Inside the Circle

Chapter 4: Spark


The blackness of the woods was total, but the path to the cabin was familiar. There’d been no hurry; they’d both needed the stillness and each other’s company under the trees. In darkness, they’d paused outside to collect wood from the woodpile, and in darkness they worked familiar evening tasks. Conversation was nonexistent out of necessity and habit until the lanterns were lit, then the fire.

The fire warmed the old cabin in more ways than one, and Scarlett began to revisit her former state of relaxation. Down times were few and far between and she was too much of a soldier to not take advantage of opportunity when it came her way. That is of course, if her brooding companion would cooperate. The cabin offered them no distraction from one another. The close quarters magnified his earlier restlessness.

After several aborted attempts at conversation on her part while heating their canned dinner on the grate over the fire, Snake Eyes straightened up abruptly. “I’ll be back. I’m going to clean up.” His signed shorthand was cast half over one shoulder as he headed for the door. She grunted softly in her throat and was by his side in a second.

“No, Snake-eyes.” He half looked at her. “You know what? You’re done brooding tonight.” She said.

He released a drawn out breath, but she leaned her body into his from behind, laying her palm over his where it held the door latch. “If I let you out that door, you’re going to spend the rest of the night sitting lotus in a tree, or standing on your head under that waterfall thinking arcane thoughts.”

He shook his head and raised his hand to speak, but she gave him an arched look. “We’ll worry about honor and glory and Stormshadow tomorrow, hero. Right now? I want you with me.” Her eyes gleamed, and her finger tapped the side of his head. “And that means /with/ me.” He just stared at her.


“That’s an order Sergeant...” She said.


He debated for a moment, raising his right eyebrow, then the door closed behind him, his reply barely visible in the flickering shadows by the door. “Aye-Aye Sergeant.”

“Glad we have that settled.” She smiled and drew him back into the room, giving him a small push towards the low table. “Let’s eat. We haven’t had a bite since this morning, and I don’t know about you, but I’m starved.”

He knelt and settled cross-legged on a woven mat before the table, not removing his footwear until just before he’d stepped onto the sanded platform supporting the table. The entire cabin was a mixture of Japanese and North American rustic, and while the furniture was decently civilized, most of the floor-space was not, making it less than practical to move about in socks or even barefoot. Following his example, Scarlett settled before the table, dishing out canned beef stew for the two of them. She smiled. Some days were easier than others.

Of course by the end of the meal, she was back to frowning at him. He was still preoccupied, she could tell from the set of his shoulders. He’d successfully deflected every attempt at refocus she’d thrown at him. Snake-Eyes wasn’t even acknowledging the look of concern on her face while he cleaned up chow.


She debated leaving him be after all. Then she narrowed her eyes. There was more than one way to skin this cat. Sliding her hair back from her face she levered up from the platform to go to him. Her knowing smile, and the slowing shift of her body language broadcast her intent even as she snaked around and pressed her lips softly to his. She paused, her lips hovering over his. Frustrated with his slow response, she deepened the kiss. Shortly, he sighed and bent to her, his hands coming up to cup her jaw. She smiled, pulling back enough for their eyes to focus on each other. Her fingers traced along the tight, smooth ridges of burn scar on his cheek and jaw. Her voice was patient. “Now lover, it also occurs to me, there’s more than one way to clear a troubled mind….”