Merry Hoth-mas (Complete)

[Laira Darkhold]

"Faith, I'm fine." Draco panted, the wampa rising up on its hing legs and raising its arms over its head, roaring in a dominance display. It was considerably confused at its desired prey, that despite being less than half its size had been able to shove it around and wound it. Blood dripped from its stomach wounds onto the snow, dampening its stomach with red fluid.

Draco had a few scratches from its flaws on his back, but both of them were otherwise fine. Nothing severe, no major organs or blood vessels were damaged. Overall, if they both went their separate ways, neither would suffer very much, Draco's knife not very long and its claws having trouble getting through his armor.

Draco responded in a display of his, firing his stun blaster into its chest with a flex of the muscles in his arms. "Stay behind me and shoot it." He grunted, stepping in front of her protectively. The creature wasn't expecting to have to fight for its meal, but didn't seem convinced even with some of its chest muscles going numb.

With a grunt the wampa dropped to all fours and charged again, ape-like in its movements as it used its arms and legs to propel it across the ice and snow towards the couple, a damp spot on its grey fur and fire in its eyes.

[member="Faith Organa"]

 

[Faith Organa]

[member="Draco Vereen"]

"Stay behind you?" She stepped to his side and kept shooting, "Did you see we have company coming?" She moved her head to get Draco to look. Just as another blaster, and another joined Faith's in taking down the wampah.

Slowly it fell with a soft swoosh on the snow it lay there unmoving, the white snow slowly turning colors. Faith stopped and looked, "They are so much bigger than I thought they would be. I had hoped it would just go away, but..." Yes it was sad when something died but it was kill or be killed at that moment.

The group of men came up on their position, "Well that was nasty" A couple were already over there checking to make sure it was dead."

"Do you want the fur?" Faith blinked at the man asking her, she couldn't see his eyes the goggles covered them. He was dressed like her, full jumpsuit, boots, gloves anything to keep the cold out.

Faith smiled, "I don't know Draco do we want a wampah fur?" Where would it go on Alderaan? She had a feeling Draco was going to carry the scars home from this trip, the reminder of what had happened.

"By the way, who are you?" Faith asked.

"OH, sorry. I'm Henrik Abelson, part of the First Order outpost just over that ridge."

What a relief, "OH great we have some supplies for you." What luck, they found them. Well sorta.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Draco waited until the creature fell to turn and check on Faith, looking her over and patting her down gently checking for any injuries he could easily see or feel. "Are you okay?" he asked before bothering to register the men walking through the snow around them, they just weren't his concern at the moment. Satisfied he couldn't see any blood or feel any obviously broken bones, his senses in the Force indicated she wasn't injured badly or fading quickly, he turned his attention at least partially to the men and women around them.

"Not the whole fur. But I gotta take a trophy." He lopped off part of the creature's horn and stuck it into a pouch on his belt, noticing his hands were starting to turn blue around the finger tips. "Oh, wow." He muttered, inspecting them shortly. It was the price he had paid for choosing not to wear gloves so he could keep Faith warm, but he hadn't foreseen them being separated and fighting a wampa. The Mandalorian tucked his hands into his armpits to try and keep them from freezing before they could get inside. The scratches on his back would heal, they weren't as deep or as dangerous as they could have been, and with the combat over he was focusing his Force powers into stopping the bleeding.

Faith spoke with the leader of the outpost while Draco stood behind her. They certainly looked like an interesting pair, a grizzled hunter speckled with wampa blood on his chest carrying a knife of all things and a bundled up bombshell. Most of them couldn't be seen for the warm winter clothes, but they all looked human as far as Draco could tell. "Yeah, we brought some things over from the spaceport. You guys wouldn't happen to mind if we spent the night?"

[member="Faith Organa"]

 

[Faith Organa]

"I'm ok, just bumps and bruises from being dragged a bit nothing that can't be fixed." She looked at him frowning, "Are you ok?" she stared at the blood not that she had not seen blood before but..it was blood was it his? He was pocketing his trophy when she noticed his fingers, oh no.

She didn't look over at Mr. Abelson while she tried to reason things and not panic, "Yeah we could use a warm place for the night, Anyone have a pair of gloves." She grabbed Draco's hands trying to warm them she couldn't have him losing his fingers all because she wanted to play philanthropist.

"Yes Mam, to everything." Before she could say thank you someone was at her side offering the gloves. "Let's get you folks up back to the outpost."

Faith looked worried she waited for Draco to put on the gloves, but the damage may have been done, she didn't know. "Why are you out here?"

"We were taking a look around to see if we could find any sign on the thieves, and there was word sent ahead that you were coming." He looked around, "I thought you would have LT Wenck with you, and a guide." He looked at them a bit closer now.

"My tauntaun got whiff of something and took off sliding first down the side over there, and then it dragged me up there" She pointed to both, "I was coming back to Draco when well everything else started happening."

This didn't look good, they didn't have the First Order folks with them like they were supposed to.

"OK..well like I said let's get you folks to the outpost."

[member="Draco Vereen"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Draco quietly accepted the gloves and pulled them over his blue-twinged fingers. His fingers were largely numb to feeling though he could still move them and had decent motor-control over them, enough so that he wasn't exactly worried in the long term, but he could feel them tightening up as the cold set into his tendons. "I'm fine. Just some scrapes and cold that will go away. Don't worry." Some of the blood on his back was indeed his, though his wounds were clotting quickly, they were not deep, more superficial.

The Mandalorian hunter shook his head. "Had them, but we got separated. Cut off from the pack if you will, by that big ugly." Draco didn't have a rifle, only a sword on his back and a pistol nor was he geared up for combat. As much as he didn't like the First Order, he liked the cold less. Faith had wanted to help the people of the Outpost and who was he to deny his princess such a request, to bring gifts to children?

The Eriaduan man rolled his shoulders and looked over the scout squad from the outpost they had been searching for. There were a lot of reasons not to like the First Order, but even when he had been fighting the One Sith and the Republic, he rarely believed it was the line infantry who were evil or corrupt. Normally the infantryman was just a pawn. Turning his attention back to Faith, he wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close to himself, "I'm tired and cold, and I want to cuddle and drink something warm." he muttered, just loud enough for the scouts to hear.

Abelson looked around for a second, "Alright. Let's get you people inside before night really sets in on us. We can sort everything else out in the morning. You three, get a search going over in that direction for the others." He pointed and shouted at some of his group while the rest started to guide them to the outpost over the ridge to safety.

[member="Faith Organa"]

 

[Faith Organa]

Faith nodded and gave Draco a worried look, what if they didn't believe them? They began the slow walk towards the outpost. She felt as if all eyes were on them waiting for them to do something unexpected.

She thought about it, technically Alderaan was still a peaceful planet, they weren't at war with anyone...well not anyone Sith still weren't welcome. But not acts of aggression had been made towards the First Order, none that she knew of.

"Yes it's been a long journey and we can signal for the drop on the supplies. Tell me I understand along with the supplies, all the gifts for Life Day were also taken."

All heads nodded yes, Mr. Abelson looked towards her, "Yeah it wasn't enough to take our supplies but they had to deprive our children too. Not that we have many. Only the Officers were allowed to bring their families." He seemed sad for a moment when he spoke.

"Are you separated from your family Mr. Abelson?" How long was an assignment in a place like this, with the barren land, and endless white snow, and let's not forget the cold, the bitter biting cold.

"Yes Mam, wife and two sons. We don't get home leave for another 30 sols then I'll see them."

Yes they were she imagined others had the same stories. She held tightly to Draco's arm as they walked, they understood separation. The darkness was coming in could watch it as it inched across the snow, and in the far off stars began to peek out.

[member="Draco Vereen"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Draco walked through the snow, big heavy steps with each stride, pushing a path through the drifts of white powder and ice. He was stifling yawns with the adrenaline out of his system from the fight with the wampa and the mild crash he was going through and just being tired from the travelling. Faith clung to him as they walked, speaking cordially with Abelson who seemed to be in charge.

"Bad things seem to always happen together. Never one at a time." Draco muttered as he pulled himself through the snow trying to leave an easier trail for Faith to walk through. His hands were trembling now, cold and numb without the aid of the Force or adrenaline fueling him onward and keeping him functional. Draco suspected he would need some bacta treatments on them, just a couple of injections. He hand intended to keep his hands in Faith's pockets or shirt the whole trip, but fate hadn't been that kind to him.

Stars started peaking through the clouds and darkness settled over them as the group mounted the ridge. The temperature was already noticeably colder, plummeting bellow zero. Over the ridge Draco could see the outpost, not much farther waiting for them with comfort and warmth assuming they weren't detained by the outpost since the others had gone missing. Maybe the turned back, maybe they'd turn up before long.

"Yeah, we can have the supplies and such dropped to the outpost directly once the hangar doors can open." They would have to close before too long to keep the outpost insulated, but morning would be here soon enough and the ship could come drop off supplies and pick up Faith and Draco easy enough.

The big man turned to Faith and whispered, "I hope we get there soon, I drank too much before we left."

[member="Faith Organa"]

 

[Faith Organa]

The walk was difficult it felt as if the snow was sucking them down with each step, and the bite of the cold on her nose stung. She nodded in agreement with Draco yes nothing every went very smooth, well some things did.

The lights were growing brighter as the darkness moved in, they would not have missed the outpost the lights were a bright beacon on the horizon. "yes as soon as the doors open."

She kept secure to Draco, "Really...." she wanted to confirm something, "you drank too much you say...and....if....well...." She leaned closer not wanting everyone to hear what she was going to ask him, "I heard one of the First Order men say that...everything freezes out here in like...well...midair............" She smiled as she leaned close looking up at him, "is that true?"

they were at the moment lost in their own conversation but surely someone overheard the question for there were a couple of snorts and quick looks away. Faith well she just didn't know her um...equipment.........wasn't able to...produce arcs..where Draco...could...write his name the snow.

[member="Draco Vereen"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Draco squinted at her through the darkness and snow, eyeing her quietly. Faith was up to something, mischeivious. The First Order outpost loomed over them as their journey took them off the lip of the ridge, working their way down to the doors of the colony. The people of the outpost, the rangers that found them were cutting a pretty straight forward path as night fell over them. Already the still air seemed to be bitingly cold on what of Draco's skin was exposed.

Finally after contemplating for a moment, Draco answered her. "Baby, I'm sure its possible but I'm cold, my hands are numb. Its gonna be a lot of effort for me as it is. I don't want that to get too cold either." Cold and numb wasn't something he was willing to risk with something so vital to his lifestyle as a palace husband.

"So unless you are willing to keep me warm and do all the work since I can't," he held up his hands and tried to close them into a fist with some noticeable struggle to do so, "That's just gonna have to remain a mystery while I get inside next to a heater." He didn't doubt that it was possible, but this much cold was a serious risk to his equipment, not that he was unwilling to try if she had a plan for her experiment. The outpost was coming up soon, maybe another two minutes trudging through the snow, clinging to one another.

[member="Faith Organa"]

 

[Faith Organa]

[member="Draco Vereen"]

"Well" She tried not to laugh, and tried not to look disappointed, she wasn't really she was more curious than anything. "Perhaps before we leave, after you're warm." Faith smiled at the others coming towards them now, "Hello. Yes we are fine, Draco needs some warmth though."

Heads nodded as they were guided into one of the outposts gathering halls, a communal heat source stood at the center.

"We'll find you some quarters for the night." A woman with a wide face, big blue eyes, rosy cheeks who spoke with a slight accent promised and then disappeared. They were all so inviting, caring, and wanting to be sure they were alright.

"yes my tauntaun got scared and dumped us." "Mr. Abelson came along at just the right time." "Alderaan." "We heard about your need for supplies" She tried to answer questions as quick as they were asked. as they guided Draco to the heat. Faith nodded and she wasn't sure why.

"How do you deal with this biting cold?" She asked curious about did they forgo going outside completely.

A strong male voice from her left answered, "We keep warm, be careful when moving around, and never take foolish risks." She felt like that was a tiny jab at her and Draco, she kept smiling.

She inched toward Draco, "Feeling better Drahr?" The group was gathering drinks and food.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

The doors to the outpost opened for them when they approached letting the frigid air, but Draco could still recognize her look of disappointment. He would make it up to her. Draco stood beside Faith, letting her answer the rapid fire questions the colonists had after they had arrived from out of the snow. Most of the people were kind and inviting enough, willing to share their food and shelter with two strangers without question. That was a little disheartening for Draco. He had severely wanted to hate these people given his history with them and his homeworld. This was just proof that they weren't all bad, which made the very dark shade of grey they were just a little harder to want dead.

The big mandalorian laughed at the other man's comment about not taking foolish risks, though in all honesty he was probably right about it. The situation had turned fairly risky for the two of them after a few mishaps, but it ended up okay enough. Outside was cold and even just near the doors still felt cold, though not like it had been in the wind and ice.

"No. I still need to hit the head somewhere." He grinned at Faith, pulling her away from the crowd for a moment so he could whisper in her ear without being overheard. "If you really wanna know about what the First Order people said I suppose we can step out real fast and find out. If that's what you really want." He rubbed her hands between his own, getting some feeling back into them and getting the blood-flow going. "But you've got to be hands on with your experiment." He pulled her towards the door gently to get her to come with him.

[member="Faith Organa"]

 

[Faith Organa]

"Very tempting offer Drahr" she whispered back, "But I think I can wait to have the experiment performed. You've been hurt, and your hands got cold, I saw the tinges of blue. So maybe before we leave." She cared more for her husband than she did the result of curiosity and an experiment.

She looked outside the light was gone completely only the soft glow of the habitat lights provided light. "Do you need someone to hold a light?" She smiled, she wasn't sure about handling the situation in the cold not that she couldn't just...well....her mind was thinking of a few different things and none of them were...very princess like.

"Mam." The short woman was back, "We found you some quarters for the night, we don't have much." Faith smiled at her, "Not to worry I don't need anything other than a cup of tea, if you have it."

The older short woman nodded, "We do dear, come sit over here while your husband.....goes outside." it was obvious that part of their conversation had been heard, she didn't know how much but enough that she thought to be embarrassed as her cheeks turned red.

"Hurry back." Faith called as she was led back to the heat and a promise of something hot to drink. "You shouldn't be out here Miss. It's not safe" She pushed something into Faith's hand at that moment. Faith felt the pressure on her hand as she stared into the woman's eyes. "You're right, after my tea I"ll head to bed so that we can get a fresh start in the morning." She slid her hand into the only pocket she had.

Was there something wrong? Or was the woman just a worrier, she didn't know and wouldn't until she could look at what she had given her.

[member="Draco Vereen"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Draco frowned, having been thwarted in a little experiment of his own. He ducked outside just right outside the door, keeping it opened a crack until he was finished, having had to fumble around with numb hands for a few moments standing out in the biting cold, until he was done and then he returned. Satisfied, but not as much as he could have been.

Once he stepped back through the door Draco returned to Faith's side, slipping an arm around one of her arms. "Alright I'm back and I'm tired." He exclaimed as he made himself comfortable beside Faith. "I survived, if you could call it that." He glanced at Faith when he said it, a little bit disappointed in the turn of events. She owed him boots for getting stuck out in this mess on the frigid ice world.

Someone grinned at him and passed him something warm to drink, more importantly to hold onto to warm his hands up while he waited for the people to stop fawning over Faith so he could claim her for himself for the night again. He was patient however, and conversed with the inhabitants of the colony quietly, talking about different hunts he had been on in his life and against what all while snuggling up beside Faith and feeding off her body heat.

[member="Faith Organa"]

 

[Faith Organa]

Faith was listening, they talked about what they did everyday. A gentle shove here and there between friends giving each other a hard time, heart felt laughter over something gone wrong that if they thought too long would lead to tears. Draco was by her drinking whatever it was he had, she could see it in his face that he was tired.

She was curious about what as in her pocket. She didn't know what to do about it, not that she expected anything sinister really. afterall here they were having fun. What had the LT and the guide gone to, had they been taken in by the wampah, or the thieves? So many variables she didn't know, she yawned slightly.

"OH dear you are tired. Come let us show you where you can sleep, bundle up now" Faith pulled up the hood and zippled her jumpsuit. She looked at Draco, "Come on Drahr we'll get some sleep. Tend those fingers." And talk about what was in her pocket when they were alone.

But would they be alone. She hoped so, but she wasn't sure.

A burst of cold air swept into the room when the door opened, Hoth was giving its best effort to remind her of how cold it was. She waited for Draco to join her as she stepped out into the cold. BRRRRR yes it was cold.

But still it felt...like they had just jarred her awake. The woman was motioning for her to follow, taking small steps she dallied to give Draco time to come out.

[member="Draco Vereen"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

The Mandalorian yawned occasionally, drinking what they had handed him only after tasting it for intoxicating substances or drugs, paying close attention to how he felt just in case they were trying to slip him something in his drink. As far as he could tell from his intuition and his senses, they weren't trying anything suspicious, so he simply enjoyed being bundled up beside Faith in a warm place.

The colonists seemed nice, though not entirely pleased with being on Hoth. They made due with what they had and what they could salvage, received scheduled supply shipments. It wasn't the worst life, and they seemed to know that much and appreciate that it could have been worse. It reminded him some of how his parents had been on Eriadu before the First Order killed them. At ease with not having everything in the galaxy, with the life of a worker.

When Faith rose to take him off to their quarters to sleep, he rose with a yawn and a nod to her. He was slightly tipsy from the alcoholic beverages the men had given him, but not completely out of it, still functional. The woman lead Faith and him out into the jarring cold, perking him back up somewhat, though he was still tired and a little hurt. Draco needed a good rest.

Draco followed them, hanging on to Faith with his arms wrapping around her affectionately and to keep himself and his hands warmer than just the gloves they had handed him, doing his best to keep up with Faith's pace towards where the woman was leading them.

[member="Faith Organa"]

 

[Faith Organa]

[member="Draco Vereen"]

"Here you go, it's all heated and ready for you." The woman smiled not really waiting around as she turned and left Faith and Draco alone. Faith looked around it was quite simple. She had a feeling it was set up for when FO officers came out to check on them for it contained nothing personal. The bed looked comfortable for being in an outpost on a freezing world.

She turned to look at Draco, "You ok, do you think everything is ok here?" She didn't everything sounded ok, looked ok, so...why did a woman. Faith finally pulled her hands from her pocket and looked down, "I think we need to read this before we decide to sleep." She didn't want to go to sleep if this was a warning for them to hurry up and run for their lives.

She laid it on the bed and began to pull off her jumpsuit, but only to the waist. Just in case she was getting dressed again.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Draco entered the room and fell on the bed as his first act. The room wasn't very large or decorated, but the bed was nice enough. It was a full size bed rather than a queen size or king, but large enough for the both of them if they stayed close. He rolled over and started pulling off layers one by one, starting with the overcoat he had worn. His back was still tender and injured, and he was looking to get comfortable. He peeled off the torn jumpsuit until it hung around his waist like Faith's but he went the extra mile of tossing his bloody shirt off.

"I'm unsure. I think most of the colonists are a bit unhappy but overall are loyal." The man turned to check out the scratches in his back, looking to see how deep they were and if they needed stitches. Bandaging for sure, but maybe they would be alright in the morning.

"What is that?" Draco said, pointing at the message she laid on the bed, though he was more interested in laying down and staying warm wrapped around Faith. The message was more of an after-thought for the Mandalorian. "I suppose I can stay awake for a little while longer, but we might as well get comfortable. We aren't going anywhere until morning." He messed with the blankets and opened them up so she could crawl on top of him if she wanted.

[member="Faith Organa"]

 

[Faith Organa]

[member="Draco Vereen"]

"I think we need to look at the message first Draco, it was given to me by the woman who showed us in, and if it says we are in danger, then we are leaving tonight, in like as much time as it takes to get dressed, and leave." She stood there looking at the message, she sighed heavily she was tired.

She looked at Draco's back, "Oh Drahr, that looks terrible." She reached over and touched his skin lightly, "Well you do have a trophy from it, but I think these are going to be a reminder for a while. We have another diplomatic trip to make in a month I hope you are better then." It bothered her when he was hurt, and hurt because she wanted to do this.

She sat on the edge of the bed, picking up the message. She sat still and read it to herself. "hmm...not the disaster I was thinking. Seems she's a native of Alderaan, her brother has factory on Delaya." Faith read a little further, "ohhh here is the thing, she wants to leave with us." Faith looked at Draco, "This might be a bit tricky to do."

Faith had made a promise that anyone of Alderaan who wanted to come home, she would see to it that they did. Here was the first real test. What would the First Order say?

 

[Laira Darkhold]

"Faith, there is no where to go tonight. Its below freezing. We'd be lucky to make it to the first markers before one of us started to freeze." And it would probably be him while he spent every ounce of energy he had left keeping her alive. They had a beacon to guide their ship to them, but that would take a few moments before their ship could reach them, and in this weather a few minutes could land one of them in the medical bay for a long trip home.

"Yes, these are a reminder that next time I see a giant bear thing, to go for my blaster instead of my knife." He chuckled, trying his best to get comfortable under the blankets, which were fuzzy, soft, and warm like some kind of velvety fabric and a thick comforter. He listened to her speak for a moment and then considered what to do.

Draco thought for a moment as he eased back in the bed, laying flat carefully so as not to jar his injured back. "Why don't we just leave with them. Have them leave in the morning after the ship lands to do a perimeter check or what ever excuse for all of them to leave together. Then instead they just slip on the ship. I'm sure everyone here will be busy going through the stuff we are giving them that they won't notice for a while." He sighed, it was a simple, easy plan that didn't require anyone's permission or draw attention to the fact that people wanted to leave the First Order for Alderaan. "The last time there were deserters in the First Order, they committed genocide on that planet. I doubt they would let one family leave. One family goes missing on Hoth and isn't found? That's believable."

[member="Faith Organa"]

 

[Faith Organa]

[member="Draco Vereen"]

Faith nodded, "Ok, I'll pull her to the side in the morning and suggest it." Faith looked over at Draco who was already under the covers and making 'his spot' Faith finished undressed, and crawled into the bed beside him.

"There are Alderaanians spread out across the galaxy, I'm always surprised where we find them. Hoth." She laid her head on his arm, looking over at him, soft brown eyes staring up into his grey, "see there had to be a reason to be here." She smiled, inching closer.

"Thank you Drahr, for putting up with this." She reached out and touched his cheek lightly, a simple gesture, "I just knew you were the right guy for the job you know." She grinned big now, "I'm cold and tired..." then she sighed slowly the blankets got warm, and the bed became more comfortable. "I'm ready to go home..we will have done our good deed."

She yawned. "ok?"