Wind in the Tree Tops
Fire crackled, a log into flame, splitting down the centre. Sitting directly opposite from one another, two men were leaning in the fire's warmth, neither reacted or spoke at the sudden sound.
Around, on the grounds the winds drifted, harsh and cold to rustle the leaves in the small clearing. Above in the high twisted roof of the trees a few dry leaves drifted down in another gust. A few fall into the fire, fizzling, at the end of a life cycle.
Through the shades and patterns of the shadows a few stars manage to shine down dimly to the earth. The moon, all but a slim sliver, itself was being covered by the rolling gray clouds slowly making their way across the sky.
"The rice was nice," said the slighter of the two men, a small smile edging it's way across his pink chapped lips. He pauses half way through the making of the smile, then restarts to a full, grateful smile curves his lips.
A slow inclination of an already bowed head is the only sign that the other man gives the smiling man.
Fidgeting as a frigid wind blew around the camp side, whistling in the leaves and branches. the top of the trees were howling. The other man, tall limbs held tights, huddles deeper into his trench coat, until only the tips of his ears and the top of his head poke out.
"Would you like to share?" The man's deep voice asks quietly, opening the trench coat welcoming. He doesn't smile, just stares, waiting for an answer.
Head jerking to the side, the one who had smiled stares in shock, before mumbling his thanks.Crawling around the spitting fire, a small smile crept across his face, never flinching as the sparks made their way to his lumbering figure.
Soaking in the other's warmth, he whispers, "Thanks," once more, before closing his eyes.
His only answer was the closing of the trench coat around the two. Slowly he relaxed, only half awake as small snow flakes started to fall.