So comes snow after fire.

[Atham'aali'kema]

"We'll have..." He looked up, suddenly racked by an urging sleepiness. Yawning as blue lips parted, he blinked at he looked towards her. "...all the time in the world."

Maybe he was hopeful, maybe he was going through late onset of shock. Maybe he was, for the first time in a long time, anything other than numb.

Pulling the blanket up over him, he winced as the wounds were touched, before relaxing beneath the weight of it. She was busy tending to the small duties that could be tended in the confines of the cave. He was watching but fighting the urge to close his eyes. Vision went blurry as they closed and he promised he was just resting, just taking a breather.

"I'm...I'm fff..." He pulled the blanket over as he let out a long breath. "Fine...I...promise."

Exhaustion overtook him as he drifted into slumber.

[member="Taheera Sollo"]​

 

[Taheera Sollo]

[member="Atham'aali'kema"]

Healer's-gaze watched Maalik as he struggled with his own exhaustion. Shoulders relaxed a bit as he finally drifted off to sleep. Rest would help heal him more than she could. She made one cup of tea, then tiptoed out of the cave to get some snowpacs ready for when he awoke and make that call to the others about it being a trap.

It was already dark out by the time she finished up. Storm was still blowing but seemed to be lessening. Things were as good as they were going to be. Hand rubbed at her lower back. She knew a deep bruise was spreading back there. Even through the thick clothing, that first order soldier had delivered a solid kick. She could heal it but she wanted to save her energy. She'd need it for Maalik if something else happened.

The amphistaff was curled up by the fire and seemed to keep an eye on her as she wandered over to Maalik and the set of large blankets. "Don't worry. I'm not going to wake him," she whispered to the serpent, wondering if she'd come up with a name for it later. Maybe Fred or George? Naming it might help take away some of her own fear and uncertainty about it.

Peeling off her gloves, she eased down next to Maalik and slipped beneath one of the blankets. Knees pulled up to her chest as she remained seated, arms circling around her legs. Chin drooped to her knees, keeping an eye on the snowy and dark cave entrance.

She had every good intention to stay awake and keep watch but even she couldn't stop the eventual closing of those myrtle ellipses as sleep took her away. Hopefully George wouldn't judge her too harshly.

 

[Atham'aali'kema]

He dreamed of stars.

He dreamed of constellations and debris in space.

He dreamed of soaring meteors through the dark black night.

He dreamed of ink, dragons and treasure and the imprint of diamonds.

Molten orbs flickered open as he was brought back to life not 30 minutes after slumber, the sound of crackling fire and windy howls filling the world around him. He turned his head as he looked towards Harla, curled up and sitting upright as she struggled to sleep.

He thought to wake her, to tell her that he could share his spot just like she shared hers on the ship. But she looked at peace, face no longer wrought with worry or concern. She looked beautiful. Tilting his head back to look towards the ceiling, he was content to share the silence with her, knowing that the offer would be wasted. She wouldn't risk injuring him any further, no matter his lack of concern for his own well being. Sleepily, he drifted off once more, taken to dreams he normally didn't have.

[member="Taheera Sollo"]​