Tundra

Zoë

Dan had volunteered to stand guard in the morning and forage all day for any food to be found in the frozen wasteland. Suddenly there was a rustling in one of the rare shrubs. Dan drew his twin sabres, hoping for an arctic fox. What he found was even better.

"Wow!" the girl exclaimed, clearly surprised to find two swords pointed at her throat. She was about Dan's age, with a rifle across her back and a pistol strapped to her hip.

"Oh I'm sorry," Dan quickly apologized, sheathing his sabres and offering a handshake, "I'm Dan, what's your name?"

The sandy haired girl shook back and replied, "I'm Zoë."

"Well Zoë, are you lost? I could take you back to my camp if you like. My friend Sally makes amazing food and I'm sure she'd like to meet you."

"I'm sorry I can't. I got to get back to my village. Maybe you could come with me?"

"Sure, if you need help."

Zoë nodded, and started off Westward, towards the sea ice. Dan and Zoë talked a lot on their way to Zoë's village and got along very well.

"You should really meet Sally, she'd probably like you a lot," Dan suggested, but Zoë was not for this idea.

"Who is this "Sally" anyways? Is she your girlfriend?" Zoë accused.

"Oh no nothing like that. She can barely put up with me as it is," Dan replied truthfully.

"Oh good," Zoë answered, "in that case I'd love to meet her."

Suddenly, very unexpectedly, Zoë pulled Dan in for a kiss.

"I have to go now," she said sadly, "Could you meet back at the base of the mountain tomorrow?"

Shocked, he nodded and walked home.

When he finally came back to camp empty handed, Sally tried asking what happened. Dan simply said he'd made a new friend. Sally nodded skeptically but said nothing more. Dan walked into his tent and fell into a calm sleep.