Drift (Savage Opress x Reader)

Chapter 2: A Glimmer of Hope

The light of the sun shone brightly across the expanse of the golden-bathed meadow.

Sounds of faint chirps, and buzzing littered the atmosphere, no doubt coming from the large array of native critters, scurrying throughout the sunny grasslands of this outer rim world.

Sweet smells of dew-dropped honeysuckle hung delightfully throughout the air. Its fragrance, a reminder of the sweet summer fruits and flowers this planet lay bare.

It was peaceful... serene.

Glimpses of the old twisted tree swayed solemnly within the field's gentle breeze, its honey-colored leaves floating through the warm air as wondrous light and shadow cast through it's rocking branches, dancing across the bare ground beneath.

These beautiful days would stretch all the way through the evening to even more beautiful nights. The stars twinkling like diamonds and the moon hanging high in the sky, cutting through the blackened abyss and shining bright across the plain beneath.

The sound of Laughter and the crackling of a campfire hung in the air as the touch of a gentle breeze drifted melancholy across the darkened valley.

Faint howls and yaps can be heard off in the distance as well as the recurring songs of the nighttime crawlers; a testament to showcase the abundance of life after sundown.

But what happens when nature is tested? Does tranquility hold its course? Or does it yield and surrender itself to the treacherous embrace of death?

Chaos...

The warmth turned to scorching heat. Flames licked at the edges of the vision, which only held unto smog-filled skies and blackened foliage, consuming everything within its wake.

Less for a single prairie flower, Its petals singed and riddled with grief, alone and afraid, drifting within an uncaring void.

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Reality seeped back into your consciousness like a blast of icy wind bursting against bare skin. As fast as you had fallen asleep, you were now suddenly awake, reaping the consequences of dozing off.

You looked around the desolate confinements of the ship, still a bit groggy from your deep slumber. To your relief, the heater was still running, its battery-powered engine buzzing, radiating a soft glow that still brought a certain warmth to your soul. But... your vessel was noticeably colder now. Actually, It was significantly colder.

You could feel the frigid air piercing through even the thickest of your blankets, their uninsulated fabrics now truly meeting their match.

You shiver uncontrollably as the all-too-real realization crept over your mind. It was just too cold and it will no doubt get even colder soon. If that were to happen, and surely it would, there is no telling how much longer your body would be able to keep this up. Even if you did survive, you would probably be walking away with severe hypothermia. That's... disheartening.

You sit upwards, looking down at the small space heater once again, and reach out towards it, finding the small knob on its side. This is old school. When your fingers finally reach their target, you attempt to turn the knob, hoping to at least slightly crank up the temperature. It didn't budge... kriff.

As you lift yourself back up and settle back into your cocoon of blankets, their embrace bringing you much less comfort than they once had, your attention is drawn towards the cockpit windows.

Among the muck that stained the outside, no doubt kicked up from your last landing, you could see sheets of ice and frost beginning to form across the edges of the viewing panel, the crisp particles sparkling against the faint, pulsating light.