(no subject)
The sky was as blue as a silk scarf. Only the faintest flush of peach clung to the horizon above the black line of trees. The moon was a sliver of light, the thin cut of a razor. The stars were already bright, but night was just beginning. Like black ink on wet paper, the darkness had just begun to bleed down from the zenith of the sky, quickly eating into the blue. Soon there would be nothing but black, horizon to horizon, a hand folding over the earth.
In her own hand she held a lantern, one of the new expensive electric kinds. It cast more favorable shadows as she scanned the ground for wood. Oh yes, she had told him she needed to gather wood, but in truth she also needed to clear her head. Get out on her own for a bit.
She continued to scan the ground, picking up dry wood as she did so. She needed warmth, but she could hardly be building a fire inside the cave, could she? The smoke might make him cough, no, it probably would make him cough. So she would have to make the fire outside the cave, burn it hot, and ring it with stones. Then move the stones into the cave, and the coals if she could. Which meant she had to have a way to move those hot things and...her brows creased with worry. It was hard to think. What wood around here made coals that stayed hot? Could she even tell the branches in the dark?
Methodically, she set her lantern and bundle down to break a likely branch down into carrying size. Snap snap snap went the wood, and somewhere in the trees, an owl didn't care at all what she was doing and started to call. Really, the work was all just methodical. It wasn't any different than being in the field, something needed to be done and so she was doing it. It was stupid to be bothered about it. Why couldn't her mind just think of him like any other sick person? She would do all the same things for anyone else. She didn't need to feel more worried about it. He would probably hate it if she did.
Still, nature was a terribly difficult thing to overcome, and it was only natural to feel so worried about...well. If she were to be honest, the person she thought of as her mate. But that was her burden, and now of all times she should carry it silently. He hadn't asked her to feel any particular way, it was her issue if she did.
Another piece went into her bundle and she straightened, eying it critically. That should be enough, and she should be heading back soon, not dallying around in the dark or he would worry.
She gathered her things and turned to make her way back, eyes turning naturally to the faint light that could be seen coming from the cave. No helping that worry, she'd be sleeping closer to the door anyway. She didn't need to be that paranoid, but she was meticulously particular in all her habits, and even if it was a tiny chance the light attracted any fellow travelers, she'd rather be prepared. You had to cover all your bases. She could handle it. She didn't need to be so worried. He hadn't looked that sick, it was only that she knew she had to be prepared for everything, in case it turned. Because it could turn, and if it did it would be a very long night.
In her own hand she held a lantern, one of the new expensive electric kinds. It cast more favorable shadows as she scanned the ground for wood. Oh yes, she had told him she needed to gather wood, but in truth she also needed to clear her head. Get out on her own for a bit.
She continued to scan the ground, picking up dry wood as she did so. She needed warmth, but she could hardly be building a fire inside the cave, could she? The smoke might make him cough, no, it probably would make him cough. So she would have to make the fire outside the cave, burn it hot, and ring it with stones. Then move the stones into the cave, and the coals if she could. Which meant she had to have a way to move those hot things and...her brows creased with worry. It was hard to think. What wood around here made coals that stayed hot? Could she even tell the branches in the dark?
Methodically, she set her lantern and bundle down to break a likely branch down into carrying size. Snap snap snap went the wood, and somewhere in the trees, an owl didn't care at all what she was doing and started to call. Really, the work was all just methodical. It wasn't any different than being in the field, something needed to be done and so she was doing it. It was stupid to be bothered about it. Why couldn't her mind just think of him like any other sick person? She would do all the same things for anyone else. She didn't need to feel more worried about it. He would probably hate it if she did.
Still, nature was a terribly difficult thing to overcome, and it was only natural to feel so worried about...well. If she were to be honest, the person she thought of as her mate. But that was her burden, and now of all times she should carry it silently. He hadn't asked her to feel any particular way, it was her issue if she did.
Another piece went into her bundle and she straightened, eying it critically. That should be enough, and she should be heading back soon, not dallying around in the dark or he would worry.
She gathered her things and turned to make her way back, eyes turning naturally to the faint light that could be seen coming from the cave. No helping that worry, she'd be sleeping closer to the door anyway. She didn't need to be that paranoid, but she was meticulously particular in all her habits, and even if it was a tiny chance the light attracted any fellow travelers, she'd rather be prepared. You had to cover all your bases. She could handle it. She didn't need to be so worried. He hadn't looked that sick, it was only that she knew she had to be prepared for everything, in case it turned. Because it could turn, and if it did it would be a very long night.