Fragile Snow
A/N: This is my first real try at an AU, so go easy on me. I've been toying with this idea for months now, and hopefully it'll be interesting to read. That's all I feel I should say for now. -Moogle
They took turns hunting so that the other could stay behind and keep an eye on their place. Locke tried to convince her that she could stay home; she should stay warm and cozy while he went out and trapped game.
But she wouldn't hear of that, she insisted that they should both share the chores, it wouldn't be fair otherwise. Locke thought that Terra did more than enough though. Her magic kept their house warm every day and night in the middle of a Narshean winter. She had a knack for cooking the game perfectly and keeping the tea and coffee at just the right temperature so they wouldn't get burned.
But she insisted. And she would come home with half charred deer, rabbits, and sometimes Lobo if nothing else crossed her path.
She never used traps even though Locke showed her how to make several. She never used the dagger that he handed her after she buttoned up her big overcoat and fastened her dark cloak with the fur lined hood.
He followed her out into the needle tree forest east of town one day. He made his footsteps silent and kept his breathing soft as he went along the little path she left behind her. Her light steps in the new snow were much smaller than his, and here and there she brushed ice from the heavy boughs, causing it to melt very quickly from her touch.
Locke tried brushing the ice off of a bough higher than Terra could reach and found that shards stuck to his mitten. He inspected the newly frosted mitten for a moment before he realized that Terra never wore them, or anything really to keep her hands warm.
"Maybe she won't get all upset at me for coming after her if I bring her these…" he whispered, his breath issuing puffs of steam into the air. He set off again down the little path in the snow.
Locke kept going until he saw Terra finally up ahead with her left arm pointed at something hidden by shrubs and snow drifts. Once he got closer, he saw red and orange sparks jumping out of her fingers haphazardly, though never did the sparks singe her coat. Then her lips moved, and a rush of flames flew at the something brightly.
Locke crept closer, positioning himself carefully behind her out of the line of spells. Her magic always made the hairs on his arms and hands stand on end, like they were begging to be burned up from her fire.
He heard something fall into the snow with a heavy crunch after the roar of her spell faded. White antlers pointed at her from the ground.
Terra turned towards her kill to go gather it. Her face was wet and raw.
Locke made himself known then, stepping out with noisy steps that kicked bits of snow about.
Her eyes lurched in his directed, wide, but softened when she recognized his familiar shape coming towards her. The little sparks skittering out of her hands disappeared within seconds.
She wiped at her face with her sleeve quickly, "What are you doing Locke? I thought you were home making the broth…" her voice was hard and even, but hopefully he'd lighten it up some.
"Thought you'd like to borrow my mittens. I remembered after you left and thought that I'd bring 'em to you."
She didn't reply, but her shoulders relaxed considerably.
"Gimme your hands," he plucked off the mittens and pulled them over her pale hands very gently.
"There now, nice and warm, huh?" He gave her a smile that crinkled his eyes, and she couldn't help but smile back. Locke's hands still held hers for a few moments longer than he meant to.