21. Lux

21

LUX

L ux shifted slightly, trying to sit up without putting too much pressure on her injured leg. The movement didn't go unnoticed. Zoey glanced over her shoulder, her eyes softening as she met Lux's gaze.

It had been an hour since the landslide incident, and her leg felt slightly better.

"How are you feeling?" Zoey asked, carrying a tenderness that Lux had grown to crave.

Lux managed to smile, though it was laced with discomfort.

"Better, I think. The leg still hurts, but it's not unbearable."

Zoey scooted over to meet Lux. "There should be a river close by. We could find something to eat maybe?"

"More berries?"

"Yeah," Zoey responded.

Lux didn't care for fruit at the moment. She wanted to reach out, pull Zoey closer, and let her know how much she meant to her. But she held back, her mind wrestling with the tension between desire and caution.

But they were both exhausted, physically and emotionally. The last thing she wanted was to push too far, too fast.

Zoey shifted slightly, adjusting to look at Lux more directly. Her hand moved to Lux's cheek, and she leaned in, pressing her lips gently against hers. The kiss was soft and tentative, but it sent a rush of warmth through Lux's body, waking something deep inside her. At that moment, Zoey's touch was everything she needed—gentle reassurance filled with a quiet passion impossible to ignore.

But just as quickly as it started, the kiss ended. Zoey pulled back, her expression a mix of affection and concern.

"You should rest," she said softly. "I'll go get us some food, okay?"

Lux nodded, though she wasn't ready to let Zoey go. "Be careful."

Zoey smiled, that familiar warmth returning to her eyes. "I will. I'll be back soon."

Lux watched as Zoey walked away.

Once Zoey was gone, Lux lay back down, her thoughts spinning in a thousand different directions. The kiss lingered on her lips, and the memory of Zoey's touch sent sparks of desire through her.

Lux tried to push it aside, reminding herself they were still in a dangerous situation. But it was hard to ignore how her body responded to Zoey, how her heart seemed to beat a little faster whenever she was nearby.

She tried to focus on anything else—the sounds of the forest outside and the faint crackle of the fire—but it all circled back to Zoey. Lux closed her eyes, willing herself to calm down. No matter how strong they were, now wasn't the time to get lost in her feelings.

After what felt like an eternity, Zoey finally returned. Lux opened her eyes, sitting up as best she could. But when she saw what Zoey was carrying, her breath caught in her throat.

She held a dead rabbit by its hind legs. Lux stared at it, shock rippling through her. "You…you hunted it?"

Zoey blinked, then let out a small laugh, though she seemed uncomfortable. "He was badly injured in the landslide, he was crying in pain. He wouldn't have survived. It was a kindness.. and, I didn't want him to go to waste." she explained, setting the rabbit down on a flat stone.

Zoey seemed to sense Lux's unease, and she quickly moved to change the subject. "I also found some fruit." She pulled a small bundle of berries from her pocket. "They should help keep us going."

Lux's tension eased a little at the sight of the berries. She was grateful for Zoey's thoughtfulness, even in such dire circumstances. "Thank you."

Zoey handed Lux a few berries and sat beside her, taking one of Lux's hands in hers. Lux looked down at their joined hands, her heart swelling with emotion. She could feel the warmth of Zoey's touch and the steadiness of her presence, which brought her a sense of comfort she hadn't felt in a long time.

After a while, Zoey shifted. "We should probably build a secure shelter," she said. "Something that will keep us safe through the night."

"We lost most of the stuff at the previous camp, Zoe," Lux said. "We don't have much here anymore."

"Luckily, I was more than just a girl scout."

"You were a scout?"

Zoey saluted. "I learned to set up camp with just wood."

"All right, lieutenant," Lux said. "And how much wood do we need?"

"Not much," Zoey said. "We only need something to keep above our heads while we sleep."

Lux nodded. "What do you need me to do?"

Zoey smiled, genuinely making Lux's heart skip a beat. "You can help me gather more sticks," Zoey said.

Lux glanced around, her eyes scanning the makeshift lean-to they had started to build. The ground was rough and covered with scattered leaves and twigs. She watched Zoey thatch the branches together to form a perfect fit, her movements swift and confident.

Lux felt a swell of admiration for Zoey's resourcefulness. They had gathered enough sticks to construct a simple shelter to give them a little protection.

"You've done this before, haven't you?" Lux asked, her tone light.

"Not exactly," Zoey said, concentrating on her task. "But I've seen it done enough times to have an idea. Plus, we don't have much choice, right?"

Lux nodded, feeling a little more secure with Zoey's presence. "It's impressive, though. You just… you seem to know what you're doing."

Zoey gave her a small smile. "Survival instinct, I guess. I just do what needs to be done."

As Zoey finished, Lux stepped back to examine their work. It wasn't perfect, but it was better than nothing. The makeshift shelter had a decent frame with good cover from the elements.

Zoey wiped her hands on her pants and looked over at Lux. "Let's get more sticks. The bigger ones will work better for the walls."

The two of them worked silently, gathering sticks and larger branches, creating a pile near their shelter.

Once they had enough, Zoey placed them along the sides of the frame, leaning them against the frame. Lux watched her, occasionally helping when Zoey asked but mostly observing how Zoey worked.

"What's next?" Lux asked.

"Now we gather leafy branches to make a mat for on top of the roof. It'll help keep the rain off."

"Lux chuckled. "Rain?"

"We can't leave it to chance, can we?"

"I guess not." Lux gathered leafy branches and started placing them on the frame. "Got it."

"Perfect," Zoey said, arranging the leaves to get the most coverage.

There was something captivating about how Zoey moved, her hands worked the materials, and her mind focused on the task. After a while, Zoey stepped back to assess their progress. "Not bad," she said, tilting her head slightly. "It'll do for now."

Lux smiled, a bit of pride swelling in her chest. "Yeah, it's not bad at all."

They both stepped inside the makeshift structure, crouching slightly to fit under the low ceiling. It was cramped, but it provided some protection from the elements. The ground inside was still hard, but they could make it more comfortable later.

"At least we're not completely exposed," Zoey said, settling down on the ground.

Lux sat down beside her, their shoulders brushing. The closeness sent a warmth through Lux that made her heart beat a little faster. She could feel the tension in the air, the kind that had nothing to do with fear or survival but with something much more intimate.

"So…you're okay with this?" Zoey asked.

Lux glanced at Zoey, noticing the way her eyes softened as she looked at her. "Yeah," she said quietly. "I'm okay with it. More than okay."

Zoey reached out and took Lux's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. Lux's heart fluttered at the touch, her thoughts briefly straying to places she tried to avoid. She liked Zoey—more than liked her—but she wasn't sure what that meant for them, especially in their current situation.

Zoey let go of her hand and leaned back, closing her eyes. "We're going to be okay, you know," she said. "No matter what happens."

Lux nodded, her gaze fixed on Zoey's face. "Yeah," she echoed. "We'll be okay."

Lux wanted to reach out again, touch Zoey and feel her close, but she held back, not wanting to push too far. She had to remind herself to stay calm and not let her emotions get the better of her.

Zoey reached out and gently cupped Lux's cheek, her thumb brushing lightly against her skin. "I'm just glad I found you."

Lux's breath hitched at the touch, her heart pounding. She leaned into Zoey's hand, closing her eyes as she savored the moment. Their connection felt undeniable.

Zoey leaned in closer, her breath warm against Lux's skin. "I'm here," she whispered. "I'm not going anywhere."

Lux opened her eyes, meeting Zoey's gaze. The intensity in Zoey's eyes sent a shiver down her spine, and she felt herself leaning in, closing the distance between them. Their lips met in a soft, tentative kiss, one that quickly deepened as they lost themselves in the moment.

Zoey's hand slid down to Lux's waist, pulling her closer as the kiss intensified. Lux's hands found their way to Zoey's shoulders, gripping them tightly as the heat between them grew. She could feel the tension melting away, replaced by something much more powerful.

When they finally pulled apart, they were both breathless, their hearts racing in sync. Lux rested her forehead against Zoey's. Her eyes closed as she tried to calm the whirlwind of emotions inside her.

Zoey's voice was soft when she spoke, her breath still heavy. "We should probably get some rest."

Lux nodded, though sleep was the last thing on her mind. "Yeah."

They shifted slightly, making themselves more comfortable on the hard ground. Zoey wrapped an arm around Lux, pulling her close, and Lux nestled into her embrace, feeling a sense of safety and warmth that she hadn't felt in a long time.

As they lay there, the makeshift tent providing a barrier against the outside world, Lux allowed herself to relax. She listened to the steady rhythm of Zoey's breathing, letting it soothe her as she drifted closer to sleep.

Zoey's voice broke the silence, a soft murmur that made Lux's heart flutter. "I'm glad you're here with me, Lux."

Lux smiled, her eyes still closed as she replied, "I'm glad you're here too."