[r̥iːs]

By strength and guile.[33] [GUARD]

[dolohv]

It took a moment for the sound of the man’s voice and what showed from behind the scarf and snow-dusted features to ring familiar. “Fuck,” Mason blurted as soon as he recognized the man, the gun falling to his side and the safety being flicked back on. “Sorry,” he muttered, “Was getting off a shift.” He expected Rhys to understand, the way that they’d both been trained to always be at the ready. When he got himself into that state, his actions were on a hair-trigger. 

“What was that noise?” he asked, assuming it wasn’t particularly dangerous since the other Marine seemed much more relaxed than he had been. Mason looked around, hearing nothing but the wind and seeing no one else at all concerned.

[rhysdonovan-blog]

He had been there when he first woke up at camp, jumping at every loud noise, charging at every incoming person. For men like him, it was hard to separate the battlefield from the real world—in a world like this, neither of those scenarios existed anymore. It was a hybrid creation, a fusion of the unlikely and the uncanny with their every day life. Rhys didn’t take it to heart. If anything, he understood the other man’s instincts, resembling his own in more ways than one, and nodded accepting his apology though he felt like there was no need of it.

“The generators are probably on at the main cabin.” The sergeant took to explain with a shrug. It was a faulty machine and made a nasty roaring noise when trying to turn it on, as though the entire place had collapsed and exploded behind them. “It’ll quiet down soon, we never keep it on for long.” Approaching his commander, Rhys shook some of the icy layers covering his hood before letting it fall back. 

[dolohv]

Mason had walked into the main cabin, pulling off his gloves as he made his way to the weapons counter to sign in his gun. It had been an uneventful shift as per usual and Mason was wondering what he’d do with the rest of the day when suddenly, a loud noise came from just outside. Within half a heartbeat, the Marine turned on his heel and was bounding back out.

He pulled the strap off his shoulder and the rifle was held up at the ready before he was even completely out the door.

[rhysdonovan-blog]

“Pointing guns at your own now?” Rhys teased while also trying not to show the sudden movement from his commander had truly made his heart skip a beat for a moment. It was a surprise, even to him, that he didn’t just jump back at the sight or raised his arms in surrender. Maybe it was the fact that Mason’s fingers were on the trigger and he trusted the man with his own life, but he still released a soft, short-lived yet nervous chuckle. “You can lower it now, sir. It’s just me.” 

[dolohv]

Rhys Donovan

brothers in arms [ l i s t e n ]

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[a-torms-deactivated20210521]

Myra turned around when she heard some noises, her gaze swooping the area until a figure came into view. “I hope you’re here to see me. I’ve been trying to check up on everyone after that big storm, but I haven’t had a chance to track you down.” Myra said as she finally stood to take a good look at the person, her extending towards a makeshift seat. “Sit down. I won’t take no for an answer.”

[rhysdonovan-blog]

Rhys wasn’t exactly there to see anyone. In fact, he was aiming for the complete opposite. “Oh no, no...” He protested, tired of all the probing from the medical staff. After his little feat during the blizzard, the frostbite, the bruises, his still heavily chapped lips reminding him of how bad of an idea it had been, Rhys was just tired of being checked. “I’ve got all ten fingers and toes. Isn’t that enough?”

[tobiashagen-deactivated20170307]

     Tobias checked, double checked and re-checked the straps on his backpack as he went around making sure he had everything sorted for the trip. It had been ages since he’d been out scouting for provisions, having been needed home at camp in case anything went wrong, but they couldn’t afford that this week. Every able body had to play their part to get what they needed, no one could afford to stay behind.

     With a defeated sigh that he was just worrying now, he turned to look at the partner that would be joining him for his route of the trip. “You ready to go?”

[rhysdonovan-blog]

Apparently his extended stay outside during the blizzard had rendered him useless—or so the medical staff were so very keen in telling him. He had recovered, lost no digits, frostbite bruises had worn off, for the most part at least... he was perfectly fit to take on this quest. “How likely are you to overrule the medical staff?” Rhys asked the camp leader instead of answering his question. “Certainly you must have some sort of power to have them clear me and let me join you.”

[missevelynprice-deactivated2016]

Evelyn was humming to herself, working on her class schedule for the upcoming week and in an even more upbeat mood than usual. The days of the storm had been so emotionally draining that being suddenly free from that heavy worry had her almost giddy. In her absent-minded haze of contentment it took her a while to become conscious of the fact that the person nearby, who was probably trying to concentrate on something themselves, might not appreciate how her humming had recently morphed into quietly singing to herself. 

When this realization hit her she stopped immediately, a little embarrassed but in too good of a mood to care much. “Sorry if I was distracting you.” She said, throwing an apologetic look their way before turning back to her task, forcing herself to keep quiet but unable to help moving her shoulders a bit to the songs still going around in her head.

[rhysdonovan-blog]

"Oh please don’t stop singing.” Even though his words held some amusement in tone, Rhys tried very hard not to show it in his features. He had been trying to get through a few files, mostly going over some papers but certainly nothing he needed too much concentration for. In fact, his mind was somewhere else entirely—not the papers, not her singing. “You’re quite good at it, if you don’t mind me saying.”

[lily-windsor-blog]

Their classes were thought to be practical ─ to help each other to communicate, survive and bypass the multiple cultural difference, but it was probably not enjoyable for people that they had to go to them on top of their own occupations around the camp. “Look, I know that you probably have something better to do than attend class,” she paused, “but I didn’t invite this. And everyone has to go though, so why not we help each other and we only focus on what you must learn in short term and then you go do your thing── whatever it is.”

[rhysdonovan-blog]

“You don’t understand, Miss Windsor...” It was the entire setting that terrified him. Rhys’ school years hadn’t been his best, especially the last ones. He had never felt comfortable in the enclosed settings. The cramped classrooms, the entire institution, it’s just not something he had been able to endure. Sure, he had seen worse things, been trapped in more dangerous places. But he wasn’t in school anymore. In the military, well, he belonged. He was good at. He had made his family proud of him, at last. At school... “I’ve just never been a good pupil. Highly doubt it’ll be any different now. Really don’t want to waste your time and effort here.” 

[dolohv]

After a long day of digging the camp out from under metres of snow and making sure things were up and working again, Mason was exhausted- but in the best sort of way. The kind of tired that made him feel productive and deserving of rest. Now he sat on the steps of the main cabin, hunched over with elbows on his knees as he looked out at the expanse of snow beyond the camp, wiped entirely clean of any footprints he’d left days earlier. His dog tags were pulled out from under the layers of clothing, squeezed between fingers of his ungloved hand. It looked peaceful out there, inviting in a completely misleading way, as if it had never swallow up the lives of hundreds, thousands of people. His thumb pressed small circles against the metal as he thought, remembering the men he’d left behind to make it here. It wasn’t fair, but it is what it was. 

So lost in his thoughts he hadn’t noticed the person approach until they were only steps away, jolting him out of his head. He cleared his throat, “Long day, yeah?” he asked idly, slipping the tags back under his layers, feeling the cold metal against his chest.

[rhysdonovan-blog]

It took Rhys about a day to fully recover from his little escapade during the blizzard, a few more to get rid of the frost bruises staining his skin and the cold and sore throat to clear. Now, however, he was back in good health, lips still slightly chapped but not nearly as bad as before. 

“As is every other day at this place.” The Colour Sergeant offered with a shrug as he neared his commander. Day in and day out, it was always the same. Hours dragged, minutes were heavy on the clock—those he didn’t even bothered to steal glances at anymore. It made no difference. White coats going for miles on, pitch black skies dusted with endless amounts of stars whenever the clouds were kind enough to let them have the chance to appreciate the stellar show. It was cold, but that wasn’t new. Gloved hands tucked in his coat’s pockets, the young soldier stood next to the man he had been searching for. He wanted to know about Conners, about the Marines they had been sent to rescue—the ones Mason had returned without. He noticed him hiding back his tags, a pair of which he himself could feel cold against his own chest. “How’s life at camp treating you, Corporal?”

[dolohv]

diemreynolds:

“Don’t ask for things you’re not ready for.” Diem returned with a roll of her eyes. Her resolve to continue slowly dwindled until she was certain she would need Rhys to carry her. A part of her assumed that it was he who sucked most of her energy as she tried her best not to use the last ounce of her vigor  to yell at him for his endless comments about her lack of common sense. With a huff, she took one step at a time, surprised that she’d made it all the way to the cabin without collapsing beneath the weight of the stone cold muscles that were now harboured within her body. Loud huffs escaped her lips and formed white clouds before her face. only to disappear within the curtain of white before them. If they’d survive this, she would need to get in better shape. While she was in peak condition, she could not understand the ferocity that weighted upon her with every step as she sunk her boots within the ground and fought to pull them out after they disappeared a few inches within the mass of white. She needed more muscles and a few more inches in length. The cabin had come as a saving grace, prickling her eyes once it came into view. Even though she knew that it potentially meant she could fight another day, she knew that her stunt had cost her. Her limbs ached and her lungs felt like they would collapse at any moment after working overtime to suck in a single breath. 

The cabin felt too small, too cold for her frozen body. All she wanted was a fire that would melt the ice that had frozen her lungs and limbs though she knew it would do no good. Thankfully, someone had stepped forward to help her out of her frozen clothing. The brunette remained still, breathing heavily into the thick material of her scarf as she watched his expert fingers tear and pull at her clothing. There was no energy for a simple thank you, though she assumed that her silent relaxed composure was good enough. With every layer that fell to the ground, Diem felt on fire. It was a good sigh for her body was beginning to defrost, but with it left an intense sensation that she could barely tolerate. “Fuck.” She murmured after a moment when she found enough force to remove the scarf around her neck and dump the frozen material at her feet. “Only our charming persona—–” Diem was cut off when Rhys rose from his seat on the side. It frightened her for a moment as she instantly assumed some sort of delirium at set in given the other’s man confusion. He seemed not to recognize Rhys. Her gaze flicked between the two until it fixated on Rhys when she noticed tears form within his azure gaze. “Rhys…. You need to take your clothes off.” Diem muttered softly as if the removal of what remained of the storm they had found refuge from would clear his mind from whatever had settled within his grey matter. 

→ @lockwoodm

Mason worked at getting the layers off the woman, at least she had enough sense to bundle up, but some of the fabric was practically frozen to her inner clothes. He peeled off the large jacket and shook off the loose snow, barely registering the voice from the other idiot that had ventured out into the storm. His limbs stiffened as he heard his name, the voice one he hadn’t heard in far too long. His head turned quickly, not realizing who was here with him, the frosted tips of the man’s beard and windswept state masking him from familiarity. Mason’s brows knit together with disbelief, his mouth falling open slightly as his eyes widened. He wasn’t sure why he was in such a stunned state, Hagen had already told him Rhys was alive and well earlier that day, but he supposed seeing him here made it all the more real. Donovan looked much better than last he’d seen him when his cheeks were blue from the cold and sunken in from starvation. Even beneath the beanie and zipped up jacket, Mason saw that the man had regained his health and looked so much more like how he remembered, back before all of this happened. The second name Rhys stated snapped Mason back to the present. His lips pressed into a line and he gave a short shake of his head. Conners never made it Jotunheim, which made the commander realize just how out of it Rhys must have been before they made it here. He finally noticed the tears welling up in his fellow Marine’s eyes, his own vision starting to blur. He cast aside the jacket in his hand and rushed forward to pull the other into a tight hug despite the cold still lingering on his outer layers. “Fuck, it’s bloody good to see you again,” he muttered.

@rhysdonovan

[rhysdonovan-blog]

Rhys couldn’t move. Taking a step forward was just not something his body was capable of doing at that moment. The thick coat, heavy with ice, froze him in place but it wasn’t the cause for his sudden perplexity. It took him a time to process yet another loss, to wrap his mind around the fact that it was Corporal Lockwood standing before him. The man’s arm were around him before he could react, standing still for half a minute, the words falling on his ears, echoing once, twice... it’s bloody good to see you again. Rhys laughed. The sound was rugged, breaking in between gasps of air and chattering teeth due to the cold. He laughed and held onto his commander, fingers curling into a fist on the man’s back. I thought you didn’t make it, ran through his head. I thought I’d never see you again. Like Conners... and Black, and Crofton, and all the other men that had began this mission with them and were now gone. Like his family, his brothers, his parents. Mason was his commander, his leader, the man they all looked up to, trusted with their lives to make the best decisions; he was the one who had saved his sorry ass so many times, whose back he had in uncountable occasions. All he managed to utter then, despite his own strong hold on the other Marine, was: “I’m cold.” But he didn’t let go immediately. It hurt to move. Physically hurt. Rhys wasn’t sure he was going to be able to.

Rhys, you need to take your clothes off. Maybe, if he could actually unfreeze his features, a smirk would’ve spread on his lips—but the flesh had turned a worrisome shade of blue and all he did was shudder in response to the brunette’s words. Waited long enough to say that... But his thoughts remained his own. He did find her with his eyes, hues full of mischief and amusement despite his otherwise feeble state, and tried then, at the risk of breaking apart piece by piece, to step away from the embrace. He needed to move, even if it hurt, to heat his muscles, to get rid of all the ice that was covering him. “Firewood.” Rhys managed to say, lips barely moving as he spoke and retreated.

→ @diemreynolds

[sergeantjhart]

When Rhys attempted to liken them to Billy the Kid and Jesse James he simply raised a brow at his cousin a little skeptically before laughing when he attempted to withdraw the statement. “Yeah, somethin’ like that,” he teased in return, shaking his head a bit.

He nodded gratefully when Rhys didn’t hesitate to offer his assistance in stepping out into the storm. Maybe it was the solider that still resided in the pair of them, but he had no doubt his cousin would have his back no matter what; they looked after one another. Never leave a man behind. It carried over into the real world - or at least this real world. It was almost like they were back on the battle field, fighting to survive once again. 

“Oh, c’mon. ‘Course I’m worried about the others.” Maybe he was worried about Sora more than some of the others, because he knew her better - not to mention Liam. But there was only so much he could do something about, and unfortunately Liam wasn’t on that list. 

[rhysdonovan-blog]

“Listen, mate...” Rhys stood up from where he had been sitting all the while Jesse kept pacing in front of him, stepping closer to where he was. “Off the record?” It was insane. Leaving the cabin wasn’t safe. It was suicidal. Even if it seemed like they could make it, there was no telling how bad it could get while they were out there, unsheltered, preventing them to come back. “I want to get the fuck out of here almost as much as you do.” They felt confined, never sitting well if they had their arms crossed doing nothing while they could be helping others. Still, Rhys lowered his voice. “But if we keep moping around and acting like we can’t wait to jolt out that door, the others here will only get more anxious.” He was thinking about Clara, about Felicity, with their jumpy reactions and their worried looks. 

Clasping a hand on Jesse’s shoulder, giving it a squeeze as he stood back up and sat in front of the man, he just nodded. Jesse had someone to look after at camp. Sure, they all tried to look after the other but he actually had someone to worry about whereas, he... well, he didn’t, did he? “Give it just another few minutes and take the cue. I’ll back you up.”

[tobiashagen-deactivated20170307]

     Tobias nodded his answer, flashing a smile to the rest of the cabin and waving once in goodbye before opening the door and crowding out into the freezing cold as fast as he could so no heat escaped unnecessarily. He turned to watch Rhys follow behind him, squinting harshly against the roaring wind.

     “Stay close!” he shouted, knowing that the wind would swallow half his words if he didn’t. “Visibility’s gone to shit, if we lose each other out here it’ll be hard to find each other again, let alone the camp!”

[rhysdonovan-blog]

"Yes, sir...” The soldier intended to reply but the words fall short against the strong winds. Rhys just stands there for a moment, his eyes trying to adjust to the alarming brightness surrounding them with all that snow. It was colder than he’d expect, even if he was wearing more items of clothing than any other normal day at camp. Soon he realized that Tobias’ words were not just a warning but also a fact, sending him quickly after the leader before he lost him out of sight entirely. “If it lasts longer than just a few days, what’s our plan?” He asked then, practically shouting. That’s the question on everyone’s mind. He simply decided to ask the man.

[dolohv]

diemreynolds:

“You’re annoying,” she groaned at him. Diem wasn’t certain what to make of his concern and apparent anger towards her venture outside when he stood before her, beneath the same sky and within the same storm. It was annoying. He was annoying. Either way, she knew that they’d both made a dire mistake for within seconds, her entire person felt as if it weighted three times as much as it had before she’d stumbled outside of her cabin. Whether it was the weight of the snow that had frozen against her jacket, the lack of oxygen that was entering her lungs and muscles, or even just the fact that her body was slowly freezing as she stood still – Diem only knew that it was deadly. Every second brought forth a stronger shudder than the last until her teeth shattered and her shoulders shook with a force that even surprised her. 

His stance annoyed her further and if she could saunter through the mass of snow with facility, she would have long since left him behind. He had no right to judge her, to underestimate her. “No shit. You’re like the peasant that all the girls fawn over until they remember he lays in his own shit every night.” She quipped with a small smirk present on her lips even though her entire body echoed defeat. Every part of her ached and burnt with the ferocity that it took for her to take one step. Her head tilted forward in hopes of hiding her features behind the mass of brown curls that whipped across her cheeks, lashing at her skin without mercy. She wanted to return, to tuck her tail between her legs and tell everyone that they’d been right – she shouldn’t have wandered out no matter the distaste for the small cabin she shared with far too many people. “I can barely move, Rhys, but if you tell me I need common sense one more time, I will kill you.” Her teeth gritted as she narrowed her gaze in his direction. If she needed common sense, he needed to learn when to shut the hell up. Even though he was right, she was far too proud to ever admit such a thing. “Are you mad because I almost got myself killed or because you now have to drag me along?” Diem asked when he placed his hands upon her shoulders and began to guide her towards the closest refuge. She was silently grateful for his support for she wasn’t certain she would have been able to make it on her own. Her side pressed into his until they approached the cabin and he knocked upon it’s surface. Thank god and fuck mother nature. Her hands remained bundled up within her pocket, almost fearful to move them in case one or two of her appendages would fall to her feet. “Let us in!” She croaked, her voice taken by the wind that continuously whipped at their back. When the door opened moments later, Diem all but shoved herself inside with a large gasp. No matter the heat that surrounded her, she could not move or control her shuddering body. Lips had turned purple and skin seemed devoid of any colour. “Someone help me take my jacket off. Don’t just stand there!” she asked of those around her, hoping one of them would jump up and provide help.  

→ @lockwoodm

After all the months he spent outside in the wide expanse of Norway, right now, a part of him wished he was still out there. Being cooped up in this cabin all day was putting him on edge even more so than usual. Every breath, every whisper seemed to be amplified and they made the Marine twitch every time. But as much as his head ached to be outside of these walls, he knew he’d regret it within seconds. The blizzard had reached a point where looking out the window gave you only a clear view of its blanketing whiteness, something even the most seasoned or trained individuals would have difficulty navigating. And so he returned to mindless tasks to keep himself occupied, cleaning his weapons and examining his gear for wear and tear that required fixing.

He was sat on his bed when the muffled sound of footsteps echoed through the heavy door. Two people, he could tell that much, his hand immediately going to the knife strapped to his side as he stood. It didn’t look like anyone else had heard the sound so his instinctive reaction garnered quite a few concerned stares before the sound of knocking filled the space.

He dropped his hand from his hip, realizing there was little reason to think it would be anyone dangerous. Only a half-wit would attempt any sort of attack in weather like this. He crossed the room quickly and unlocked the door, letting in two snow covered people that looked just about half-frozen already. Shutting out the wind again and locking up, Mason’s brows creased together. “What in bloody hell were you two doing out there?” he asked with bewilderment. Despite the fact that a scarf was still wrapped around the smaller person’s face, he could still make out her demand. With a grunt he started pulling at the buttons and zippers, shaking his head with disdain. “I certainly hope you two brought supplies at least.”

@rhysdonovan

[rhysdonovan-blog]

You’re annoying. Rhys only scoffed. She was. Even the thought of rolling her eyes at her groans hurt him so he didn’t even try, stirring her in the other direction. He could barely feel the weight of her body leaning against his, numb to everything but the cold. “I’d love to see you try.” That, at least, he found amusement in. Teeth chattering, he didn’t really feel like answering her last question. It was not only the fact that he was sure he wasn’t going to be able to both walk and talk at the same time and still make it to the door but also, he wasn’t really sure what had angered him so much. Dragging her along certainly put an extra burden to his quest in making it back to any cabin, but he was still outside with others, making it just as complicated. But if she got herself killed... for being stubborn? Fool. The anger just resurfaced and Rhys simply offered her a minor glare—it was the best he could do. Knocking on the door surely his very last fit before it gave in and he basically stumbled inside after her. He hadn’t really paid much attention to the person behind the door, echoing after Diem as he also requested for someone to please help her out of her jacket. All the while he just fell on an empty chair, slowly trying to kick off his boots before he’d lose all ten toes. 

It only took him a moment to look up from his seat, the sound of the other man’s voice all too familiar to him. Rhys didn’t answer. He had brought no supplies but he also couldn’t move. It was both the cold and the voice, the low oxygen intakes from outside, his limbs aching as his muscles fought to keep him warm. Maybe he was hallucinating. It wouldn’t be the first time it had happened. But he wasn’t that gone yet. No. It couldn’t be... but it was. Even if it hurt his every juncture, the blond was quick to get back on his feet, back straight, chin up. “Corporal.” He called, eyes fixated on the other man’s back. Clearing his throat, he just spoke louder. “Mason.” He was there, alive... on his own two feet. How come no one told him about it? Yes, he had heard of the new member, in recover... why did no one call him, let him know it was his commander? Maybe he was delirious. Maybe he was truly hallucinating. “Conners...?” He could feel the rim of his eyes, burning, his lashes heavy with frost but warm tears welling up in his eyes. He barely did, if ever. He hadn’t... but there was a turmoil of emotions flooding within him at that moment. When you lost everything, and everyone, seeing someone come back was a miracle. It was safe to say he believed in those now.  

→ @diemreynolds​ 

[sergeantjhart]

The man couldn’t help but let his eyes stray towards the window once again, watching as the sheen of white appeared to be never ending and blinding. Going out there would probably be a stupid idea; disorientation a serious threat, not to mention an even higher risk of hypothermia or frost bite than normal. But now might be the time to brave it - especially if it was going to continue on like this for an undetermined amount of time. In retrospect Mother Nature hadn’t been that awful until now. 

“Yeah, and yet it feels more productive than sitting here aimlessly,” he countered, turning back towards Rhys and giving him a half-assed smile. Pacing wouldn’t get him anywhere, he wasn’t wrong. But sitting still wasn’t his style, and he could venture a guess that it wasn’t Rhys’ either. “There’s only so much worth going out in that for. Checking on the others, divvying supplies, and that sort. You willing to brave it with me? Honestly I’ll probably do it either way when it comes down to it.” The others would need supplies and he needed to be sure Sora was alright. Sure, there were things out of his control - but there was still things he could do that didn’t involve sitting around on his ass.

[rhysdonovan-blog]

“I should’ve been named William...” It had absolutely nothing to do with their conversation. Rhys was good like that—he could find ways to distract others if only briefly, for their own sake. Jesse was a soldier through and through. It was hard not to be, not for those like them who had survived tempests in the field for as long as they had. Theirs wasn’t a choice for a few years or just for the money. It was a longtime commitment they had sacrificed too much for, given their heart and soul, led them here. “We’d be Billy the Kid and Jesse James.” Then it it him, frowning, remembering one assassinated the other. “Wait—” He started to detract his words, laughing.

As soon as the other suggested them leaving the cabin together, however, Rhys sobered up. “You know it.” He was quick to reassure his cousin. He’d be out there right after him the second the man stepped foot outside, as something told him Jesse would too if it was the other way around. “Are you sure you’re worried about the others and not just one person, now?” He teased lightly, a smirk on his face.

[felicityking]

     The cold was numbing. Every now and then, Felicity would have to reassess the situation she was in. Stop, inhale, exhale and think. Her dainty fingers felt as though they were about to fall off, the cold having it’s numbing effect to the maximum. A breath of condensed air left her near blue lips as Felicity stopped and thought about what she could possibly do to not feel so helpless. At the sound of the door, she glanced up. The door being open allowed a wave of air to enter the room, brunette locks flailing about as Felicity attempted to cover her face. Palm brought up to her eyes to shield, she could only hear the distant winds.

                              “Are you hurt?”

       Her thought process could only handle only tragedy at a time as the girl was even more afraid that she’d have to take care of someone’s life ( she was o n l y a trainee doctor. ) 

   “Can you please just… tell me what the plan is?”

[rhysdonovan-blog]

“Not yet.” Rhys was quick to reply as he made it to where Felicity was, a soft curve on his lips as he tried to muster up some humor. It didn’t help much that most people in the cabin kept pacing around from side to side, frowning, oozing worry and distress, frustration. Like him, they couldn’t stand the notion of being stuck inside, impotent, useless. Then there were the others who didn’t need to witness this reaction from them but instead tried and be distracted from their outcome. 

Rhys tried, offering the brunette a smile, taking a seat next to her, shoulders touching before he leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees, head turning to take a better look of the woman beside him. He had no answer to his question. There was no plan. They could just try and make their rations last as long as possible, and pray, to whatever deity they all believed in, that this blizzard would just pass by. “First, it’s too soon to have you this worried. It’ll be okay. I promise.” He spoke confidently. “There’s just one plan and that is to split these rations evenly for as long as we can, use only the absolutely necessary and no more. Help us find the best formula to do that?” Perhaps if he got her busy she’d worry less. He certainly hoped so. Rhys hated to see her like this. “Fel?” Leaning in her direction, softly bumping into her to catch her attention, the Royal Marine waited for a response.

[dylkincaid-deactivated20210906]

Her gaze lowered and examined the man before her in order to satisfy her worry. His sentences seemed clear, a little too clear for her taste, and while his lips seemed to turn blue – nothing appeared a dangerous shade of purple. Yet. Diem knew time, as much as the storm, was their enemy. It was only a matter of time before their systems began to shut down and a nap would seem a little too appealing. Even their layers of clothing could not protect them from the blinding freeze that accompanied the storm. He was right. She had been foolish, but she would never admit such a thing to him. Not when her pride was questioned. In all truths, Diem had felt more like a caged animal inside of that cabin with those other people who only knew how to panic and speak of the worst. If the cold was what she needed to face to get away from them, she would head out into the storm willingly. To help didn’t seem like an half bad idea either, though at this moment – she knew how lucky she had been to stumble upon someone else.

Her gaze narrowed and her shoulders squared, unable to give much more movement than that for her limbs felt like they had turned to ice. “Probably the same reason you’re outside, Donovan.” she quipped, her body shuddering beneath the weight of layers. There wasn’t anything she could do to prevent those that had wandered out from seeing how her small frame shook even though she was resilient to continue and would decline any and all help from others. Blind stubbornness would one day get her killed, she remembered her father saying as she hung from the monkey bars as a child and no matter how hard her arms shook –she refused to jump down for she needed to beat a record. “How the fuck is it not safe for me when you’re out here?” Her gaze narrowed and chin jutted out stubbornly. With a deep breath, Diem nodded her head in agreement though remained annoyed by his words. “We should get in soon, and while it’s kinda cute that you’re so worried about me — I don’t need a prince charming, baby. I would have been fine.” Her eyes met his for a brief moment before they landed on the ground, afraid that he would see through her lie.

[rhysdonovan-blog]

“Oh, I doubt that, darling.” Rhys wasn’t entertaining her now. Contrary to their usual banters and bickering games, he had no strength to fall into that kind of interaction at the moment. He needed to save all the energy to take another step, to keep his mind from wanting to make his entire body give in to the cold and the exhaustion and plummet on that thick bed of snow. True, he had no ulterior reason to leave the cabin but for his own stubbornness and the lucky chance that Tobias was there and gave him an excuse to follow him out into the blizzard, if not because he couldn’t stand to be locked in that cabin any longer then at least to have his camp leader’s back in case something happened.  No man left behind. 

Still, he noticed her shuddering frame, the lack of color in her cheeks. Are you bloody insane! He wanted to yell at her, his eyes doing all the screaming instead as she tried to turn the tables on him. He was trained to withstand great dangers. Sure, they all were, by now, if they had managed to live this long, but it was his job to stay alive. For a moment, Rhys simply mirrored her expressions, same squared jaw, jutted chin, slightly annoyed features—if only the cold wind would let it go to its full extent. The wool-knitted hat he wore under the hood of his thick winter jacket felt as though it had frozen there on his head, on his hair. “I’m not Prince Charming, sorry to disappoint, but I’ll agree.” He offered, painfully reaching an arm to her shoulder and turning her around to follow him. There was a cabin nearby, not his; not hers. It would have to do at least until they could get their body temperatures back to normal and risk another trip outside to make it to their respective cabins for the sake of not tiring rations and risking others’ survival. “You just need some bloody common sense right now.” He added, walking towards the building, not moving his hand from where it had settled on the woman because visibility was not something they could enjoy in this weather and it was safer this way, ensuring she didn’t wander away and got lost in this blasted weather. “You and me both, it seems.” Rhys muttered, knocking against the hardwood door of the cabin—Second Cabin—, the act alone leaving a stinging pain on his knuckles, not daring to release his fist as his fingers ached too much. He knocked again, a bit louder this time. It was only when he heard the locks being turned, somehow the sound letting him know they weren’t exactly going to die out there, that the man smirked and the faintest chuckle escaped him. “I’ve seen girls run after me before, never one risked their life on a blizzard to get my attention. You’re raising the bars, Reynolds.” 

[sterlingsinclair-deactivated202]

Breathing in the air through the filter of his scarf he listens to the environment of the cabin, to the shifting of wood underfoot and under the caress of the blizzard’s wind. Forcing his gaze forward, back out the window to the world beyond; with the weather only starting it’s assault he imagined it would become a louder one. Without the airplanes, traffic, and technology; the world was so quiet. Shut up inside, every breath is a symphony. Footsteps too loud. In the absence of the noise of civilization, the noise of man was a symphony. 

Brows furrowed a fraction he nods by way of agreement. Yes. Stillness is no good. Being idle, is no good. “Der Teufel macht die Arbeit für müßige Hände.”

Hands still as though in agreement, grip unkind. He’s uncertain which he is, brave or stupid. He’d never been brave not that he could say; stupid was human. Everyone had been stupid in life. Squinting out towards the world he pretends to consider, which column he was or what answer he had to give. What did he think of this? “Unexpected.” he says simply “Never know. Did not think…age of snow, did not expect so cold—so long.” 

Maybe he ought to go out. Make himself busy, men like us, men like us. He didn’t think he was a man in such a caliber of Rhys. But he didn’t dare speak such, his mouth knew not kind words and instead he nods towards the door “Out. I will go out.” and he lifts his mouth from the scarf “Rations. Fewer mouth to feed.”

[rhysdonovan-blog]

Rhys didn’t know much German, just enough to go by, whatever he had been able to pick up whenever they were stationed in that country. It had been a while since he had to use any of it and his ear was no longer as trained or sensitive to the language, unable to make out what Claus would say every now and then but for a few, distinct words. It didn’t matter. If tone was enough for him to agree with the other man, the Royal Marine nodded. He figured they couldn’t be too far off when it came to their sentiments towards this new card climate was playing them. 

“No one did, mate. No one did.” He chimed, voiced rid of any amusement. There had been some who tried to warn them, everyone, about this turn of events. Rhys wasn’t sure his generation, any of the men and women caught here in this camp today, would’ve been able to prevent any of it from happening. Most people didn’t think the Big Freeze would happen, or at least not in the immediate future. Although many had tried to do something about it, the world, almost in its entirety, had been taken unprepared, unaware, and they were at Nature’s mercy. 

“You sure?” Rhys didn’t try to stop him, still leaning against the windowsill with arms now crossed over his chest as he looked back over his shoulder, past the window’s glass and towards the storm brewing outside. He only frowned when Claus mentioned the rations. Here he was more worried about the firewood lasting them long enough, food they could go without for a bit longer. “You can’t stay out there too long. If you’re going, make sure you know your way back or I’ll have to go search for your sorry arse...” He wasn’t planning on leaving his men behind—that’s just not how he functioned. “We’ll get more rations if we have to.”

[sterlingsinclair-deactivated202]

Withdrawing back from the window, a minor sidelong glance towards the other guard as he lapses back into his silence. Yes. Good question, what would he do? Be cold, have snow in his hood and down his back. Constantly blinking through the flurry and yearning for a pair of wrap-arounds that he’d yet to luck out on with the scouts. Not that he’d approached them. Questions were funny business. “My post is…out.” he says lamely with an almost internal grimace and he holds the rifle close, gloved digits dancing up the barrel to occupy and otherwise keep himself…grounded. 

“I am not good,” he says carefully “Inside. Not good.” he tosses a look of minute frustration towards the blond “How are you…with the inside?” he nods towards the others; conversations far from his strong suit; he couldn’t opt for silence during a tragedy–this was merely one of many to come he was sure and he burrows deeper down into the thick scarf around his neck. 

[rhysdonovan-blog]

Rhys doesn’t move from the window when the other starts to walk away. His eyes linger there, staring at the mist of white, unable to see anything past a few feet from their location. The snow was heavy and getting heavier, visibility was not something they’d enjoy out there. He understands Claus, though, entirely, nodding as the man keeps talking in his thick German accent. “Not very good either, mate.” He admitted, turning to lean against the windowsill as he looked from Claus to the others and back again. “Men like us—” Rhys nods between them, including him in the asseveration despite the lack of military training in the other. “We don’t find it easy to sit down and do nothing. We like to think we can do all and not much can hurt us.” In truth, their training had made them believe that, even prove it for so long, their mere existence to this date enough to show for how good they were at surviving. 

“But there’s a fine line between being brave and being stupid.” He added. Rhys was sure he’d step out side, and soon. Better to do it now than before it was too late, and something told him he wasn’t going to be the only one from his cabin to do the same, even if that made them all do something stupid. “What do you think?” He motioned subtly with his chin to the window, meaning the weather. “Will it last long?”