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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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.

"Right!" Billy nuzzled his nose against Ronnae's hair one more time before they set off. Silly things like that were okay in public...right? Oh well. Close enough!

He tugged the bag over his shoulder, more than ready to move. The chill was setting in.

If they wanted to see the Borealis, they were going to go and see the Borealis. But they should also realize that Kaya is not the type to let them see it the regular way. In fact, she makes sure to hold Nokosi's hand tightly, and then she turned to Billy and Ronnae.

"You guys, let's old each other's hands: we're about to do this in style!"

Don't believe her? In a moment you will: you will suddenly feel your feet forming what looked like icy skates at the bottom of your feet, and what was snow was now starting to turn to ice. It looks like you guys were going to get to the Borealis in a far more interesting way.

Oh, this was new and interesting, if only a little strange. He'd walked, ran--tracked across frozen lakes, jutting icebergs and slanted glaciers before, but he'd never...skated over them. Gnomes partook in this particular activity, he'd seen. Humans, commonly in the colder regions and the occasional Goblin in Winterspring. It wasn't really his thing, but he was sure he'd be fine.

He was really going to miss the warmth of riding on Fontaine's back, though.

Of course silly things are fine in public! Nothing wrong with being playful!

Ronnae wasn't expecting the skates, it was... odd. She know very well how to traverse through and over ice. After all, her biggest war had been in the North and wielding immense weapons while donning the heaviest armor was a feat unto itself, and she was a graceful beauty of a killing machine, so she was adept at dealing with ice...

Just not on skates.

So forgive her for fumbling a bit here and there.

Ronnae was definitely in good company. Billy had visited a rink once on Earth, but he'd been clumsier back then. Winters were mild in southern California---not much ice to skate on, anyway. His only saving grace here was his improved balance, but even that wasn't going to help him very much.

He clung to Ronnae's hand, learning the subtleties of pushing as quickly as he could manage.

"You're sure there are no lakes to fall through, right?" Billy asked nervously.

"Of course not!" Kaya called out, going as fast as she could. "Even if there are lakes that bad, I can just freeze them! Trust me, I'll know if they're too weak to skate through!"

For the moment, Kaya is going at a steady pace. Going too fast would scare the heck out of them, and going too slow would have been insulting. She chose instead to keep at a pace taht challenged them and was at least reachable.

"Just move your legs in rhythm, I'll do the rest!"

Nokosi followed right after, though he was decidedly slower--it was mostly due to the sudden liking he had for the sound of the skates rocketing over ice.

Fontaine, it seemed, had no trouble simply running along the ice beside Kaya, as if it were normal dirt beneath his paws. It was to be expected though; spirit wolves like him--like his mother, were born of the tundra. For Fontaine, this was essentially home.

Snow Sheltering [Closed]

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Sorry for the late response, guys. Been struggling with RP drive lately ._.