Connor held his trembling hands to a dying fire he'd put up in a panic. He held Nuage in his jacket to keep her warm, but he worried it wouldn't be enough. He'd forgotten to prepare for winter after being away from his camp for so long, so now all he could do was gather the twigs he could find and hope his numb fingers wouldn't just fall off.
Crunching through the snow, Willow huffed angrily at herself for letting it get so dark. Time was just so easy to lose track of when you were standing in the middle of a bright, warm forest fire.
Connor’s fire is so pitiful that almost doesn’t notice it in the darkness, but hey, it’s better than nothing. Willow made her way towards it, lighter in hand. This is your lucky day, kiddo; this woman has a backpack full of charcoal.
“I can’t believe you’re gone this long, and this is the state I find you in,” but her tone isn’t scolding. Just very concerned. Willow dug a thermal stone out of her vest and plopped it in the boy’s lap. It was still warm, and bound only to get warmer this close to the fire.
”It’ll warm up your fingers faster.” Meanwhile, she stuck her own hands in the flames. “Are you hungry? I have some jerky on me.” Most of her food was in camp.
Nuage sniffed the thermal stone as it landed while Connor rushed to hold it firmly between his hands.
“…A little,” he stammered. He was a little embarrassed. Nuage was none the wiser to their situation, but still she’d been a bit more reserved. Connor’s second hand anxiety was no new feeling.
Connor nudged the worn spear next to him. “I um...I don’t think this is going to last.”
