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The fog rolling through the trees is cold and unsettling; obscuring their vision & making it impossible to see if they are being followed. The unit moves forward slowly, exhausted from the long miles and emotional toll the last few days have offered. Tally and Nicte lead the group, using their sight to compensate for the fog's thick veil.
Scylla holds Raelle’s hand tighter as they pick their way through the undergrowth. It feels like they’ve been walking for days and Scylla can feel the straps of her backpack digging into the flesh of her shoulders. She glances to her right, Raelle trudging along beside her. Her energy levels seem to be plummeting by the minute and Scylla notices the deep circles that have formed under her eyes.
“Hey- you okay?” She asks anxiously
Rae’s eyes shift to hers, tired but filled with love.
“Yeah- yeah. I’m good” she says with a smooth smile, but Scylla can see the lie. She unclasps their hands and slips Raelle’s backpack from her shoulders.
“Scyl-“
“It’s okay. Let me take it for a little while” She says as she slings the bag over her free arm.
The bag is heavier than she anticipated and she sags slightly under the extra weight. Memories from her childhood dance across her memory. One in particular surfaces, a night similar to tonight, foggy and cold. Scylla must have been about 8. They had been running for days, trying to lose the marshalls and get to the next dodger encampment. Her mother had taken the extra bags so Scylla could ride on her father’s back, her short legs exhausted from the miles they had already put in. She remembers feeling safe, his musky scent filling her senses. Scylla shakes the memory from her and slides an arm over her girlfriend's shoulders.
“We’re almost there, love. Just a little further.” Scylla whispers, pressing a kiss to Raelle’s temple.
“Thank you” Raelle shivers and tucks herself closer.
Three quarters of an hour later Nicte & Tally finally stop, throwing their bags on the ground.
“This is it for tonight” Nicte says
“I’ll get to work on the wards, someone pitch the tents” she mutters as she shrugs off to the tree line.
Scylla slides the bags off her burning shoulders and Rae plops down on top of them, clearly spent. Crouching down in front of her, Scylla folds Rae’s hands in her own, shivering at the cool touch.
“Rae- you’re freezing” she says, noticing the icy puffs of breath forming from her own words. The end of November in the cession is colder than she remembers and by the feel of it, they’re in for a chilly night. Realizing none of them have eaten much that day, Scylla rummages around in her bag and fishes out a box of granola bars.
“Here” she says, handing one to Rae and then setting the box on the ground.
“Help yourselves.. I think that’s dinner” she winces, looking around the small group.
Never in a million years had she imagined she’d be on the run with this lot. Scylla grabs a bar for herself and settles down next to Raelle. They chew in silence before Scylla rises and grabs a tent from the pile.
“Scyl-” Raelle breathes “I-”.
“It’s okay. It’s okay, I’ve got it” Scylla looks over her shoulder and catches Tally’s eye. “Just finish your bar. It shouldn’t take long”
“I can help! ” Tally says, her eyes catching on Raelle’s slumped figure.
Scylla nods at Tally and whispers “Be right back- ok?” giving Rae’s hands a little squeeze.
Tally and Scylla get their two tents set up quickly. Tally tosses Scylla a sleeping bag from a small brown duffle Mac had given them back at the Dodger compound. The memory sends a quilty pang through Scylla’s core. The thought of having burned that bridge, after everything he’d done for her family in the past…
“What’s going on with Raelle?” Tally asks, pulling Scylla from her guilt.
“I-uh” Scylla glances back at Rae, slumped against the backpacks “I don’t know. Just worn out from the day maybe..”
“Mmm- It’s not like her though” Tally says
“I know..” they exchange worried looks
“Don’t worry…I’ll take care of her tonight.” Scylla says
Tally smiles and places her hand on Scylla’s shoulder “I know” she says, giving her a small squeeze before unzipping a tent and slipping inside.
Scylla bends down and picks up the half empty box of bars and tosses them back in her bag. She feels two arms snake around her from behind, pulling her in close. Despite all her concerns Scylla can’t help but smile into the embrace.
“Hey you” she turns, wrapping her arms around Raelle. “Feelin’ better?” she quirks
“Hmm…” Raelle’s cool lips press lightly against Scylla’s. Humming into the kiss she pulls Raelle closer. Nimble fingers work their way under the hem of her hoodie, causing goosebumps to prickle over Scylla’s stomach. She gasps, flinching away from the chill
“Come on Casanova... Let’s get you warmed up.” Scylla laughs, snatching their bags up and leading Raelle into their small, green tent.
There isn’t much room inside, barely enough space to lay down side by side let alone stand. But the sleeping bag is thick and big enough for both she and Raelle to fit. They shuck away their damp outer layers and crawl inside. Snuggling close, Rae nestles into Scyl’s chest, tangling their legs together. Scylla shivers. The girl is ice cold.
“Jeeze Rae…” Scylla wraps her arms tighter around her
“we need to get you a warmer coat baby. You’re freezing.”
“Coats okay.. I just think I’m coming down with something… I feel… off” Raelle says, snuggling closer. “I’m so.. tired” she yawns.
Scylla threads her fingers through Raelle’s hair, massaging her scalp and letting the soft waves slip between her fingers. Raelle hums at her touch.
“I’ll grab some stuff tomorrow when I go into town, okay?” She can already feel Raelle’s sleepy breath against her neck.
“M’kay…” she trails off
They stay there for a while, tangled together, Scylla massaging slow circles. She’s almost certain Raelle has fallen asleep when she hears
“I love you, Scyl”
And she can’t help but smile, her heart skipping a beat in her chest. She leans down and kisses the soft, cool lips.
“I love you too” she whispers “Night baby”
“Night”
They pull the sleeping bag tighter around them and eventually drift off to sleep.
Scylla blinks her eyes open, blonde curls obscuring her view. Her arms are still wrapped tightly around Raelle and she tugs her closer, burying her face in Rae’s hair. They must have only been asleep for a few hours because it is still pitch dark outside. The air inside the tent is ice cold and Scylla tucks herself closer to Raelle who has thankfully warmed up since earlier. She’s just shy of drifting back to sleep when she realizes Raelle’s breaths are coming fast and shallow against her own chest.
“Rae.. RAE?” She whispers but Raelle doesn’t respond. Scylla hovers over her, turning her girlfriend's face in her hands.
“Raelle? What’s wrong?”
Raelle’s eyes flutter open; a glowing flicker dashing across ice blue orbs. Scylla frowns, holding Raelle’s face tighter she runs her thumbs over flushed cheeks.
“Raelle?” She asks again
The glowing flicker recedes.
“Sc-Scyl..?” Raelle grimaces as a sharp pain shoots through her core.
“...something’s not right…” she winces again as another wave rips through her.
“Okay. Okay.. It’s gonna be alright.” Scylla wraps Raelle in her arms, pulling her against her chest
“I’ve got you…. I’ve got you.”
Scylla starts to hum a song, one her mother used to sing to her when she was little. It’s laced with an old family seed, one of the few passed down through the Ramshorn line. It’s been years since Scylla has even heard it let alone sang it but miraculously it comes back to her without pause. The haunting tune reverberates around the small tent, growing louder as Scylla’s hands come to rest on either side of Raelle's face. She feels the link growing, the power between them flowing like an open current. Scylla snaps her eye’s shut, her brow furrowing as she focuses on channeling white, healing light through her hands and into Raelle. After a few more moments the song ends and the light behind Scylla’s eyelids starts to fade. She blinks her eyes open and is met with Raelle’s astonished gaze.
“Scyl. Wh-what was that? That was amazing..”
“Just a little Rhamshorn working my mom used whenever I didn’t feel well. Did it help?” Scylla asks, searching Raelle’s face for any lingering pain or discomfort.
“Uh...yeah. It did.” Raelle chuckles
“I feel a bit better.” She raises herself, looking into Scylla’s ocean eyes. Raelle shakes her head in amazement
“Thank you.” Her fingers catch Scylla's chin, pulling her closer into a soft kiss.
Scylla breathes a sigh of relief and despite her reservations she can’t stop herself from teasing her hands under Raelle’s tee and skimming her fingers over the soft skin there. She can feel the muscles contracting under her touch as she continues to glide them upwards. A slight moan escapes Raelle’s parted lips followed quickly by a yawn.
Scylla chuckles, a warm smile spreading over her features. Raelle’s hands are wrapped around Scylla’s face, fingers tangling in her hair.
“What?” Rae asks with amusement
Scylla bites her bottom lip, trying not to laugh.
“Rae… you need to rest.”
“Mm do not..” she says, fighting back another yawn. “My girlfriend fixed me up” she says leaning back in with a devilish grin but Scylla meets her half way and pecks her on the lips.
Her fingers are teasing just under Raelle’s breasts and she pushes her back ever so slightly.
“I’ll tell you what. Why don’t we sleep now and in the morning, when you’re feeling better” she raises her eyebrows “I’ll make it up to you, hmm?”
Raelle’s eyes blow wide
“You mean…?” she manages to squeak out
Scylla smirks at her “I do”
Raelle leans forward kissing Scylla deeply and then pulls back
“Fine” she scoffs with a smile on her face “I can’t say no to THAT”
Rolling to her back, Scylla bites back a smile and pulls Raelle onto her chest. They tuck back inside the sleeping bag, limbs tangling together, and peacefully drift back to sleep.