Keeping track of time is an arduous task in a world where the sun never graces the sky, casting a perpetual shroud of gloom. But as in any world, night always comes, and with it, its own rhythms.
Eirene had managed the remarkable feat of returning home just before nightfall, a triumph in itself. She traversed the rain-soaked streets of the town, her boots sloshing through puddles as she went. The once-deserted streets were now teeming with activity, as the relentless rain began to relent, if only for a brief respite. Judging by the throngs of people hurriedly preparing their supplies, it was clear that they harbored no illusions about the calm's duration. Eirene was grateful she had set out early, seizing the opportunity to hunt, forage, and fish before the rest of the town rushed to do the same.
As she passed, she couldn't help but notice a group of carefree children jumping in puddles and frolicking through the muddied streets. It took all of her self-control not to scold them; they were too young to comprehend the true cost of the rain. With a roll of her eyes, Eirene ducked through the bustling streets, keeping her head low as she made her way toward home.
Turning into a narrow alley, she arrived at a very small, stone-built home adorned with an intricate network of drainage tubes overhead. A curt knock by her boots on the sturdy storm doors at her feet heralded her arrival. Taking refuge under the waxed canvas overhang, she removed her wide-brimmed straw hat, revealing her drenched, auburn hair, and tucked the hat under her arm.
The storm doors creaked open, revealing Paarth, who offered no pleasantries as he turned away and descended the stairs. Without a word, Eirene followed him down the stairs to the storm cellar. She rapped her muddy boots against the corner of the stairs, where layers of caked mud told the tale of countless ventures into the rain over the years.
With care, she shed her soaked shoes and outer gear, leaving them in the designated mudroom corner before shaking out her damp hair. Finally, she passed through the second set of doors beneath, leading to the sanctuary of their shared living space
Once inside the underground space, the warmth of the candles felt good on Eirene's cold frame. A fire roared toward the back and a few of her housemates sat around the hearth, cooking some sort of stomach churning fish stew, judging by the smell of it.
Inside, the underground home revealed a humble interior, furnished with a long wooden table and a collection of mismatched chairs. A few of Eirene's housemates occupied the chairs, engrossed in an intense card game.
The open layout of the living space left little room for privacy, a communal arrangement that accommodated those who sought refuge from the outside world with nowhere else to go. While some housemates had private bedrooms, most who found their way to this sanctuary simply slept wherever there was an available spot.
"Eirene, you were out all day, do you have anything to show for it?" Beck's soft voice called out teasingly from behind the kitchen counter, where he was tending to a loaf of sourdough bread. Eirene's eyes brightened at the question, and she eagerly slid her feet into a pair of well-worn slippers before padding over to the bustling kitchen area. She pulled her small net of fish from her hip and reached into her pack and pulled out the two squirrels
"No 'Thank you, Eirene, you're the best Eirene, what would we do without you, Eirene'?" Eirene teased as she put the game on the table and began to pull her wet hair back into a thick braid.
Beck chuckled and began wiping her hands on her apron. "Yes, thank you Eirene. You're soaked to the bone, you couldn't have waited until the rain stopped? It sounds like it's letting up now," she looked up to the roof, listening for the thud of rain that had slowed to a stop at this point.
"Hunting at night is dangerous," Eirene admitted as she settled onto one of the tall chairs at the island in the kitchen. Her fingers idly plucked at a jar of dried jerky that sat invitingly on the worn wooden surface. The warm light from the lanterns cast a glow over Beck's weathered face.
Beck turned her attention away from the simmering pot on the stove to regard Eirene. Her deep-set eyes held both genuine concern and appreciation. "You aren't expendable, you know that, Eirene," she said, her voice filled with a motherly warmth that transcended mere friendship. Beck was only a few years older than Eirene, but was the eldest of the home, and the only one with a true child of her own. "If we didn't have you, I think we would have been living off a diet of fish and rainwater for a long time now. You have to keep yourself alive and healthy; there are people here relying on you, in more ways than one."
Eirene was acutely aware that she was the only one among their small community with the skills to hunt with a bow effectively. She had once tried to teach Paarth to wield a bow a few years ago, but the results had been less than promising. Paarth had instead found his niche with a fishing rod and digging trenches, and left Eirene to the hunting.
Not in the mood to have this conversation again, Eirene pushed herself up from her seat and snagged two more pieces of jerky from the jar. She ambled toward the hearth, the warmth hitting her in the face as she approached. "Come on, up," she murmured gently as she lifted Violet, Beck's young daughter, from her own seat. With a practiced ease, Eirene exchanged places with the child, settling Violet onto her lap and enfolding her in an embrace.
As she held Violet close, Eirene felt the girl's clean hair against her cheek, her scent an instant balm to her soul.
"And while I was out hunting for your dinner, what did you do today little miss?" Eirene teased. At the age of five, Violet possessed a maturity that belied her years, a quality Eirene recognized all too well from her own childhood. With a contented sigh, the young girl curled her slender legs up, nestling herself against Eirene's form, seeking the warmth that now radiated from her makeshift elder sister.
"I played with the crayons you got me!" Violet's voice bubbled with enthusiasm, her expressive eyes dancing with excitement. Eirene's gaze drifted to the floor before the fireplace—a kaleidoscope of coloring pages and vibrant crayons in disarray lay scattered before them.
A playful smile graced Eirene's lips, a smile reserved exclusively for Violet. "Wow," she exclaimed with a hint of mock astonishment. "You're getting pretty good at this, twerp." With a twist, Violet squirmed free from Eirene's embrace and hopped to the floor. In her small hands, she proudly presented a piece of paper bearing a stick figure that was unmistakably meant to be Eirene. The figure sported a straight line for a mouth and a mop of squiggled curls. Curiously, a gray cloud seemed to hover above her stick figure head, despite being sheltered under a stick-drawing house.
Eirene's laughter danced through the room, some of the housemates looked up from their card games, but she paid them no mind. She accepted the drawing, her eyes meeting Violet's. "Can I have this?" she asked gently, leaning down to meet Violet's earnest gaze from her seat. A nod from Violet signaled her agreement, and she proceeded to share a few more drawings she had diligently crafted throughout the day.
Eirene's heart ached at this young girl. Born under the cover of clouds, the storm seemed to let up for Violets birth. Eirene remembered it clearly. She wondered if Violet would ever see the sun shine, or if she'll die never experiencing a clear day. She'd love to stargaze with her one day... The thought ate at her daily.
She pressed her forehead against Violet's tenderly. With a soft smile, Eirene reached for a piece of jerky she had discreetly tucked away and slipped it into Violet's hand.
Following their simple yet hearty dinner, the stone-walled sanctuary hummed with activity, each housemate attending to their respective duties. Violet continued diligently coloring on the floor, her crayons dancing across any available surface. The sounds of carving wood and the delicate twang of fishing lines being restrung filled the home as some of the housemates meticulously worked on crafting arrows and tending to their fishing gear. In the warm glow of the fire, Beck, reclined on the big chair in front of the fire, watching her daughter enjoy herself.
Eirene walked behind the chair and placed her hand on the top of Beck's head in a moment of unspoken gratitude. Beck, sensing the weight of exhaustion in Eirene's touch, leaned back to meet her eyes, her gaze met Eriene's. "Get some rest tonight, please," she implored softly before returning her attention to her daughter on the floor.
Eirene walked down the dimly lit hallways that led to the bedrooms. The floorboards creaked beneath her footsteps, as people passed her to get in line for the washroom. Too tired for even that, she reached the creaking door of her own room and closed the door behind her.
Inside, her chamber was modest, sparsely furnished with a simple dresser nestled in the corner. Eirene moved with stiff muscles, shedding her now mostly dry clothes of the day. She hung her clothes over a slender line strung across the room from one end to the other, a drying rack for garments perpetually damp from the ceaseless rain.
From her modest dresser, she retrieved a set of soft, warm clothes, worn but meticulously cared for. She pulled her hair free from the braid and it hung heavy around her face. She lit a small candle that sat on her bedside and sat at the edge of the bed, massaging her tired feet. She leaned back and cracked her back and a short knock fell on the door. She slid further to the edge of the bed and didn't respond as the door slowly opened.
Paarth stood in the door way for just a moment before a quiet smile hit his lips as he entered the room and closed the door.
They've been doing this dance for over a year now. Nothing serious could ever happen between them. This was just sex. Just survival. Just something to feel anything but the cold rain.
He entered and sat next to her on the edge of the bed and pulled her closer, his hands on her hips.
"You were gone almost all day, how are you feeling?" He asked, his own way of asking if she was too tired for this, she assumed. A smile crossed her face that faded quickly.
"I'm tired, but I'm glad you're here," she responded. "Stay," she said softly.
He brushed her hair off of her shoulder and kissed the bare skin near her shoulder and collar bone. She leaned into the touch and the warm feeling of his breath on her skin. Her skin broke out in goose bumps as she sighed with relief. The need that grew in her was instant. He kissed her neck deeper, his hands moving up her waist. One hand remained there while the other worked expertly to grab the back of her neck and pull her in for a kiss.
A moan quietly broke out from her lips as his hand around her waist slid up, under her soft cotton top to touch her breast. She responded to his touch with one of her own, feeling him harden beneath her hand. It was quick work from there as he undressed her and pulled her fully onto the bed. His dark brown eyes met hers as he pulled her hips close to his and found his way to her entrance and groaned with pleasure.
Eirene wasn't sure if you'd call it love making, she didn't think she was in love with him. It felt more like acts of kindness between friends, relieving the stress from the day. But she loved this part. Feeling herself break from the day, in this world, creating their own heat.
When they were finished he held her, and she was never sure if he stayed because he enjoyed this part, or if he didn't want to go back to his room he shared with two other guys, but she was thankful for it either way. He fell asleep quickly and Eirene looked over at his face. His brown hair was wild, as usual. His round face was handsome and familiar. She could fall in love with him. It would be easy. At least she knew that this part of their relationship worked. But love the way things are right now is hard. Life here is hard. Loving someone is just opening yourself up to a world of hurt.
She rolled to the side and his sleepy hand found her and pulled her close, and the warmth from his body eased her to sleep.
