Despite the rustling feet and crashing waves into steep cliffs ahead; she feared she might be deaf. After the long continuing roars of men and clashing of metal, nature's voices felt too kind on her ears.
Surrounded by death and victory, she stood on the freshly melted snow, one hand still holding onto her spear for dear life, and viewed the land. Evening gust was howling around the ones who could stand tall; it was a bleak evening to come victorious and she did not feel cheerful. Her slender body hadn't been this tired in a very, very long time. No cheer rose around them but she saw the hard-earned pats on the backs, the nods, the halfhearted hugs. The loss had been too great to properly celebrate; she knew way back home would be a long and grim one. Yet Ruffnut's gaze lingered on faces one by one, looking for one particular pair of eyes, hoping to see them open and still full of life. In the midst of a vague fear, all that was said and done yesterday was now a web of 'what if's and 'if only's wasted. Tuffnut's annoyed voice chimed in the background; Ruffnut kept looking. "What a damn mess…"she mumbled absentmindedly. There was nothing thrilling about the rush of adrenaline now. The buzz that drove her muscles into back flips and jumps and endless runs was gone and she only felt the intense need to lie down for a while.
"Hey."
Her jump was weak but her heart fluttered like colors against the breeze. The moment her eyes caught the glimpse of the source of the voice, she could feel her stiff shoulders giving up, immediately hunching. Snotlout, oblivious to her thoughts, was looking around and scratching his neck.
"This was fucked up."
"Yeah..."
"Everyone is alright. Fish has a small burn but it'll be fine, he is more worried ab—"
The sentence was left incomplete.
Young woman's lips stole the words from his mouth and devoured them with unparalleled hunger as her long slender fingers held onto his face. Like waves, their mouths crashed at each other's with a hurry saved for uncertain times and Snotlout forgot words for as long as the kiss lasted.
"Are you gonna ask what this was about?"
Panting, they stared at each other; one bemused, one unyielding. Words were still ahead of his mind's reach. Instead of giving a good answer or asking more questions; he pulled her back, like he was pulling himself out of maddening sea, and reached for another kiss. Beneath her storming need, there was his haven.
A/N: Almost done with the challenge! I enjoyed writing the ending of this one. Thinking of turning the last chapter into "part 2" of the battlefield scene. As always, do let me know what you think.