Lycanthropy and Me: The First Semester(mlm)

Day 70. Friday, Waning Crescent (Part Three)

Ashley and Notes headed into their tent, leaving Hunter and Grayson to head into theirs. If he had more energy, Hunter would have made some sort of joke about their sleeping arrangements, but Hunter was half asleep by the time the crawled back into the tent. Hunter switched on his phone's flashlight, illuminating the space. The chill had seeped into the insulation mat that lined the tent, making their sleeping bags less inviting.

Grayson retrieved another hoodie and a pair of sweats from his belongings, shrugging into them while Hunter zipped the tent shut. It was a futile attempt to keep the cold out, but Hunter figured they were better off without the frigid breeze. Hunter crawled back over to his own bag, retrieving a thermal to wear under his hoodie.

He slipped the hoodie over his head, ignoring the sensation of air hitting his skin, bringing him back to a more alert state. Tugging it off, he glanced over his shoulder at Grayson, who looked back at him.

"Oh my gosh," Hunter covered his bare arms. "Don't look at me, you peeping tom!" He hissed.

Grayson knew he was joking, but rolled his eyes and turned away, turning his attention back to the sleeping bag beneath him. But when he decided to look over again, he found Hunter somehow stuck with his head trapped inside his hoodie.

Suppressing a chuckle, Grayson crawled over to help Hunter ease his limbs back through his sleeves. Once free, Hunter gave him a scowl. "I thought I told you to stop looking at me." His voice was low, but with Ashley and Notes away in their own tent, there was no one around to hear them. No Arif, no other students milling about the dorm, no one appearing with random snacks--

"Was I supposed to let you suffer?" Grayson asked, fixing Hunter's beanie.

"Obviously." Hunter swatted his hands away.

"I'll remember that next time." Grayson leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. "Goodnight."

After they were settled into their sleeping bags, Hunter shut off his flashlight, cocooned himself in his sleeping bag, and tried to relax. The day's events replayed in his mind.

Eventually, he fell asleep. His only indication that he had, was Grayson's shivering and writhing, which brought him back to consciousness yet again.

With a yawn, Hunter turned his head, squinting in the dark. "Are you awake?" If he focused he could just barely make out Grayson's form in the dark.

He heard more shivering but no response, so he moved closer. "Hey."

Grayson turned around to face him. "You're not c-cold?"

"Eh." Hunter shrugged. "Hold on..." He squirmed around in his tent until he found the zipper. "I think I have another blanket."

Grayson turned on his flashlight. "I can get it..."

"Nope." Free from his bag, Hunter crawled out. "I'm already up."

Grayson unzippered his bag and sat up, rubbing his arms. Hunter returned, blanket in hand, but paused before handing it over. "I have an idea. But just...hear me out okay?" He glanced away.

"Oh...kay?" Grayson blinked.

"We should just...put the sleeping bags together and..." Hunter found himself unable to finish that sentence. Maybe it was something about being in the tent, isolated from the modern world, with no sounds but whistling wind, scratching branches, and dying rain. Something that was weirdly more intimate than all the times he had shared a bed with Grayson at the Marconi dorm.

Grayson's gaze was pensive, his face lit from the flashlight in his lap. "Share body heat, you mean?"

Hunter gave him an incredulous look. Why did you have to say it like that!?