I didn't lose myself completely. Knowing I had you to come home to makes all the difference, in everything."

As he listened, his eyebrows raised in pleasant surprise and a laugh escaped his throat. "You say too much, I think. I did not even participate in the last fight." No, he was off somewhere hidden, far off from the right state of mind to deal with it all.

"But...I appreciate it all the same," he continued, laying a hand on the top of her head. "When we have the time, you will have to tell me of all that went on during that time since I am unaware. I would be interested to hear of the trials you faced."

The warm hand and sweet whisper made her turn to face Billy as she smiled at him. "We will~" she mused.

For a few moments, she gazed lovingly at his eyes, as if the brisk, clean and pure air of the environment made them all the more intriguing.

"You know, every time I look into your eyes, I get reassured that we'll be fine.... I appreciate that love..."

With that said, she took opportunity of their small window of privacy to lean up on her tip toes to place a sweet, warm kiss on his lips, wrapping her arms around his neck to brace herself and continue the sweet embrace.

He felt so bundled up that they could only see each other's eyes! And that was fine with him. Ronnae's were beautiful.

Billy leaned in with a conspiratorial smile. "I'll be right here. You can show me what the hunt really means."

It was thrilling, standing together with only the quiet snowfall around them. He pulled her in to guard against the chill, obediently leaning down for a kiss. This was more than warm enough.

Just to keep her on her toes, he dipped in and out with a few teasing kisses. Nokosi and Kaya wouldn't be out yet...right?

Kaya curled up with him, although one could see that she was clearly hiding something in her eyes.

"It was...a very trying time, what happened to me," she admitted. "And I'm not ashamed to say I was not at my most merciful. It was a side of me I rarely show, and I don't think even Billy has seen that part of me."

She sighed, but at least looked a little happier. "But when it comes to times like that, and people I care about being in danger, the gloves come off. That's just how it is."

Kaya smiled. "And I'd just as well like to know what you did, even if you think it wasn't much."

It was almost a shame, he thought, that he missed it. While Ronnae had explained her time during the attack as unpleasant, it seemed as if it were downright awful for Kaya if she had abandoned her generally peaceful ways.

"I think that is the way it is with many people. I, for one, possess ambiguous morals when it concerns those who I have grown to care for. They are placed in a high spot of priority; I can understand."

Nokosi slung an arm around her neck and pointed to the door; he wouldn't want to have kept the other two waiting after all. "What I did was both boring and frightening in a way; as much as I still had my basic skills with a bow, my mind did not want to cooperate. But I can inform you of that later."

Getting a bit playful while they waited was a nice touch, especially during this time of repose and it was certainly something that she needed.

She giggled and tried to playfully avoid the kisses while trying to give some back, almost like a little spar!

"Hey!" Billy had a laugh too, tilting his head just right to avoid being caught. If he was careful, he could snag her ear---no, she got his lower lip and nibbled. It was so cute that he had to comply.

Just to finish off, he rubbed his nose against hers with a sweet smile.

"i love you," he whispered, smoothing out her hair as the others approached. Time to start the hike and hunt.

She understood: there were things in himself that even Nokosi needed to deal with, and running away was an option even a string person had to consider. Kaya, being with the Avatar crew, knew it was simply never an option for her unless it was absolutely necessary.

But Nokosi was right: they could talk about those things later, what they both went through. Right now they had friends to get back to.

"Good point, let's not making them think we were getting into mischief when we were supposed to be hiking," she said, and gave him a wink. What mischief she was talking about was pretty clear.

And that's where they differed--running away was always an option for him in a situation that certainly wasn't worth dying for. Live to fight another day versus dying a forgotten 'hero'...well, the choice was clear. This particular time, however, had little to do with that personal code and more to do with the detriment of his mind at the time.

"Ah--you are right! It is certainly not the most embarrassing thing I can think of happening, but they are waiting. Think of how warm it would be in this weather," he said, thoughtfully. And he did so enjoy the look of a windswept, cold-reddened face. "Let us go, then!"

Ronnae blushed at his words and smiled, leaning up as best she could to offer the same, kind words in her low, sweet voice.

"I love you as well Billy~"

With that, she held his hands, still looking at him lovingly, as they waited for Nokosi and Kaya.

Billy waited with her hand in hand, waving the others over happily as soon as they appeared.

"I was wondering when you'd come! Come on, let's start moving before I freeze again."

"We were going to join you soon, we just needed a moment!" Kaya protested, grinning. She was close enough to Billy to give him a little and I KNOW you wanted to have your moment with Ronnae too, Billy Cranston! before joining them.

"Ok, so who's going to lead the pack?"

"We are going to see the borealis, correct? if that is the case then you are the one who knows the way, Kaya."

Ronnie smiled at the group and nodded, "So lead the way Kaya~" she said cheerily, cuddled against Billy.

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