trenches part 2

The bacon was frying nicely – despite Rosa’s lunged attempt to grab the pan and cook it herself, and the bunch of us waited patiently, not talking, but thinking calmly, reflecting.

I gazed up at the stars overhead, shinning brightly in the clear dark sky. They strewed for as far as I could see, seeing so close, but yet so far at the same time, crushing the feeling of smallness of my mind. Blinking in wonder I realized that humans had actually managed to visits some of those, the bright lights hiding the fact they were lone planets hanging in space, that we had stretched our fingers that far seemed impossible.

Someone smoothly folded themselves beside me and I turned to look; Nathan looked starkly clean compared to me, his skin almost glowing in freshness, his hair dripping at the ends showing he had come here straight from the washing area. He smiled warmly, wrapping his arms around my back and pulling me close, kissing the top of my head.

“Ok?”

I smiled, feeling a surge of affection for him rush through me, glad he was safe, “Yes, you?”

“Fine – and squeaky clean to boot!”

I smiled wryly, “I’ll go there in a minute – we’re just waiting for the bacon.”

“Well you don’t think I came here to see you do you?” He jested and I nabbed an elbow into his ribs, grinning.

The meat sizzled and Joe eyed it, licking his lips,

“Joe – we don’t eat raw meat.” Rosa sighed

“It’s practically done!” He whined like a first year.

“Look,” Rosa took his hand and pulled him to his feet, “You can help me go get some water to drink and plates – Cassie, Dawn and Lara can watch the bacon.”

“Oh wait!” Lara piped up loudly, “I’ll join you on the way actually, I want to find Jack – he should be down here by now.”

Hauling Lara up, the trio trudged away, their voices soon lost in the general noise from around; the rumble of convocation from other sleeping areas, the thudding of walking people, zoon of crickets and grass hoppers, and ever so faintly, booms of explosions.

Dawn sighed, pulling her legs up to her chest like myself and stared into the flames, the light casting shadows on her face, her blue eyes unblinking. The tendons on her knuckles stood out whitely as she clenched her trousers material in her fists.

Cassie picked up a wooden fork and shifted the bacon around in the pan, ignoring its spits of fat and oil.

“You’re shaking.” Nathan said it more quietly than I’d ever heard him say anything before, into my head as he lowered his head to the side of mine.

“Ruff day.” I stated back, leaning my head against his in an almost nuzzling jester.

“Wana talk about it?”

“…Maybe later…”

The silence – if it could be called that – rushed back around us, accompanied by a pronunciation that dinner was ready, the delicious smell making my mouth water; we were forced to wait for the rest of our party to return, Nathan mumbling that he would eat it with his bare hands if they didn’t hurry up.

With a crackle of flames, Joe and Rosa flared into existence on the opposite side of the fire to me, the flames of the teleportation brightening the place for a few seconds before vanishing, Dawn turning away from the heat at their side.


“Lara’s staying with Jack tonight.” Rosa informed us, just speaking before Joe blurted in,

“Phew – I thought you would have scoffed the lot!” He said surprised with his eyebrows raised, throwing a wooden plate and fork to each of us.

“We’re not you Joe,” Nathan replied and I could tell by his tone he was smirking.

Joe barred his teeth and did a pathetic mock growl back; it would have made us all laugh normally, but a dull pound sounded through the air behind us, the sky lighting up a fiery red for a still moment, stealing the humour.