Steam [Open]

[Anzeh]

It was a rare moment. Brother and sister, scaling a mountain together.

It was almost cute, if Zuri wasn't angry and Zayn wasn't listening patiently to her rants to categorize her mind. But it was still pretty cute. Neither of them were wearing thick clothing--in fact, Zuri was wearing her normal attire save for the large backpack. The blistering cold bit at them, but neither nightmare noticed.

"I mean, really!" She screamed over the wind, even though it wasn't necessary. Zayn was right behind her, so she could have used her inside voice, but that wasn't as fun. This was one of those 'I'm angry at my spouse' trips, and they were never any fun without some screaming. Zayn's hands were in his pockets. He had brought no gear. He didn't need anything. Zuri was the one who wanted to be prepared.

All Zayn had was his bare hands. THAT was roughing it.

Even for a bonkernut like him, Zayn had mastered the art of talking to girls who were immersed in their own problems. He nodded and tossed in a good 'no way' and 'that's not right', and a choice 'oh no he di-int". The funny thing was the Zayn was mentally recording everything she said, and he would transcribe it later. So he could give perfectly legit answers, but chose not to.

Not many guys could say that about themselves.

Zuri tossed her stuff into a low cave and continued up. Perhaps she had taken that stuff for a workout. Now they were truly bonding. The duo climbed up the mountain fearlessly and killed their dinner, carrying it back down to a cave they had vacated. Zayn soon had a fire going and began to cook their meat.

Silence. Zuri started talking again, but she sounded much sadder. She sounded like a kicked creature... but only for a moment. She then became angry again. All throughout their feast she talked and Zayn was silent. Finally, while she was breathing, Zayn made a comment that a man was never supposed to make to an enraged female, human or not:

"Are you on the rag?"

She threw a hot spit at him and shifted into the tiny kitten she was, curling up away from him. His brotherly nature seemed to kick in and he shifted, warming his little sister with his larger body and thicker fur.

Zayn was on alert while Zuri slept. He would love to enter her succulent dreams and see what truths lay inside, but now was not the time.