Before we fall

(Chp.9) In the Snow

Karl swiftly turned around to see what GC was poiting at, it was then he noticed a broad figure trudging through the blizzard that continued it's seemingly endless downpour of soft, unique snowflakes. He dident seem to care all that much befor turning around to see a look of sadness and pity spread across the little girl's face.

Karl then picked up GC, trying his best to distract her and ignore her silent pleas, he dident want to take another stranger into his house! However, the minut he had heard a soft sniffle come from the little girl he groaned with annoyance- setting GC down and walking twords the front door. To this gesture of kindness GC's pouting expression instantly switched to a proud and sly one, she knew exactly what she was doing and how to win over the hearts of most- in a platonic manner of course.

As Karl opened the front door he was instantly hit with the whirrling chill of the wind outside, he called out into the blizzard with the broad figure now passing by their house,

"OVER HERE! COME INSIDE!!!" Karl shouted, noticing the figure turning to him he began to flail his arms in the air- aggressively calling the stranger twords himself.

Once the stranger made his way through the storm Karl could get a better look now that he stood right befor him. His hair was a shining blond that was tied back in a loose pony tail, he seemed to be rather strong- indicated by his muscles and he towered over Karl with a impressive height, though still not nearly as tall as Pablim.

"Oh my, thank you so much!" The stranger thanked the homeowner insistantly as Karl took the man's coat from him, allowing him time and space to take off his boots- placing them beside the front door with the others. Once finished, the man held out a hand for Karl to shake, only now introducing himself.

"The name's Simon! Thank you again- I was on my last limb out there." The man said with a chuckle. Noticing Karl declined the hand shake he withdrew his own akwardly. Come to think of it, where were this kids parents? He looked far to young to be living all on his own. That's when he noticed an even smaller child stirring from the bottom of the stair case- he couldent help but stare as she battled to push her far too overgrown bangs out of her face. Once she had succeeded she almost instantly returned his gaze, walking up to him full of confidence and extending her hand from him to shake.

"GC! I thought I asked you to stay in the back." The boy whom had let Simon in whisper shouted at the little girl, though she pretended not to notice. He bent down and shook the girl's hand, introducing himself as he did so.

"Nice to meet you little one, what's your name? I'm Simon!" He spoke in a childish tone of voice, to which the girl stayed silent. Perhaps she was shy, though that dident seem the case by the way she had ran up to him. The boy, whom now stood behind Simon, spoke up instantly. Almost as if replying for the little girl.

"That's GC, and I'm Karl. Mind telling us what you were doing out there in the cold?" Karl spoke with a short and direct sentence, walking infront of the small girl in a seemingly protective manner. Simon then rose to his feet, stretching his back abit befor responding,

"Just trying to find some shelter from the storm, seems like it'll never end!" He then proceeded to try to break the tension in the dimly lit room with poor small talk.

"Say, where are you parents?" He quickly added on, only now taking in the physical state of the two befor him. The boy had a bandage holding in place a gauze over his eye, a few bruises and scratches aswell but one could blame such things on childish play- not that this kid looked as if he participated in such things. Next to him, the smaller girl had a bandage wrapped around her neck and many bruises accompanied by quite a few of scratches and scrapes. He wondered why theese kids looked so- beaten when the boy, Karl, had responded to Simon's previous inquiry.

"We don't have parents, nor are we siblings. Look, are you going to sit around all day asking questions or are you going to allow me to show you up to your room." Karl responded, a look of annoyance plastered across his face and low patience flowing in every word he spoke.

"Ah yes! Teribly sorry, I dident mean to poke into your personal life- and thank you once more, for letting me stay here that is." The man spoke, following Karl as he walked up the stairs- Karl's footsteps being rather small and shakey. As Karl opened the door to the small guest room he stepped back, allowing their guest to enter befor shutting the door- right as Simon was about to speak. Not caring what so ever if he was being rude.

As Karl reached the bottom of the stairs he looked outside the front window with a sigh,

"Simon probably won't be out of our house by tomorrow... How am I expected to feed and clothe another person when I can barley provide for us?! Not that that's your fault though, I apologise GC- I don't mean to trouble you." Karl groaned as he knelt down to GC's level, since she had now walked over to Karl- concerned for him. Theese were issues a young boy like Karl shouldn't be burdened with, he knew that but the simple awareness of it doesent make it go away- Karl also begrudgingly knew that. Karl lead the two back over to the small sofa and away from the window where he took his seat after helping GC into hers. He looked over at the little girl with a troubled expression, he looked remorseful almost?

"Hevan knows we can't afford to skimp on food, I can go on just fine but you- I don't know." GC was infact rather malnourished but that dident mean she couldent afford to skip a meal or two, she was used to that! Though- that's not what Karl ment at all, he dident want her to ever have to do that again. But with this new man in the house things were starting to look that way. Karl would rather let that man starve than take food GC looked as if she needed so desperately away from her- though GC would never let him do that.

Karl let his mind spiral a little while longer befor feeling something small land on his side. He looked over to see GC had fallen asleep, he smiled lightly- this was his issue to worry about and his alone. He then took off the rather impresive cape that had lain upon his shoulders and gently laid it over GC's sleeping figure. He dident dare move a muscle in fear that he might wake her, so he was to sit that way for the rest of the night- a peaceful night indeed.

Word count: 1215