Inside Your Heaven

Word Count: 6242

Maya's been out with Aasim most of the afternoon scouting for a hare or something. The bitter winter is nipping at her finger tips put she must stay alerted to find prey for the group to eat. She wishes she was back at Ericson warm by the fire. The wind howled at her back as more snow blew away her vision and she couldn't see. Maya reaches for the ends of her jacket and pulled it over her face as the winds started to pick up.

She walks toward Aasim, "Anything..." Maya huffed as it is getting more and more cold the more, she stays out in the cold.

Aasim looks, "No. We can't do anything in this blizzard."

"Shit.." Maya looks discouraged. She knew what she was signing on when joining Clementine and the rest of Ericson. "Well, I guess we are going to have to ration what we got. We can't do anything in this storm. Have to wait until morning when the storm clears." Maya yells over the howling wind.

Aasim looks at her, worried. He picks up the two dead rabbits and Maya leads the way through the storm. They traveled a bit put soon the familiar walls came into view and Maya opens ups the gate to let Aasim in as they walk across the empty courtyard that was lively a few months ago with the kids, but everyone is bunkered in. Even Omar is taking refuge near the dorms, and will only cook when it is not frigid out or storming like today. Aasim pointed to the cellar as that is where Omar dries out the meat, and everyone gets jerky on some cold days. Keeps the meat somewhat chilled and fresh.

Aasim looks to her, "I will let Omar know. You get inside, and warm up. Don't want the best hunter around here to get frost bit. I like having you as a partner for hunting. You haul in good finds." Aasim really means it.

Maya nods and looks to him, "Don't stay out too long, wouldn't want Clem to be down a man as well."

"I won't. Putting these hares on ice, and then getting the fuck inside and by my girlfriend's side." Aasim shivers. Maya nods and soon leaves Aasim to somewhat bury their catch as she turns in. It is still somewhat frigid in the halls of the dorms, but it is enough to block the harsh wind. Clementine and Aasim all agreed to have metal containers in each of the dorm rooms for a source of small fire pits in the school for a source of heat until the harsh cold days end.

Maya places the bow down near a window as snow and ice cover the flooring. They moved the weapons inside to keep the cold away from their weapons. Maya and Aniya help to make more with items they can find, and Maya's sister Aniya is good at turning stones, shaping them to be arrowheads, like back with their ancestry for better points for arrows, and when spring comes around, make better points to sphere fish. Spring seems a long way off as Maya knows it is well into early February. Some nights she can tell but the movement and shifting of the stars location.

Maya stood there a bit longer than she liked as Clementine comes out of her room looking at her, "Find anything?"

Maya snaps her gaze off of the bow and looks at her leader, "We managed to find three rabbits, but I'm afraid that is all Clem. We can't do anything until the winter storm passes us, and not so frigid out. Animals tend to seek shelter when storms are this bad, as they try to survive themselves. I wish I could do more." Maya looks down and hugs her father's tribal jacket close to her freezing-cold body to preserve heat.

Clementine comes close to the native girl and reaches out and touches Maya's cold hands. "You and your sister did plenty before the storm came. Don't ever think you didn't do enough. I kind of figured a harsh winter day would hit us, and without you coming into the group, I don't know how we managed. I was right to add you and your sister to the group. We needed you more than I realized." Clementine looks at her newest companion with admiration. Then she eyes Maya's eyes, "I might be rusty on early US history, but did your people in your tribe ever tell you how your ancestors lived before modernized technology."