C
Cotillion
Guest
Original poster
[DASH=yellow]Joseph trudged through the snow towards the farmhouse, Cosmina held tightly in his arms. The decision to carry her had been a simple one. She was starting to fall behind, her shoes getting caught in the deep snow, slowing her down, freezing her feet. Together they would be able to share bodily heat, and the energy exerted in carrying Cosmina would help warm Joseph up. It also gave Joseph a chance to hold her in his arms, something the mission had never allowed him to do.
The cold crept up his legs, having already conquered his feet. It was almost unbearable to continue walking, but he had to get them to shelter before they froze to death. It was a testament to Cosmina's willpower that she had made it this far in those shoes, and Joseph admired her for it. Only several hundred more feet to go. Joseph struggled to decide where to go: the barn, which wouldn't be as warm but offered them privacy, or the farmhouse, which would be warmer but its tenants would surely ask questions. He opted for the former.
To his surprise, the barn had been unlocked. Joseph pushed the door open, relieved to finally be out of the cold. He lowered Cosmina to the ground, and looked in to her eyes, a tinge of regret on his face; he had enjoyed acting the hero, however brief it might have been. He took his surroundings in. The barn was large, with hay strewn about the floor, a ladder leading up in to the rafters to a hay loft. It would be warmer up there, and would be a good place to hide should anyone come investigate the barn. He motioned to the ladder, "you should sleep up there. It'll be warmer. I'll stay down here keeping watch."
She started to say something, "Joseph..." but he interrupted her, "Joe. Call me Joe. The time for formalities has passed."[/DASH]
The cold crept up his legs, having already conquered his feet. It was almost unbearable to continue walking, but he had to get them to shelter before they froze to death. It was a testament to Cosmina's willpower that she had made it this far in those shoes, and Joseph admired her for it. Only several hundred more feet to go. Joseph struggled to decide where to go: the barn, which wouldn't be as warm but offered them privacy, or the farmhouse, which would be warmer but its tenants would surely ask questions. He opted for the former.
To his surprise, the barn had been unlocked. Joseph pushed the door open, relieved to finally be out of the cold. He lowered Cosmina to the ground, and looked in to her eyes, a tinge of regret on his face; he had enjoyed acting the hero, however brief it might have been. He took his surroundings in. The barn was large, with hay strewn about the floor, a ladder leading up in to the rafters to a hay loft. It would be warmer up there, and would be a good place to hide should anyone come investigate the barn. He motioned to the ladder, "you should sleep up there. It'll be warmer. I'll stay down here keeping watch."
She started to say something, "Joseph..." but he interrupted her, "Joe. Call me Joe. The time for formalities has passed."[/DASH]