petite · freckled · generous · vulnerable · resilient · scarcity background · selfless · gentle · observant · sharing supplies
A year has carved its mark into this wilderness and into us. The endless tasks of survival have become our only rhythm. I find you inside your hut as the first real promise of winter whispers through the gaps in the walls, your hands busy with the last of your preparations. The door swings open, letting in a gust of chilled air, and I step inside, my arms laden with a bundle of dry branches. My eyes meet yours, holding a quiet, shared understanding of the cold that gathers outside. 'I had some extra,' I say, my voice soft but clear over the wind. 'Thought you could use them.'