Part V

A few hours into the night she jerks into wakefulness from an unformed nightmare. She makes sure Quinlan's still asleep before slipping into her coat and sealing the tent behind her when she steps out. A vast blanket of stars coats the sky.

HLM indulges herself in gazing up at them before she then starts a small fire and picks up a shoulder blade from the deer she killed as well as her hunting knife. With a ragged sigh, she sits by the fire and starts carving. Her thoughts alternate between her dead husband and Klork

Man...I wonder how he's doing...maybe I should try contacting him...

She chews her lip lightly as she carves lines and curves into the deer bone.

Oh...why the hell not?

The blade pauses as she closes her eyes, brows furrowing with concentration, reaching; seeking. When she finally senses his mind, she suddenly feels tentative, worn.

"Klork...? You there...?"

"Hn...? Wha...Mo?? I...heya, sorry, woke me up..."

She winces. Woops...

"Heh! Sorry...didn't mean to wake you up...just wanted to see how you're doin'...if you want, I can leave ya be..."

"Hmm? Oh nono, that's ok...didn't want to sleep on the couch anyway."

She can't help smiling at his soft chuckle. "Heh...not as comfy as the lair couch, huh...how're you doing?"

"Heh, nope...ah, a little better...had my sister over yesterday...but...basically I did a lot of thinking today..."

She grins wryly. "Sounds familiar..."

"Oh...? Do tell...?"

"Heh...been doing a lot of that m'self... Just...'eh...I dunno..."

A change in subject is due here, I think...

"Hey," she continues, "I've got another dad..."

His voice smiles. "...you have more parents than I have toes, you realize this, don't you?"

She chuckles. "Oh, probably...just have to meet them all." A smile spreads over her lips as she pauses. "You really do sound better. I can hear your smile."

"Hmm? I got a lot off my chest today...I just have a couple of things to do now...grieving is one of them I've yet  to let myself do..."

Makes two of us...

She keeps that thought to herself. "That's wonderful to hear...I'm happy for you...and here for you...in the frozen tundra." She lets the lopsided grin on her face creep into her voice. "The busses been leaving you alone?"

His chuckle rings in her head. "So far so good...! Heh, been spending a lot of time on the docks actually, it's peaceful seeing that the sea lions aren't there currently..."

"It must be beautiful..."

"Foggy. Very foggy. Overcast, but warmer than New York, I gotta admit..."

"Sounds nice...so long as things are going ok over there..."

"So far so good...how're things going with you and 'dad'?"

She cringes a little. "Uhm...could be better....could be worse...if anything, it's COLD!"

"No doubt of it...you doin' good and not getting injured?"

Just the question she was trying to avoid. "Uhm...well...besides a run in with a bear trap and a bit of a breakdown, I'm fine..."

"...bear trap...are you sure you're ok??"

She winces slightly. "Yeah...just my arm's kinda...a lil' shredded." A smirk curls her lips. "I'm ok, just gonna be sore for a long time."

"Yeah...so, is there anything on your mind? I'm comfy now in my bed, more likely to talk better..."

Mind? Me? Nah...

"Heh...? Oh...eh...not really...just been thinkin' about stuff...wonderin' how you are 'n all that..."

There's that smile again. "Doing better...I appreciate ya poppin' in."

She smiles in reaction, relief creeping into her mental voice. "Nice to know I wasn't intruding or anything...I really am glad you're doing better..."

"Why would you ever be intruding?"

She bites her lip lightly. "Just thought...maybe you wouldn't want to talk to me....time alone and all that."

"Heh...Lisette's been here, Tabby's been here...I wouldn't be suprised if Kame shows up..."

She can't help chuckling. "So much for getting away from it all, huh?"

"M'point is," he continues, "that your company is always welcome, Mo..." He pauses, as if just hearing her comment. "Heh...this is so true..."

"Good." She smiles. "That really makes me feel a lot better..."

"Good...you doing ok other than the bear trap and breakdown?"

"Actually, yeah...finding out a lot about myself...done some hunting....I hope you like venison jerky. Quinlan...err...he's my father....one of 'em...he wouldn't be able to use all the meat offa that buck..."

"Hey, I'm part cat, what kind of meat DON'T I enjoy...??"

She laughs.

He walked right into THAT one!

"I'll give that some thought and get back to you..." She snickers.

"Heh!! Oh geeze...not supposed to take it that way!"

Oh the comments I could make...

"Aww...c'mon now! I thought you knew me better than that!"

He laughs, making her smile again. "Oh, ok, I'll accept that then." His smirk is in his voice.

HLM chuckles. "Good good...wouldn't have it any other way."

"Good." She can almost see him smirk. "So, watcha got in planning? Make it to the top of the mountain yet?"

"We're almost there....thinking I'm gonna have a lil' funeral for Hacker when we get there...and take pictures...haven't used my camera yet...you?"

"Sounds like a good idea, give you some closure there...as for me...? No clue...I know I'm gonna stay in the city...just basically keep to myself mostly....let things filter through my mind..."

"Sounds good...it'll help ya." She smiles. "Wow...we might actually be BALANCED people when we get home...!"

That great laugh sounds in her head again. "I hope so at least...if not, it could be rather messy..."

She chuckles. "That'd be anything new...?"

"Well, no, but it would be nice for it not to happen..."

"Very true...I was just playing anyway..."

"I know." He smirks. "So..."

She grins. "you're learning how to do that now?"

"Um...no..." He smirks sheepishly. "I might haveta..."

Icy eyes blinks. "...oh?"

"Well, if everybody I know keeps needing stitches..."

Another chuckle on her part. "Ohh...point there...it's not THAT hard..."

"Yeah it is...I can't sew!" He sighs overdramatically.

She finds herself chuckling again. "Fear not...for I, the Moron Queen, and seamstress semi-ok-so-I-can't-make-enough-money-to-support-a-hamster-seweing, will teach you!" She snickers.

He laughs. "I'll take your word for it, Mo..."

"Well...if you insist. I could bring the thimbles." She snickers.

"Umm...nah, I'll just let you do the sewing."

His sheepish chuckle evokes one from her. "Oh sure...stick me with the work..." She sends him a mental wink. "Anyway, I should probably let you get on with your day...or go back to sleep..."

"Hee, ok...yeah, probably a good idea...sleep sounds good and this futon is so comfy..."

She laughs softly. "Sweet dreams...it was good talking to ya..."

"Take care...yeah, sweet dreams and stay safe!"

"Oh...I'll try...damn bear traps." She mutters physically and mentally, rubbing her arm, but smiling. "You too."

"Hehe, g'night, babe."

She blinks a little, quirking a brow and smirking. "Eh heh...babe? Ok, stud, sleep well."

"Heh! Yeah..." She feels him doze off.

She yawns herself and shivers in the cold.

Mmm...wish I could share that futon with him...

She smirks tiredly to herself as she puts her work away and dowses the fire. Soon, she's sliding into her sleeping bag, smile curling her lips.

Ah well...sleeping bag's good enough...

The soft smile lingers as she drifts off.

Part IV
Part VI
Otherworldly Comforts Index