Gemoira

two

Lit by a single candle, the cave was my only solace. Considering it was literally a natural cave, the single doorway kept away most of the cold. Nobody broad enough would fit through the pathway. It was tall too, and although I did not know how tall I was, it was at least another me on top.

The sleeping area was in the far corner; two 'beds' propped up against the wall, covered in various fabrics and animal furs I had sewn together. There was a divider separating the bed area that we had crafted from various branches and vines.

The living space was nothing too special. A few years ago, Neo had found some scattered furniture with broken legs in the river. He took them, and we built some seating out of the wood and cushions that were left. There was a fur rug too, made from a deer that Neo once hunted.

We had no bathroom. Being technically illegal people, we washed and relieved ourselves in the elements. This was great during summer, but in winter I would rather grow an ecosystem in my hair.

Stepping inside of the living space, I was about to plop myself down on a chair when shuffling came from behind. I had no strong senses to alert me to an intruder, so the moment I heard the noise, I froze. I cocked my head as I listened, taking in the way they walked until it clicked that it was only Neo.

I had beaten him here. Maybe he wouldn't have a go at me for being so close to sundown.

"Ziana! You cut it close tonight."

Never mind.

I groaned, moving to collapse into the chair. It creaked with my weight, and I propped my head up with my hand to stare up at him. He entered the room with a deep-set scowl, his eerily yellow eyes narrowed down on me. One thing about Neo I used to struggle with was how vibrant his eyes could become when annoyed; it was creepy. He had his long blonde hair tied back today, but I could see the flakes of dirt atop his head.

"I made it back in time for sunset." I shrugged, giving him a lazy smile.

Neo's scowl didn't soften as he walked toward the dining area. He was usually quiet in his movements, his tall, toned body capable of being lithe. He wasn't the broadest of men, with a build similar to the fae, but I knew he was strong. Also, being about a billion inches tall helped.

He sighed heavily and placed something on the table. I raised my head curiously, wondering what was inside his handmade bag today. Glancing at me briefly from the corner of his eye, I noticed how his lips twitched in the corner. Reaching inside, my curious words died on my tongue when he pulled out some thick furs.

"Where did you get those from?" I jumped up from my chair.

He chuckled softly, stepping to the side to allow me to get a better look. "You really want to know?"

He knew my hesitation about harming animals without purpose, but with winter coming, I had to suck up my pride. In his hands lay three or four different pelts, already clean and cut, all with similar light brown fur with dark spots and lines.

"It looks like deer?" I mumbled.

Neo nodded. "It's what I caught this weekend."

My eyes widened at his admission. "Only four? You're slacking."

He scoffed at my teasing, pushing me away by the side of my head. I laughed as he walked away, moving toward the fire pit in the living area. He set down his bag before grabbing the bucket of wood and sticks for the fire. I trailed my hands along the fur, knowing I would have to sew these together so we could each have a person-sized blanket.

"It's getting cold. We needed more." He admitted. "I didn't just leave them to die. I have brought meat and even some bones."

My nose wrinkled at the mention of bones. Last time he hunted, he cleaned and carved them to make a leg for our current dining table of mismatched wood. It was inhuman to me, but Neo was an excellent hunter. Plus, he was part animal.