Holding Down Fort, Alone

The sun had begun to set, a thin strip of dim blue light illuminating the shallow parts of the cave. Night was approaching, and the already alien world around them would be shrouded in dark.

Sophia tugged at the curved wrist-length sleeve of her sister's dress, a deep earthy green color, like a cross between soft moss and the color of the younger child's twinkly peridot eyes. "Sis, I'm hungry."

"Can we..?" Sonata began.

Sophia frowned, tilting her head.

Sonata glanced between her sister and the distant corner where the food was, her pale brows pulled into a crease. If they could just make do foraging for meals here and there, they might be able to make their meager food supply last for at least a little longer. But what of subsistence could they possibly find in the dark, before they were among the wolves and who knows what in the darkness. Not to mention the scare she'd give Sophia if she let loose that there was a chance they could die. This was something she'd have to plan ahead of time.

"Nothing," she nervously assured, picking at a fleck of something dried onto her bare foot, "it's getting late, so we should collect some more firewood, just in case."

Sophia looked back towards the entrance, her pale curls lemony in the twilight. "I can go," she volunteered, picking herself up to go.

Sonata felt dread set in on her chest again. "Stay where I can see you from the cave, I'm coming out soon!" She called, and watched the little being hurry off.

Sonata made her way towards the dead firepit, trying to salvage what she could of the not-entirely-burnt-through timber. They hadn't done a very good job of putting the fire out that morning—meaning they just plain didn't, so there wasn't much they could save.

SCREAM

It was a short, acute, tiny screech of alarm that caught her ears. Sonata's head shot up. It had barely been a few moments, what on earth had she gotten into? Was she being attacked by something, could she scare it off, was she hurt? Sonata dropped what she was doing and ran towards the source of the noise, clenching her soot-covered hands so they wouldn't dirty her clothes.

She found Sophia standing frozen in place not too far from the exit of the cave, her peridot eyes fixed wide upon the shadowy space under a cluster of bushes. Seeing as she wasn't hurt or until sort of imminent danger, Sonata's dash slowed to a rushed gait. She needed to conserve her energy more, with this silly drake.

"Sophia? What is it?"

Her lips barely hushed out, "spider." Her eyes were still wide, frozen on that corner of darkness. When she heard the crunch of twigs of her elder sister right next to her, she turned her eyes enough to maneuver herself backwards and hide behind her, her small fingers interlocked into her skirt. She looked positively frightened, her little eyes all misty and her distressed expression.

"Where?" Sonata simply asked.

Small fingers hesitated, then unlocked themselves just enough to point down to the place. "I picked it up and it was there."

Sonata figured she was talking about a branch somewhere down there. She bent down and found a relatively thick branch in the shadows. She picked it up, and sure enough there were a pair of spiders, dust-like things with long hairs for legs and crumbs for bodies. The squeamish little princess behind her whined.

STOMP STOMP STOMP

Sonata didn't hesitate to do it with her bare foot, and in no time the spiders were reduced to a disfigured pair of imprints on the dirt. Sophia's face was tucked into her sister's dress, her hands clinging tight as buckle clasps. Sophia brushed her curly hair in reassurance, pulling the small figure towards her in a small hug.

"It's okay, Sophia. It was only a bug. Did it bite you? Did any get on your hand?" She half teased. Sophia sniffled, wiping her hands on her sister's dress before looking at them.

"Hey!"

Sniff. Sophia wiped the tears dripping down her apple cheeks with her sleeve, then showed her hands to her sister. Humoring her, Sonata turned them over, looking over and around her arms. "Nope, no more spiders," she confirmed, giving the small one another small squeeze. "Do you want to stack the firewood inside for me? I'll do the picking up and make a pile out here, you can carry them inside. Then there won't be any bugs."

Sophia nodded, rubbing her face. Sonata began to hand her the stick she'd just picked up, taller than she was. "Wait." She pressed the thinner end against the ground, pushing it down with all her weight until it snapped in half. "Here." The handed the small waiting hands the two halves. "Be careful of the splinters, okay?" Sophia nodded.

...

The world outside was complete darkness. It was to be expected, as there were no other people to light flames here, no dim lights from a city in the distance, anywhere around. Sophia cuddled, curled against her sister's side. Her head was tucked between her shoulder and the fur cloak, the gentle rock of her breathing mixing with the crackling of fire and the howling of wind and the occasional sound of a rodent outside. They'd thrown the dragon cloak over a rock and layered it with their own cloaks and the other clothes they weren't wearing for some cushioning, but in all, it was still a rock.

Sophia was tired, but she wasn't quite asleep yet. Her hand still grasped tight the sleeve of Sonata's underdress, which she just used as a nightgown for now, she could still feel the occasional tickle of her sister's eyelashes shifting.

"Sis? Where's mama?" She asked again, her little peridot eyes wide and concerned as they peeked up from the corner of Sonata's shoulder.

She's gone to find father, she almost repeated.

I don't know, she almost admitted.

She gently brushed Sophia's pale hair. "Do you miss your mother?" She asked.

Sophia's eyes widened a little, then she turned around briefly, looking around the cave. Thinking.

"I'm scared." She presses her head against Sonata again, hugging her arm. "What if something comes? Will Mamà save us?" She asked.

Sonata nibbled her lip. Luckily Sophia was looking away, so she didn't see. There was silence until Sophia looked up, her concern a little more visible, her movements and pronunciations a little more jerky. "Why aren't you answering?"

Sonata stared down with wide eyes at the expectant little girl. She was scared, but she had to be strong. Everything would be okay, she needed to assure her that everything would be okay. But she was scared, herself. She didn't want to die, but more than that she didn't want her sister to die. She was so, so scared.

She pulled Sophia into a hug, bending over her to hide her face. Her voice was a little broken, but she tried to hide her fear. She tried so hard.

"If something comes, I'll protect you." She pressed Sophia's head against her shoulder, reassuring herself more than anyone. "I promise, I'm right here, I'll protect you. I promised mother I'd protect you."

She could feel some heat, and then wetness against her shoulder. Sophia said nothing.

The tears Sonata felt threatening her never came. She sat holding she smaller figure, rubbing her small back as she soundlessly cried until she tired herself out. The crackling of fire was her sole companion for a long time, until an exhausted Sonata was finally dragged down to sleep as well.

Alone in a cave.