by Justin Wayne
***
Natalia crunched up in the snow behind Thom and he turned at the sound of her approach. Seeing her delicate face and tanned skin, he smiled a bit without meaning to and moved over to allow her space beside him in his small protected cover. She plopped down beside him thankfully and rubbed her hands together.
“Thanks,” she shivered and her teeth chattered. Thom looked down at her clothing and saw only a blanket wrapped around basic clothing. He pressed against her and she wrapped her arm around his little form in return.
Beaming, he hid his face in his cape and blushed.
“So I take it they're down there?” she inquired and leaned forward slightly to peer down the tunnel.
Thom smiled a bit more at her exotic accent and struggled to clear his thoughts and answer as his pause became awkward. He cleared his throat nervously and nodded quickly.
“Why didn’t you go?” she asked then and shot him a quick glance.
He shrugged in reply and bit his lip. “I wouldn’t be much help down there. I’m none too good at fighting.” He looked at her and saw the longing in her eyes to go help them. “Bryn let you come out here did she?”
She mirrored his shrug and tried to hide a smirk. “Of course.”
“Uh huh.” Thom’s eyebrow rose and he stared at her incredulously. She faltered under his watchful eye and she slumped her shoulders.
“Oh fine! No, she didn’t want me going but I did anyway.” she admitted and stared at the snow. “She doesn’t want to lose me so soon after getting me back.” And she dropped her gaze to her lap guiltily.
Thom pressed closer and gave her a short squeeze with his little arms. “She just cares about you is all. You should feel lucky; I lost my own family before I could realize how much they cared.”
She looked down at him then, surprised and touched, but he stared straight ahead at the open plain of white swirling around them; his face difficult to read. She followed his gaze and leaned her head against his and together they waited for their friends to return until the sun grew low in the west.
Natalia sat up straight then and shook Thom who was fast asleep against her. He stirred and rubbed his eyes slowly, then jerked away when he realized where he was. She looked at him tensely and pointed to a light in the distance.
“What is that?” he asked aloud and she shook her head unknowingly.
A blue-green glow illuminated the darkness off in the forest like a fallen star; shining with a turquoise hue. They watched it, too afraid to look away for fear it would vanish, as it grew brighter as the sun slowly fell.
“I think it’s been there all along and we just couldn’t see it in the daytime.” Natalia predicted and managed to tear her eyes from the spectacle. She looked to Thom and excitement gleamed in her bright eyes. “This could be it, Thom! This could be our way to help, our way of giving back to the others.”
Thom stood up eagerly and straightened his back in an attempt to look tall. “I’m in if you’re in.” She stood beside him and he motioned back to the town. “Are we getting the others or is just you and me?”
She set her jaw and steeled her gaze and Thom knew her reply before she ever said it. “This one’s ours.”
He nodded and gripped her hand for support and reassurance as well as to stay together in the darkness. “You and me against the world.”
