Dark Snow

Chapter 8: The Thawing Snow

Thin streaks of dawn seeped in through the worn cracks of the carriage walls, casting faint rays of light over the wooden interior. Outside, the first murmurs of morning stirred faintly—an owl's distant call, the whisper of a breeze weaving through brittle branches.

Lucas woke slowly, drifting in and out over the course of twenty minutes. The first time, he shifted slightly but felt a weight on him and dozed off again. The second time, he moved his overheated arm. By the third, his eyes fluttered open.

Mia lay half on top of him, half off, her arms loosely wrapped around his shoulders and her head nestled against his chest for warmth. She was still asleep, a quiet sleeper—no snoring, no heavy breathing.

He groaned softly, feeling the weight of her body pressing into him—uncomfortable yet warm, oddly safe. It was a strange sensation, almost unfamiliar. He tried to sit up but found he couldn't, so with a sigh, he gently shifted Mia to his right, careful not to wake her.

As Lucas moved to exit the carriage, a hand grasped his, making him pause. He glanced back, startled, his tired eyes landing on Mia. Though her eyes were still closed, she had reached out instinctively.

"Not yet," she murmured, patting the floor beside her. Lucas hesitated but eventually lay back down. As he did, she draped an arm around his torso, burying her face into his side. She mumbled something softly, but it was inaudible, causing his skin to tingle.

He couldn't remember the last time he'd woken up beside someone, let alone been held with such casual warmth. It felt... unsettling, grounding. Against his better instincts, he settled back down, as if fearing any sudden move would dissolve the moment.

"Mia..." Lucas murmured, breaking the silence. The scent of damp earth and aged wood lingered in the air. "We need to get moving... sun's almost up."

She stirred, lifting her head slightly. Strands of blonde hair clung to her face, while others hung down, framing her features. She shifted to the right, hovering just above him. "Don't wake me up..." she grumbled, leaning in, her face mere inches from his.

"Uh..." Lucas stammered, catching the faint scent of mud and earth from her.

A light smile played on her lips. "I'm only kidding," she whispered, teasingly. Her hand found his shoulder, giving it a light squeeze as she settled her chin just above his collarbone. "You're tense, you know that?" she murmured, barely awake. "Relax, Lucas... the sun isn't going anywhere."

"Yeah, well..." Lucas replied, placing a hand on her back. "My brother is... come on."

Mia pouted, letting her body go limp on top of him. "But it's so warm in here..." she mumbled.

"It is..." he agreed, giving her side a gentle poke. To his surprise, she was ticklish and jumped back with a start.

"Don't—" she warned, moving away and giving him a mock glare, which allowed Lucas to finally sit up. "...do that. Ever."

Lucas raised an eyebrow as she scooted back against the carriage wall. "Do what?" he asked, lowering his voice as he brought his hands closer.

"Lucas..." Mia deadpanned. "If you tickle me, I'll tear your dick off."

Lucas blinked, momentarily caught off guard by her bluntness. He couldn't help the laugh that escaped him; there was no one quite like Mia.

"Don't laugh, idiot." Mia flicked his forehead before scrambling out of the carriage. Lucas followed, glancing around at the farmland. The snow had mostly melted, leaving the ground damp, likely from a light rain overnight. Can't believe the carriage kept us dry, he thought.