#Stranded

[whumpacabra]

Stranded

On a deserted island; there’s no fresh water, no animals, and very little shade. How long will they last?

In space; there’s only so much oxygen left in her life pod. Does she risk waiting for rescue or activate an unreliable cryostaisis?

By a snowstorm; cut off from the roads and electricity, he’s trapped. Will he survive the frigid temperatures at night?

On the roadside; ze are left for dead, lost and disoriented. Can ze trust the stranger who’s offering zem a ride to town?

At sea; people trapped on a small life raft with other survivors. It’s only a matter of time until someone dies of dehydration and exposure - what will they do with the corpse?

[theender36]

This is about "Joy to the World" and "Stranded", respectively

[zemi-noelle-art]

LPS Custom #8: Centipede Alien Cat Inspired by the album cover for Stranded by Red Vox.

Done for the alien toy custom collaboration hosted by dolly_lolly_playtime on Instagram! ( #aliencustom23 )

This was one of my most complex repaints and sculpts yet! The design is inspired off of one of my favorite space themed songs, Stranded by Red Vox. Since the collab was alien themed, I thought it would be perfect to incorporate it as a motif. I also thought centipedes would help give the main design a unique look. (aaannnd the cat portion of the design is just because I only have shorthair bases left lol.)

I've actually made a "making-of" video for this custom this time! you can view the video below! https://youtu.be/sTc3RJpIFBQ

[todays-xkcd]

At least they're not alone down there.

Stranded [Explained]

Transcript

[Two astronauts, Megan and Cueball, are shown floating in the cabin of a space station, Megan near the top and Cueball near the bottom. Various miscellaneous devices and features are visible, all across the inner walls of the space station, as well as a large round window through which they can see some of the Earth's surface. Three white shapes are visible that could represent landmasses in a large body of water, bodies of water in/around a landmass or possibly weather systems.] Megan: Until they get another rocket ready to launch, 8 billion people are stranded down there.

[lostwhump]

@whumpril | Day #9: Stranded Supernatural - No Rest For the Wicked (3.16)

[linecrosser]

Whumpril 2025 - Day 9 - Stranded

Did he take the wrong turn? Was he forgotten? Was he left there?

[klausysworld]

Safety in the Darkness

She was an inconvenience to start off with. Klaus was fine to leave her to die, to survive on his own.

Until he saw his food source. There was no way the Klaus Mikaelson was going to survive on squirrels, fish and birds.

And so he found himself back at the edge of the island, sighing as he picked her up from the sand and carried her deeper into the wooded area. He cast glance back over his shoulder as he did so, looking to see if there was any sign of other survivors in the water but he knew it was pointless even looking.

This girl was his last chance.

Klaus laid her down on top of a pile of leaves, sighing as he wiped the sand from her forehead and looked at her face. Great. Silently he studied her. I'll make do.

Klaus rubbed his eyes, the stress making his mind spin as he pulled his jacket off, the heat starting to get to him. Perhaps it's a tropical island.

He fit the jacket under her head as a sort of pillow and pulled himself back up. His feet took him back to the river he'd located earlier. Carelessly he filled half an empty coconut with water and brought it back to the girl, sitting her up against him and feeding her it until she coughed awake.

The fear was instant, she was spluttering all over him and coughing her lungs up.

"Okay, okay. You're alright, I've got you." Klaus muttered, a lack of empathy in his voice but she was too frantic to notice as her hands latched onto his arm. "Good, there." He praised faintly.

Eventually she stopped crying and Klaus explained to her several times that the plane had crashed and he had managed to get them to land. It's a harmless lie. I need her to feel indebted.

And she did feel that way. Oh she was so thankful, hugging him so tight. Klaus had to stop himself from shoving her off; She's fine, just let her.

Now of course Klaus could have just compelled her to do exactly as he said and sit pretty whilst he fed off of her and that's exactly what he did. That lasted two days before he got bored and, heaven forbid, lonely.

She the compulsion was lifted and he calmly told her he was a vampire wolf hybrid.

Maybe she would have been more scared if she was back home but right now he was all she had, he'd saved her and he promised they'd be able to help each other. It was clear that he couldn't kill her, he needed her blood.

Now of course she was distressed, this time he was slightly more sympathetic to her tears when the realisation seemed to hit that everyone else on that plane had died. Klaus didn't ask if she was flying with anybody, the answer seemed too obvious from how she sobbed at nightfall when she hoped he was asleep.

The first week was hard, Klaus was running round trying to catch something meaty for her to eat. The fruits weren't keeping her energy and they were too risky, Klaus tried his best to know which were poisonous but he couldn't risk her dying on him and his blood would just bring her back as a vampire which wouldn't help either of them.

Somehow he hadn't even considered his wolf form.

Not until she was in danger.

She'd been in the water, her fingers trying to brush through soaked hair. Klaus close enough by to be a sort of lookout but was instructed not to look whilst she bathed. But...he was a man deprived and his eyes tended to wonder.

Even if it was only her back that he could see, occasionally he'd get a glimpse of her breast from the side.

He'd been in a little world of his own when he heard a stick snap. His eyes darted up and the sight of a bear approaching Y/N made him lurch forward.

On instinct she moved, running out of the water and scrambling through the forest but she was no match for a bear. Klaus reacted without thinking, his clothes torn and bones snapped.

Four paws raced across the dirt, teeth bared and throat roaring as he threw himself onto the large animal, desperate to tear it off her. Y/N's screams were carved into his brain, his wolf losing it and taking full control.

By the time he woke up he was in his usual form. He lifted his head, hearing broken sniffles and looking to see Y/N squished under a dead bear.

"Fuck." He whispered, getting to her and rolling the bear off. A lump formed in his throat at the deep wounds across her back. "Shh..." He soothed softly, real care starting to show as he pet her head. "Okay sweetheart, you remember my blood heals? Just a few gulps and it'll stop hurting." He reminded, his wrist at her mouth.

She was in his lap, shaking and looking round and round as if another one was just waiting for her.

Klaus caressed her lightly scarred back. The claws had plunged so deep and been left too long before being healed to disappear completely. He frowned slightly at the dirt and blood that coloured her. Poor girl, she just wanted to be clean.

After some time he held onto one of her hands with one of his whilst his other one dragged the bear by it's paw back to their usual spot.

Y/N had kept close to him, still naked and shaking with fear and shock from what had happened. Klaus was messing with his claws, focusing his energy into pushing them forward as he skinned the bear. With his clothes torn he needed decided to tan the hide until the animal's skin was wearable. He wrapped it around her first, She doesn't need to feel any more exposed.

The bear was large enough for the both of them. Once they were covered he sectioned out the meat, hesitant to feed her it incase it made her sick but also not keen to waste such an amount.

Sticks acted as skewers for them and he found himself pulling her into his lap, wary that there were predators on the island now. He'd thought it was inhabited with only harmless, pathetic little things but this had put him on edge.

Obviously not as on edge as Y/N was though.

Klaus had woken a few times in the night to find her hidden between him and a tree, staring out into the night with big fearful eyes. After a few days she was getting shaky, falling asleep without knowing it and waking up with a fright.

So Klaus had to help her feel safer.

"It's alright sweetheart, remember I'm going to be in wolf form all night long so nothing's going to touch you. My wolf doesn't sleep anyway so he'll be there to watch over you for every hour." He explained for the fourth time over as he wrapped some fur over her and pressed on her shoulder to keep her led down on her side.

"You promise?" She whispered, her eyes already drooping. She was so tired that she didn't even get to hear his response but deep down she knew that he wouldn't leave her.

And he didn't. Klaus stayed in wolf form, his large body wrapped around her. He was both a bed and a protecter that night and every other night after that. Occasionally his eyes would rest, his other senses still on high alert but he could relax for a few hours with just the smell, sound and feel of her so close to him.

His fur would puff out on his chest when she woke and nuzzled into him, her lashes fluttering as she moaned quietly awake. His head would turn down, his muzzle pressing to the side of her face and making her laugh at the cold sensation of his wet nose. In response his warm tongue would lick at her cheek, going behind her ear to make her squirm and giggle.

Occasionally his eyes would get heavier and his mind seemed to be blank of thought. His teeth would nibble gently at her skin, his tongue reaching down the length of her neck, tasting along her collarbone and letting out a soft rumble when her fingers tugged on his fur. She squealed when his snout went between her breasts and Klaus's thoughts seemed to flood back.

A lump formed in his throat and his eyes darted up, looking to see her slightly apprehensive expression. His hands gently stroke the fur of his back, round to his chest and up to his face, fingers combing the soft fluff.

"Thank you." She whispered, leaning down as he pulled himself up to reach her as she kissed the top of his head. "For keeping me safe."

In response he circled her, licking at her legs affectionately as she pulled herself up and looked around. "Lake?" She asked and he nudged her forward, letting her get a few steps ahead so he could turn back and appear behind her, arm wrapping around her waist and leading her to the water.

"You sure you want to go now? It'll still be cold so early." He reminded, looking at how the sun had only just spread across the forest floor.

"The fish won't expect us, maybe we can catch some." She shrugged and he hummed.

"Had I known we were hunting I wouldn't have turned back." He chuckled and kissed the side of her head. "Here I thought we were just bathing."

"We can do both." She laughed and he hummed in agreement as he stepped down into the water, letting it rise up to his waist before holding out his arms and helping her down.

"The river keeps getting higher." She mumbled with a small frown when the coldness lapped at her breasts.

"It's the seasons changing is all, love." He sighed and pulled her deeper with him, making sure she wouldn't submerge. Once it got over his shoulders she was starting to tread the water to keep above which always amused him more than he was allowed to admit.

“Klaus- stop going so far” She whined as he pulled her along with him, chuckling when she went under for a second. Y/N gasped and he spun her through the water until they were back near the shallower parts.

“See, now your hair’s clean.” He grinned, clearly proud of himself as she glared and huffed. “Come now love, don’t be mad. I only wish to help you become clean. Besides the fish will be in the deep end, didn’t you want to hunt?” He questioned innocently.

Y/N narrowed her eyes and splashed a burst of cold water at his face making him splutter.

It was times that those that they weren’t trapped on an island. They were simply together.

It had taken a while to get her back into the water after the bear attack but it was completely worth it. She was finally comfortable and happy, messing around and everything. It filled Klaus with an almost unfamiliar warmth.

He wrapped his arms round her, chuckling at her scream and holding her to him. They both panted as she clung onto his neck, her breasts brushing against his chests with each rise and fall. His eyes lingered on her lips for a moment, a small lump forming in his throat again.

It was almost scary how the weeks had passed. Sometimes it felt like it had dragged along, each day feeling like a week but times like this made him feel like it had all been a blink of an eye since he picked her back up from the beach.

And when he felt her lips of his he felt that it wouldn’t be so bad if they were there forever.

His hands slid up her bare back, cupping her face in his palms as he tangled his tongue with hers. The soft sound she made drove his wolf crazy, pushing himself to the surface and tugging her closer, encouraging her legs round his hips.

He’d spent too many days watching her bathe, wiping the dirt from her beautiful skin and carrying her back out from the water, resisting any urges to lick the droplets fresh off her. Too many nights holding his wolf back from mounting her. Too many nights having her right there and yet not being his.

Y/N cried out weakly against his mouth when she felt his cock nudging at her pussy. He moved to kiss her neck, letting her moan against his ear.

“Klaus…” she whispered, her eyes barely open.

“I’ve got you, love.” He mumbled, sucking a loving mark into her skin. “It’s just us.”

It always was.

So she didn’t have to worry about how her screams echoed between the trees, or who could see her when she yanked at his curls, pulling his head back and forth as though she got ride him stood up.

Her body was weightless in the water, snuggled up to Klaus as he calmed her back down and kissed her ear softly.

“We should get out, sweetheart.” He muttered, leaning his head against hers. “Before we start to prune.” He teased and she smiled.

Once say back at their little base and sun dried they fell into their usual chatter.

Conversation had become easier and easier. Whether it be about the past, the present or the future. Klaus had always believed that nobody truly knew him but with the sheer volume of information he’d shared with Y/N, sometimes he wondered if she knew him better than he knew himself. Just as he knew her so well that he had begun guessing what she was thinking and making her freak out when he got it right.

On an evening she’d sit in his lap as usual, both of them staring at the fire and rotating their sticks with whatever meat Klaus had managed to catch and any fruit he knew was safe for her.

When the moon hung up Y/N would pull her hair over one shoulder and Klaus would kiss at her neck before sinking his fangs down into the delicate flesh. The faintest of moans would leave her and he’d only become more ravenous for her.

But he wouldn’t take her then.

Instead he’d turn to his wolf and wrap back around her, keeping her safe and warm as the winter drew near. Even though he was quite sure that the bears had gone into hibernation, he still turned for bed now. Just incase.

Besides his wolf loved her.

He was always licking and nibbling at her skin, his tail wagging as she pulled herself into his fur.

Klaus seemed to lose his consciousness more and more often, his wolf taking over and enjoying as much as Y/N as she would let.

And gods did she let him.

Y/N couldn’t help it. Klaus’s wolf was her protecter, her warmth, her home in the darkest of nights.

So when his nose brushed against her nipple for the fifth time she helped him get a good taste of it. Her fingers encouraging them to harden so his tongue could encase each one and pull them into his mouth, suckling desperately.

Her hands would smooth his fur back, revealing his bright gold eyes and dark features.

His tongue would lick down her abdomen, lapping along her thighs until he was sure she was dripping with anticipation.

Y/N would whimper for hours with his muzzle between her legs, her thighs shaking and her body coated in sweat whilst his nose nudged her clit for the last time and making her squirt all over his face. His tongue would stretch to lick her taste from his fur before circling her body time and time again before settling back down for rest.

By morning Klaus would return to the front on his mind, only mildly aware of what happened in the night and a groan leaving him at the snippets of memories.

“I may never have my fill of you.” He mumbled, pulling her onto him as he pressed his mouth to hers. "I may crave you even when I have you." He kissed her cheeks and nose, "I may love you-" Klaus cut himself short, almost as if his mind had just caught up with his words and halted him. His face hovered over her shoulder, I love her.

The thought was so incredibly obvious. Of course he loved her. He protected her 24/7, bathed with her, slept beside her, hunted for her, fed from her. They'd been making love and yet somehow the verbal confession felt like more than anything they'd already done.

"I may love you too." She whispered, kissing his cheek as he would not turn to face her. Y/N reached to stroke his jaw gently, "I love you for saving me from the plane, for not leaving me on that beach, for feeding me each day, for saving me that time, for laying by me every night no matter the night terrors, for teaching me the gentleness of your touch and the ferociousness of your fire."

Her words were like arrows through his heart, striking him over and over until he was weak in her hold.

"You don't deserve to be trapped here with me." He uttered, his body circling her like he had learned to do. "Sometimes I fear you are but a hallucination, an angel to keep me sane whilst we're here. I could not have lasted this long without you, I'd have gone utterly mad."

"You were already mad." She teased lightly and he smiled, kissing the side of her neck. "I owe you everything-"

"You owe me nothing." His head shook and he pressed a short, firm kiss to her lips. "You may never owe me anything."

They laid for a while longer, his wolf staring to whine under the surface when the first drop of rain fell. Klaus had been trying to find a way off the island before winter hit.

He couldn't risk anything happening to her, which was ironic because at one point he thought he'd be better off alone.

(Sorry for the wait and sorry it’s not as smutty as we’d all like 😖 Really need to get back into the game guys)

[mcuamerica]

Stranded | Part Three

Featuring : Azriel x Fem!Reader, Eris x Reader (platonic), Rhys x Sister!Reader

Summary: Rhys is not happy when he finds out Azriel left you in Autumn. Requested by @sidthedollface2 here.

Warnings: 18+ only, description of ruined wings and skin scarring, canon level violence, mention of SA, not proofread (i'll do it later), let me know if anything was forgotten...

Disclaimer: I do not own SJM’s characters, only the ones I create for the purpose of this story. This is a work of fiction. I do not give permission to repost my work on any other platform or medium. Please be respectful.

Dividers from @saradika

Part One | Part Two

You stood on the side of the room, next to Mor, as Rhys let out all his anger on Azriel. You would’ve let him keep going, but you started to feel a tug in your gut, telling you to stop Rhys.

You looked at Cassian as he eyed you and you gave him a simple nod. “Rhys, stop. Please.” You said, but there was little pleading in your tone.

Cassian put a hand on Rhys shoulder as he pulled back, then stood up. “I will never forgive you for this.” Rhys said and stepped back. You were pretty sure Azriel was unconscious until you watched him sit up, holding his ribs.

“Neither will I.” Azriel said, not even looking up at Rhys as he walked out of the room.

You waited, watching as Cassian helped Azriel up and sit on the couch. “I’ll go get Madja.” Mor said.

Azriel face was completely swollen, his nose was broken, his ribs were probably as well… but you noticed as the small cuts slowly started to heal. “No,” Azriel said. You rolled your eyes, always wanting to suffer, he is.

“Don’t be ridiculous.” You said. “You’re no use if you can barely see or move.” You said and looked over to Mor, nodding your head so she could go get the healer. Quickly, Cassian went after Rhys and Amren disappeared. They must have known that you needed time to discuss by yourself.

“You could’ve fought back.” You said, leaning against the wall still.

“It was no use… I deserve it. I’ve been waiting for it for 50 years.” He said, peering up at you. His shadows circled your ankles, like incessant toddlers.

“Why did you leave me that night?” You asked.

“I-“ he started and then paused. “I didn’t think you wanted me watching over your shoulder the whole night. And Mor really was upset… I knew you could handle yourself if you got in trouble.” He said, then stopped at the words. “Why didn’t you go to the Moonstone Palace?” He asked.

“Because I didn’t want to go to the Night Court if Rhys wasn’t there.” You said. “And even after I thought it would make a difference, I quite liked Autumn.”

“With Eris?” He let out an animalistic, possessive growl.

You furrowed your eyebrows. “When he was there, yes. I enjoyed his company. He kept me safe.” You said, feeling the need to defend the male that had done nothing but be kind to you, shelter you, for the past 50 years.

“He’s a monster. What he did to Mor-“

“Mor hasn’t told the entire story.” You spat.

“He our enemy.” He said.

“Your enemy sheltered me from Amarantha for 50 years. Your enemy stopped me from being raped. Your enemy helped heal me when my wings were just about burned to ashes.” You said, walking closer to him. Azriel stood up as you made your way to him, wincing we he did so.

“He did it for his own gain. He’ll turn on you as soon as he gets the chance.” Azriel said.

You clenched your fists in your hands. “Eris has never turned his back on me. He has never left me. That was you. So tell me why I should trust you anymore than I should trust him?” You asked.

“He’s not your mate!” Azriel said. Your breath hitched, stumbling back away from him.

“I don’t have a mate.” You said, just above a whisper.

“Yes you do. I’m your mate. The bond snapped the night… everything happened.” He said.

You narrowed your eyes, tears forming as you shook your head. “My mate wouldn’t leave me in ‘enemy’ territory.” You said and took another step back when he went to step towards you. “You are not my mate.” You said, holding back a sob as you turned away.

“(Y/N)-“

“I need time, Azriel.” You said, then ran up the stairs towards your bedroom. There was only one place that you could clear your head and your thoughts.

You were going to Autumn.

Eris knew you were at the cabin the second you winnowed into it. He had wards set in place to make sure no one but you and him, and anyone you allowed in, could enter. He got your note, and hoped that you would return soon enough.

Once he got away from his father, he went straight to the cabin.

He was shocked to see you sitting on the couch, wiping away tears.

"What happened?" He asked. You didn't even flinch at his voice. You knew he was there. You hoped he would come so you could confined in him.

"Azriel is my mate." You simply said, sniffing as you wiped the tears that streamed down your cheeks. Ever since he said it, so much more of your life had made sense. Why you were always so drawn to him, more worried about him on missions than your brother or Cassian... Why you would always do anything to keep him from harms way. But did he feel the same about you? He had left you with your enemy, alone, without anyone to defend you. His mate. He left you. How could you ever get over that?

You told Eris what you were thinking, how it all happened. Once he sat down next to you, he rested a hand on your knee. "You don't have to accept it right away. Cauldron, you don't have to accept it at all. But if you want to work on it with him, you can." He said. "And if not, if you can't even stand to be around him, then you come here. And you hide away or act as emissary to the Autumn Court, but you'll be away from him. Whatever you need, (Y/N), I will help you." He said.

Azriel's words gnawed at you. He will turn his back on you the first chance he gets. But in all your years of knowing Eris, he had never once been cruel, or unkind, to you. He had supported you every single time. Unlike Azriel, who left you when you needed him most.

"Can I stay here for a little bit?" You asked timidly. "I'll send a note to Rhys... if you can allow him to cross the borders and just talk with me... I just need to explain." You said.

Eris gave you a gentle smile, one you were sure only you saw. "I'll speak with my father.." He said and stood up. "Do you need anything else?" He asked.

You took a shaky breath and shook your head. "No, I'm just going to stay here for a little while. Clear my head." You said.

With that, Eris left the cabin and you got started on your note to Rhys.

You stayed in Autumn for a year, only visiting Velaris when Rhys asked you to. You were an expert in the knowledge of Prythian's history, a hobby you took up as a young child in Windhaven, and he needed you for the war against Hybern. And he wanted you to meet his mate, Feyre. Eris told you that was the girl who saved everyone. She was once friends with Lucien.

You were there in Hybern when they decided to try and trick him, break in. But then Tamlin and Lucien showed up. With both of Feyre's sisters.

And then Azriel almost died, Hybern holding him hostage as Feyre's sisters were plunged into the Cauldron. You felt every moment, felt every restraint on your body as you tried to get to Azriel. Despite your tenacious relationship with him, he was still your mate. Your first instinct was to protect him and save him at any cost.

You collapsed next to him when his wings were shredded, holding onto him as you all winnowed back without Feyre. You healed his wings as best you could until Madja was there, telling you to stand back. You couldn't leave his side. Not while he was this hurt. Not while he might never fly again. That was already taken away from you. You would not let it happen to your mate.

Your mate. When he was healing was the first time you used it in an enduring way. Not towards him, but to Mor. Who came in and asked how he was doing. "My mate is doing fine." You growled out, obviously agitated that another female was in the room. Nonetheless, one that he had pined over for centuries.

When he was healed, you stayed in Velaris. Opting to help Rhys figure out a way to get Feyre back from Spring safe and sound. Now that she was High Lady, and your sister by law, you had even more to worry about when it came to your family.

And then Azriel started to hang around Elain. Steering her around like a puppy he found on the side of the street. You started to notice similarities to him and Mor, when he would follow her around. Doting on her every need.

Once night, you had enough. You went to Rhys immediately, the jealously in your gut building the rage inside of you.

"I'm going back to Autumn. I can send you encoded notes from there. I'll be closer if anything happened to Feyre and she needs a way out." You declared. Rhys didn't put up a fight, understanding your frustration.

You gave Azriel the courtesy of leaving a note, explaining to him that if he wanted to act like a true mate, he would help you. If he instead wanted to dot on Elain, who was barely more than a shell of a faerie, he wouldn't come to Autumn. He would stay in Velaris and do just that: be Elain's keeper.

So you traveled to Autumn and stayed in your cabin, worry clinging to you more and more as the hours passed by. Why had you given Azriel a choice? Why did you leave without saying anything? Why didn't you talk to him?

The questions consumed you so much you didn't hear the first knock at the door. Or the second. But you heard the third as the familiar male pounded harder and called our your name.

Part Four (Azriel) | Alt Ending (Eris)

A/N: A little cliffhanger... who is going to be on the other side of the door???

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STRANDED LEVIATHAN

by Florent Desailly

[excitementshewrote]

[screengifs]

@whumpril Day 9: STRANDED. The Grey (2011)

[warmblanketwhump]

the waiting

The first day in the little cabin wasn’t bad. They’d found shelter from the elements, after all, and a safe place to wait out the storm.

The second day, cabin fever set in—there wasn’t much to do in the one-room cabin besides feed the fire, pace, and huddle together.

The third day was much of the same.

The fourth day when the mood began to shift.

It began when they all awoke to the wind still howling like a freight train. If anything, it sounded louder than it had the past few days, whistling through any crack it could find and frosting over the windowpanes.

“I can barely hear myself think,” A grumbles as they all crowd near the fireplace. “I swear I barely got more than an hour of sleep with that racket.”

“Well the rest of us have to hear you grumble, and I can still hear that loud and clear,” D retorts.

“If we get stuck here, we’re eating D first,” A announces to no one in particular.

“Hey, now. Quit it, you two,” B interjects. “Go outside, get some fuel, and don’t come back to the fire until you can both be nice.”

The two keep grumbling, but dutifully pull on their extra winter clothes to go outside and get firewood. As much as it’s a tool to cool off their bickering, they all know that it’s essential to keep the small fireplace burning to try and heat the meager space. The cabin is still drafty, however, with wind that whistles through the cracks and blows ice crystals across the floor.

The storm’s got to stop soon, B wonders, chewing their bottom lip and trying to calculate how many days of rations are left, how many more days they could make it last if they cut them in half—

B’s jolted out of their swirling thoughts with C bumping into them, inching closer. B bites back the urge to snap at them, seeing as how they just chastised A and D for doing the same thing. But they just haven’t been able to have any space the past few days, and C’s been unusually clingy and close at hand since yesterday. But they can’t stop their body from flinching at the touch, and C notices.

“Sorry….” C mumbles, shrinking back, and B feels the guilt like a punch in the stomach. “I just….”

B sighs, centering their off-kilter mood, and turns back to C. “It’s fine. Just a little cabin fever on my end. What is it?”

C wraps the thick wool blanket tighter around their shoulders, and B takes in how pale they look, the faint bruises of shadows smudged under their eyes. “It’s just…you know I went out to get water yesterday, and I….well….I didn’t mean to…”

“C, what is it?” B’s thin patience is beginning to fray further

“I fell in.”

“The snow?”

“The river.”

The words don’t immediately register with B at first. “Wait. You were supposed to get the snow for water—“

“It was only a few steps farther than the snowbank and I wanted us to have clean water, and I thought I knew where the edge was but it was hard to see in the snow and I slipped. It was only to my waist, and I got out and came back so fast—you didn’t even notice—“

“C—“

“And I changed my socks but you know I only have the one thick pair of pants, and they were still kinda damp no matter how much I tried to dry them off with the towel or how long I sat by the fire. And then I woke up this morning—“

“C. Tell me what’s wrong.” Yet B already has a sinking feeling they know.

“I can’t get warm,” C whimpers, with a weak cough. “I’m all shivery inside, no matter how long I sit by the fire, and my legs and feet are freezing, and I just thought if I could get closer to body heat—“

“C, just….” B squeezes their eyes shut and rubs their forehead, trying to gain their bearings after multiple nights of not enough sleep. “Just let me get things straight. You fell in the creek yesterday, didn’t dry off fully and wore damp clothes to sleep. And now you’re feeling chilled. Is that right?”

C nods miserably. “And it’s cold in here.”

B sighs. It wouldn’t be the first time C’s lack of foresight had gotten them in trouble. But one look at their small, shivering frame, and B knows they don’t have the heart to chastise them further.

“Fine. Come closer, then. We’ll share body heat.” B may be craving their own personal space, but they’re not leaving poor C to freeze. C wastes no time in wriggling closer to B, who wraps their arms around them and shifts them so their back is flat against B’s chest. “There. All snug.”

“Ugh, you’re so warm.” C presses closer and B can feel the fine tremors that ripple through C’s spine and instinctively hugs them tighter.

C shouldn’t have let themselves stay wet for so long. If they were in damp clothes for a whole night…

B shakes their head and clears the thoughts from their head, just as A and D tumble back in with arms full of firewood. With a little time, C would warm up. The storm would stop, and they’d resume their trek back to the city.

Things would be fine.

———————-

The fifth day is when B realizes they’re in trouble.

The bucket of ice—rethawed snow only after C’s confession—had been melted the night before for drinking, but in the morning there’s a layer of ice across the top of the bucket that A has to hit three times before it cracks. The fire had burnt down to embers overnight, and B knew they weren’t imagining things when they woke up—the air was getting colder. They’d all slept much closer to each other than they had the night before.

D’s able to stir up a flame, and the weary travelers silently resume their positions close to the fire. Gone is the concept of personal space—they all press as close together as possible to stay warm.

B can tell the relentless cold is getting to all of them. The first few days, D had been restlessly moving around the cabin, poking around cupboards and fiddling with their gear. Now, they barely move from the hearth, shaking hands extended over the weak heat of the fire or hugging themselves tightly.

A stayed hunched over in the smallest ball possible, yet never stopped moving— weakly chafing their blanketed arms, rubbing their legs, and rocking back and forth as if they could generate a spark to warm their bones.

They knew C felt it too, and worse—they’d clung to B all night, alternately mumbling nonsense and crying because they felt so cold. A couple hours before dawn, B realized they didn’t feel cold—and it was because of the feverish body practically glued to their own. Now, in the pale morning light, they could see the damp sheen of sweat on C’s forehead.

Another howl of wind buffets the side of the cabin, and D shudders, tucking their warmed hands under their arms. “You’re sure there aren’t any more blankets?”

“D, you’ve asked three times. These are all we could find.” A scoots over to D and holds up an open arm, inviting them closer. “If I hug you, will you shut up?”

“As long as you stop fidgeting.”

“I’m trying to keep warm.” The bickering’s lost some of the venom, however, and the two abandon their squabbling for the promise of more shared body heat.

B pulls out a ration packet of biscuits, distributing a biscuit each, then splitting their own and offering their halves to A and D. A reaches longingly for the extra ration, but D tries to refuse.“B, we can’t take—“

“It’s okay. I’ll eat whatever C doesn’t manage.” B knows they should keep their strength up, but both A and D’s faces look so gaunt in the dim firelight. Truthfully, the rising anxiety over the situation wipes away any appetite B should have, and it doesn’t feel right to force themselves to eat when A and D are clearly so hungry.

C weakly nibbles away a quarter of the biscuit before they turn away, burying their face back in the folds of the blanket. B tries to eat the rest of C’s biscuit slowly, but the biscuit is gone in under a minute.

————————-

the sixth day brings much of the same.

“How is C?” A’s voice is quiet. D’s found a few loose bricks in the hearth, and they’re trying to figure out a way to heat them so they can hold them for warmth.

“Hanging in there—their fever’s about the same, I reckon.” B shifts positions, C’s body limp in their arms. “How are you?”

A tries to shrug nonchalantly, but B can see the hunch of their shoulders, the continuous shivers that wrack their frame. “Cold. All I think about is how much closer I can get to the fire, or how much bigger we can build it, or when we get to eat our next ration, or how I’m going to practically boil myself in a hot bath when I get home.”

B laughs hollowly—they share the sentiment, but they quickly silence themselves when they see A’s eyes shining with tears in the firelight.

“B, what if this storm keeps up?” A’s whisper is panicked. “We need warmth. Food. C needs a doctor. We can’t hold on much longer like this.”

“Yes, we can. We’ll hold on for just as long as we need to.” B feels the lie slip from their tongue before they can contradict it with the truth: they can’t hold on much longer.

————————-

Day seven, they break down most of the furniture and cupboards to use in the fire. C wakes once, drinks one cup of water, and passes out.

Day eight, they each split one ration packet. The fire is reduced to a small flame to preserve the wood for as long as they can. B realizes they can’t remember the last time they weren’t shivering.

Day nine, they split one ration cracker. the fire dies down to embers, and they’re all too cold to sleep. in the darkness, they cling to one another, a miserable, shivering mass of bodies, blankets pulled taught around their thinning frames. the only sound is the hollow wind outside and the incessant chatter of A’s teeth.

they all wonder if it’s their last night.

————————-

Day ten, a local hunter treks up the mountain to see how his cabin had fared—and finds four frozen, exhausted, half-starved strangers who are endlessly grateful to see him.

[gillotto]

Chapter 18 is here!!