The next day when she woke up, she was feeling all the more tired, almost like she’d not slept. A quiet groan followed as she started to stretch, the light seemingly still getting inside their house and making it feel far later in the day, she was sure. This shift from proper day cycles to this had her dreading waking up; each day felt impossibly long and made things blur together. Maybe after they’d been there for awhile, her body would find a natural rhythm and she wouldn’t feel so damn rundown all the time.
But, much to her chagrin, she was up. She was awake. And rather than waking him up, Ve climbed out of bed and headed out to get started with her day. A few pieces of meat were put on a fire as she started quietly crafting a few pieces for the house, more walls needed than had been erected the day before.
----
Rahl was gifted when it came to sleeping, his mother often remarking that when he was well fed as a babe he would sleep through the night. Now, was no exception, content and relaxed, the man drifted off quickly once Ve had gone to sleep. The fact he was still asleep and she awake was strange, but if she was having trouble adjusting it was expected.
A large hand fumbling about for the familiar warmth and form of Ve, finding her space empty and cold roused the man rather quickly. Grateful he had elevated the roof or he would have surely connected with it in his haste to look for her. Certainly, they were safe up there, but that did not quell his concern that something could have happened when he was sleeping.
“Ve?” calling out to her while shrugging on his shirt.
---
It took her a second to realize he was calling her, as she hummed to herself to keep focused as she got the wall in place beside the stairwell. But, when she realized what she was hearing, she jogged over while calling out, “You okay, Rahl?” Rounding the corner, looking a little worn, but in good spirits. “I was working on the house. Got up a little early. Everything alright?” noting how he’d sounded.
----
Visibly relaxing he nodded, “Yes. Sorry, I woke up and you were gone, so I was a bit worried.” Closing the last bit of distance between them, pulling her into a hug and then giving her a soft kiss. “Still not sleeping well?” asking when he leaned back and got a better look at her.
“You look like you have not slept at all…”
----
Stepping into his hug with a soft sigh, the kiss returned with a smile, she looked up at him with mild confusion. “You sure know how to make a girl feel pretty,” joking with a laugh as she stepped away to check on the meat. “I’ve definitely slept. Think the lack of...proper nighttime is just getting to me. It’s always so bright and my body doesn’t seem to know when it’s time to sleep or time to wake up.”
The meat poked at a bit as though deciding if it were done enough before taking it off and putting it on one of the makeshift plates she’d made. “I’ll get used to it. Unfortunately, I was never the type to sleep very deeply when there was a drastic change, so I’m still getting used to it here. Nothing big.”
----
“I am sorry,” even if she was teasing he realized that his comment might have been a little insensitive. “I was just...well I am just concerned,” taking the offered plate with a small nod of thanks using his fingers to just pick it up and eat. “Tastes good, thank you.”
----
“Hey, no apologizing,” she quickly replied, smiling and trying to look a little less tired for him. “I would tell you if I didn’t feel okay. I’m just a little tired, but I’m less exhausted than I was yesterday and the fun last night gave me some extra pep in my step. That’s got to count for something, right?”
----
Nodding, “I would suppose.” Smirking at her, “After a couple of more nights or, once we are in a more home like structure it will all feel better?” offering up a bit of hope and making a note to not speak about her being tired again.
“How are we on resources? I can do some runs while you build?”
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“Maybe. That’s what I’m hoping, anyway. I think I’m going to set up a room up top of the house that I want to build, something that hopefully will have...some semblance of darkness. It doesn’t need to be a lot, but more than what we currently have,” smiling as she went to take a bite of her own food and frowned. The feeling of nausea was back as she smelled the food, bile rising that she quickly had to swallow back down. Choosing to focus instead on her drink, “I need more stone...a lot of stone, some wood, maybe some more metal? The house I want to make is going to have the workshop like before on the first level and then actual living space above it.”
----
“I can manage that,” happily eating his meal. “Metal and stone is easily with two, but wood I could get on my own. Depends on how often you want to keep going up and down for the gathering,” taking a sip of his water.
“Once we get all set up, I might be able to establish some form of elevator? Not sure how well that will work but I am willing to give it a go.”
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“Do you think you could make an elevator that reaches...that far down?” Just the idea of how high up they were was enough to make her queasy. “What would that look like?”
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“Well, from defeating those guardians I have an idea...it is like a plate that is…” pausing he raised his hands. “One would sit up here, the other down below and if I can get them to reach it is like...you are pushed down in a blink of an eye and then pulled up.”
----
It immediately sounded dangerous, standing out on some plate so high up and then just...appearing on the other end. She’d held reservations about the odd machine he’d put in her cave to make traveling back and forth easier, but this was a whole other level. This wasn’t ground floor moving from point a to point b; rather it was a high drop.
“And it’s safe? ...That sounds...I’m hesitant because of the…” Almost visibly paling as a hand went to her mouth. Whether it was the food or the fear of falling, she couldn’t say for certain. “Can we...box it in?”
----
“Of course,” face filled with concern he handed her his water just in case she was out. “I would never have you just out over the edge like that. I know how you fare with heights,” waiting until she seemed a bit more composed. “If not that, we could see about finding one of those great winged birds? They look strong enough to carry us and some of our large beasts even if loaded down,” always looking for an option for her comfort.
“Oh! Once we get some stronger beasts we could also maybe work on a place closer to the ground? Though there is little water in this place, still there is that option? Right?”
----
Waving his water off, holding up her own to assure him that she had some already, she took a few calming breaths and seemed to relax. “I know...that was a stupid question. You always make sure I’m alright, so I shouldn’t have assumed you didn’t consider that with the contraption. I think maybe when we’re more established, something lower might be nice? It’d be more easily accessed, safer so we don’t have to worry about falling over the edge...Then this place could be utilized for relaxing. Swimming in the pool of water, or just...pretending we aren’t stuck somewhere, working on a way to get out.”
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“We do have to continue our swimming lessons, no?” smiling trying to change the subject. “I could use a few more hands on lessons…” the tone implying they would likely be doing little in the way of lessons but it would be fun regardless.
----
His tone and the change in subject were once more welcomed, slipping right into that role she was comfortable with, lifting a brow as a grin slowly spread across her face. “I’m very good with my hands...We should continue those lessons soon. You know, in the event there’s water that we need to explore…” Licking her lip, her food and discomfort momentarily forgotten.
----
“You know...I did not think about that…” his own food all but ignored now. “How soon do you think? Want to make sure I am in proper form should we have a water based emergency…”
They could take a break for a bit, right? An hour...or two...or three? Just a bit of physical fun that had nothing to do with surviving but everything to do with enjoying one another.
----
“I’d say...right away. We can’t risk being caught out in the case of an emergency. What if something happens and, because we put the lessons off, we’re both in danger?” Nodding her head matter-of-factly, “It’s better we handle that now. When you’re done your food, of course. You’ll need your strength.”
----
Food eaten in a hurry, Rahl wasted no time in gathering Ve up into his arms and taking her toward the front of the build she had been working on. Starting in the shallow end, his lips found her own eagerly instantly forgetting about anything else but her.
Hours later and the couple was back to the grind. Gathering materials and exploring a bit more of the city. Ve staying uptop for most of it, with Rahl running to get resources. The pair did join back up to tame a few more flyers. The larger versions of her beloved Blue that handled better and seemed less bothered by Rahl’s weight but was not as slow as the great eagles. As the evening wound to a close there were a few more tames under their belts including giant sloths and a male rex to breed with the female they had caught. All in all, they were coming up in the world, but there was still the journey beyond the walls they had to contend with. A few precious resources they had yet to find and that meant leaving what bit of safety the metal towers provided and heading out into the unknown.
It was just a matter of if they went blue or red?
-Fin