The wind howls fiercely as dark clouds covered the moon, plunging the forest into an oppressive gloom. Chilling winds sweep through the trees, soon accompanied by a relentless downpour of rain and hail.
"Cold"
Ethan mutters, his breath visible in the frigid air. He sits near the fire, its flickering flames struggling against the storm's fury. The rain pours hard, drumming against the makeshift shelter they've cobbled together from branches and debris. Selene had carved out a rough cavern, just enough to keep them out of the worst of the weather.
Ethan glances at Ferox, who sits hunched to avoid breaking the low ceiling with his massive frame. "Funny," Ethan remarks with a faint smirk, though the Minotaur only grunts in response.
His gaze shifts to the Bone Guard, standing watch at the entrance. The skeleton remains unbothered by the rain and hail, its purple eyes glowing faintly as it scans the darkness.
Then Ethan looks at Selene. She sits curled up near the fire, shivering despite her efforts to warm herself. The cold bites deep, and the wind makes it nearly impossible for the fire to provide any real comfort.
"....Cold-blooded,"
Ethan murmurs to himself
He stands and walks over to her
"Is there anything that you need, Ethan?"
Selene asks, her voice in confusion
Ethan doesn't respond immediately. Instead, he removes his coat and drapes it over her shoulders.
"...What are you doing?"
She stares at him in bewilderment
"You're a vampire,"
Ethan says simply.
"Cold-blooded. You usually need the warmth of human blood to sustain yourself. It's hard to watch you freeze in this weather."
Selene looks at him for a long moment, her expression a mix of surprise and something softer—gratitude, perhaps. She seems unfamiliar with such kindness, and it leaves her momentarily speechless.
Ethan returns to his spot by the fire, his pale, well-toned body glowing faintly in the firelight as he warms himself. Selene watches him curiously for a moment before quickly looking away, her cheeks tinged with embarrassment.
"...."
Selene immerses herself in the feeling of the coat. Its texture is fancy, similar to something a noble might wear. She grows curious about how Ethan came to have such strange and foreign clothes.
"Were you a noble before death?"
she asks, her deep violet eyes fixed on him.
Ethan looks at her with amusement, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "It's cute that you think I was someone that high," he says, stirring the fire to make it burn a bit brighter.
"I was an officer," he continues, his voice steady but tinged with nostalgia. "Mainly tasked with leading my men into the thick of battle."
For a moment, he's lost in memories of his past life, but the weight of those memories quickly saddens him.
"...Unfortunately, none of them ever made it,"
his hand freezing mid-stir.
Selene listens quietly, observing him. She can sense the light-hearted chuckle in his words, but also the deep sadness beneath them. She can only imagine the pain he endured during the war. In this world, could anyone truly understand him?
Ethan tries to wave away the sadness, but before he can, Selene reaches out and grabs his hand. He looks at her in confusion as she moves closer, sitting next to him. She spreads the coat over both of them and helps stir the fire.
"....I may not be able to understand your pain completely"
she says softly,
"But that doesn't mean you have to bear it alone."
She stirs the flames, making them burn brighter The light shining upon their faces
"....I guess what I'm trying to say is.....you're not alone anymore"
Ethan is stunned. Her face is just inches away from his, and for the first time in a long while, he feels a warmth that isn't from the fire. He turns away, embarrassed. It's been so long since he's experienced the touch of a woman, and it leaves him flustered.
CLICK CLICK CLICK
the bone guard seemed to chuckle at his master predicament from a distance
"....I guess this isn't that bad,"
Ethan mutters, his voice barely audible to the human ear.
Selene smiles, her violet eyes glinting with amusement.
"What's wrong with holding a woman in your arms?"
she teases, her tone light but playful.
Ethan feels another wave of embarrassment, but this time, he turns to face her, resting his head gently against hers.
"A woman as beautiful as you can be hard to please,"
his voice soft but sincere.
Selene's cheeks flush at his words, a faint blush spreading across her pale skin. For a moment, both of them feel something they haven't felt in a long
time—a warmth, a connection, a faint echo of a beating heart.
As the wind rages outside, howling through the trees and rattling the makeshift shelter, Ethan and Selene sit close, their shared warmth a stark contrast to the storm's fury. For the first time in what feels like an eternity, both of their lives seem to have taken an unexpected turn—a spark of something new, something alive.
Who knows what challenges lie ahead? The Hollow Forest is vast and filled with dangers, and the road they walk is far from easy. But for now, in this quiet moment, they find a rare sense of peace.
The storm outside may rage on, but inside, there's a flicker of hope—a reminder that even in the darkest of times, connection can light the way.