“What are you looking for?” Lephas asked, watching her curiously.
“This.” Lori's hand emerged with the bottle of whisky.
“To celebrate a successful day hunting?” He gestured to the rabbit.
Lori laughed, popping the stopper on the bottle “Exactly. To real food – and not dying!” She took a small sip before handing Lephas the bottle.
“Now that's a good toast – to not dying!” He grinned and took a swig from the bottle himself.
“That's... Not whisky.” Lori coughed.
“Well, notjustwhisky is probably more accurate,” Lephas agreed, his voice hoarse and eyes watering.
“What is that stuff? It's noxious!” Lori exclaimed.
“Probably homemade moonshine, mixed with whisky and a couple of other spirits.” Lephas laughed.
He turned the rabbit over so the opposite side lay inthe flames. It was already crackling nicely and delicious aromas filled the air around them.
“Hm, it's still alcoholic I guess.” Lori took another sip, wincing.
They sat in a comfortable silence for long moments, watching the rabbit cooking and passing the bottle of unidentifiable spirits between them. As the last of the daylight abandoned them, small, fine flakes of snow began to fall.
Lephas sighed. “Great. Snowing again.”
“I know it makes things difficult for us, but I still think it's pretty.” Lori smiled softly, gazing up into the darkening night sky.
“I guess.” Lephas glanced across at her. The faerie had her face upturned, watching the snow falling. The snow may have been pretty, but she was stunning. He swallowed and turned his attention back to the rabbit meat, reaching for another sip from the bottle.
Lori tended to the water pot, allowing it to bubble violently for thirty seconds before hastily removing it from the fire. She placed it in the deep snow, a foot or so away. The ice melted away quickly surrounding it.
“I think it might be done.” Lephas pulled the rabbit from the flames and looked over it carefully.
“I'm starving,” Lori whined, sitting up on her kneeseagerly.
“Me too.”
He pulled his gloves off and carefully began picking the carcass apart. He handed a juicy piece of leg meat to Lori and the girl didn't waste any time. She took a big greedy bite. It was hot, but that didn't seem to faze her.
Lephas watched the faerie eating as he eagerly devoured his own leg piece. He liked her enthusiasm for food, he found it endearing. There was nothing he hated more than a woman who pushed a few salad leaves around and then claimed she was full.
Lori finished her first helping quickly and was reaching for the second with grease from the rabbit all over her cheeks. He smiled to himself.
They ate quickly and in silence, betraying their hunger. Lephas felt his energy returning as his stomach filled.
The snow began to fall heavier and big flakes fluttered all around. Without the howling winds from the day before, it fell silently and serenely.
The rabbit was picked clean in no time and washed down by a healthy swig of miscellaneous alcohol. Lephas sat back, leaning on his arms, and Lori sat beside him with her gloves removed as she picked rabbit from her teeth.
She sighed happily. “That was good.”
“Glad we caught the 'poor bunny' now?” Lephas teased.
“I still feel a little guilty.” She smiled and turned to address the pile of bones. “Sorry Mr Bunny. You were delicious.”
“How much of that bottle have you drunk already?” Lephas laughed as he shuffled backwards so he was sat further underneath the cover of the lean-to. He noticed that Lori had already laid out the thin travel mattress, as well as a woollen blanket he had forgotten he'd packed.
Lori didn't answer but held up the bottle. Almost a quarter was absent already. The faerie took another swig and passed it across. Lephas placed the bottle to the side, out of the way.
