Post by Kit on Mar 20, 2010 2:12:22 GMT 10
Title: Advantages
Rating: PG
Length: 250
Round: 3/A
Competitor: Alanna
Summary: Kel learns something new about working outside with her idol
“Oi.”
A shaking whisper in the night, fracturing sleep in the camp.
“Lioness?”
Kel is sitting up, her hand on her sword. “Lady Alanna?”
A grumble. “Hush. Wyldon trained you too well. There’s just us, still. No alarms. No danger.”
Kel’s voice creaks. “Then why—?”
“—I’m cold.”
“Excuse me?”
“Freezing. Freezing into an aching old woman with splinters in her veins.”
“You’re…”
“Move over, Kel. Honestly. Take the hint.”
Kel shifts in her bedroll, gasping as a small, chilled hand brushes against her skin, thieving blankets. “If I'd known working alone with you would mean—”
“Ha. All heroics and glory, Knights camping by the wayside.”
Alanna’s arm shifts across her body. Kel sighs. “There’ll be rain soon.”
“Neal said you were cheery in the morning.”
Kel surveys the stars, brilliant before her, pinpricks of laughter-light. “This,” she says. “Is not morning.”
A faint swallow. Alanna’s breathing slows. Her skin stills. Her breath, suddenly, is warm against Kel’s neck. “Thanks.”
“Oh, hush,” the younger woman mimics, shifting to her side and drawing the Lioness into her arms, laughing slowly at her surprised squeak.
“What? I might as well do this properly.”
Alanna, faintly strangled, eyes grey in the pre-dawn. “No objections.”
Kel continues to draw her close, curling around the smaller body, her hands sitting low and solid on Alanna’s back. “Good thing I’m not a runt like you,” she says, easing herself into sleep again. “This really wouldn’t work, otherwise.”
Rating: PG
Length: 250
Round: 3/A
Competitor: Alanna
Summary: Kel learns something new about working outside with her idol
“Oi.”
A shaking whisper in the night, fracturing sleep in the camp.
“Lioness?”
Kel is sitting up, her hand on her sword. “Lady Alanna?”
A grumble. “Hush. Wyldon trained you too well. There’s just us, still. No alarms. No danger.”
Kel’s voice creaks. “Then why—?”
“—I’m cold.”
“Excuse me?”
“Freezing. Freezing into an aching old woman with splinters in her veins.”
“You’re…”
“Move over, Kel. Honestly. Take the hint.”
Kel shifts in her bedroll, gasping as a small, chilled hand brushes against her skin, thieving blankets. “If I'd known working alone with you would mean—”
“Ha. All heroics and glory, Knights camping by the wayside.”
Alanna’s arm shifts across her body. Kel sighs. “There’ll be rain soon.”
“Neal said you were cheery in the morning.”
Kel surveys the stars, brilliant before her, pinpricks of laughter-light. “This,” she says. “Is not morning.”
A faint swallow. Alanna’s breathing slows. Her skin stills. Her breath, suddenly, is warm against Kel’s neck. “Thanks.”
“Oh, hush,” the younger woman mimics, shifting to her side and drawing the Lioness into her arms, laughing slowly at her surprised squeak.
“What? I might as well do this properly.”
Alanna, faintly strangled, eyes grey in the pre-dawn. “No objections.”
Kel continues to draw her close, curling around the smaller body, her hands sitting low and solid on Alanna’s back. “Good thing I’m not a runt like you,” she says, easing herself into sleep again. “This really wouldn’t work, otherwise.”