Now I'll try to talk to Alicen.

When your mind clears, you sit up and let all the air from your lungs. “I should have talked to you.”

Alicen snaps her fingers, and you are once again clothed, and she’s fully dressed too, but just as slutty as when she first appeared. She sits on your lap and makes a pouty face. “My poor baby boy.”

“I’m serious,” you say.

“Fine,” Alicen says, now with red hair and vibrant violet eyes. “But I don’t think you have the mental capacity to keep me around for much longer. It’s harder to maintain all of this—“ she gestures to her amazing body and perfect features. then the cabin. “All in unison when your guest is all drained.”

“Am I asleep somewhere then?”

“You’re awake,” she rolls her eyes. “That’s why I said what I said– Ugh. Listen to yourself. You’re so hardly kept together you hardly understand anything. Humans are so annoying and weak sometimes…”

“Whatever,” you complain. “Can I talk to you now?”

“You can try.” She folds her arms and looks at you. Lowering her head slightly to listen.

“Well, I was thinking about why Scarlet would—“

“Good luck, Warren,” Alicen says. “Don’t die. I’m no guardian angel. I can’t keep you babysat all the time.”

“Wait!” You stand, but everything blinks back to a dingy and broken cabin. The fireplace is covered by snow, the windows are shattered, the door is gone, and the walls have holes in them. “Fuck.”

When you return to the home of the Tiger Cubs, everyone is lounging; tinkering with guns, sharpening knives, playing cards— it’s like an army barracks waiting for orders. This is something you weren’t used to. The spirit of the TC1 group was nonexistent. Nearly all members were treating the winter like a vacation. So, without anything to do on your own, you decide to try the same thing. Falling on your cot, you drift into an odd form of sleep. You’re aware that there are people around you, but you are enveloped so much by your own mind that it’s easy to confuse what is and isn’t real.

It isn’t until Scarlet shakes you awake that you’re brought back to full consciences. You blink and few times and stretch while releasing a deep and long yawn.

Scarlet studies you as you roll around in your cot, covering your face with your arm. “I almost feel bad waking you up.”

“Then why are you?”

“Dinner time unfolded about an ago, and everyone’s eaten.”

The smell of lingering food finally enters your nose. You weren’t hungry but decided to eat anyway. “Thanks.”

Scarlet follows you as you get a tray and eating utensils. You swoop vegetarian spaghetti into your tray and then some steamed mixed vegetables. Corn, peas, carrots— and some dense pound cake. Scarlet grabs one too before she trails you to the table.

In silence, you eat, regarding neither Scarlet nor anyone else in the room for a full 5 minutes before you cave in.

“How’re you feeling, Scarlet?”

“I’m fine, I guess. Are you comfortable with me leading the return back to the others?” She asks, and you oblige.

“I think we will manage just fine with you, and I lead the party out. Just like last time.”

She shakes her head. “I don’t want a partner this time. You know I want you out, so I best get used to traveling alone again.”

You frown. “No offense, but is now the time to be playing the Alpha?”

“I need it for me,” she says. “Besides, if I’m sitting here talking to you, I’m obviously not doing some kind of a power play against you. Gah… listen. I’m not going to beg you, but are you going to let me lead us out?”

“Knock yourself out,” you chew, then swallow. “Feel free to use the maps I have of the area. Jordyn gave me one already, but feel free to snoop for more.”

“I got what I need,” she sighs. “Just needed you off my ass on the hike back, was all.”

You wish there were humor behind her words, but they sounded flat. A raw form of sincerity that was rarely delivered. Her eyes are downcast as all banter closes, you eat for a few seconds, but the awkward air that drags into your lungs makes it difficult to swallow your food.