#tsvd!au

"Jax?" Dim light filled the caravan as Ragatha stepped inside, avoiding a loose arrow.

She could barely see a foot in front of her, stumbling on a pile of fabric.

Tucked away in a corner, Jax lay curled up, covered in sweat despite the cold air. "What do you want?"

"It's freezing in here." Keeping her space, Ragatha knelt down next to him. "Why don't you come by the fire? It's much warmer...Pomni's cooking, so the food should be edible."

"Go away," the wagon creaked as he rolled away from her. Sighing to herself, Ragatha sat down and smoothed the creases out of her dress.

It was a green and red plaid one—Caine had said it was for Christmas—that sat off her shoulder, so she had to wear a jacket. "You're going to freeze."

"Lovely"

"Jax...come on, I'm worried about you." The smell of lemon and star anise filled the wagon as she played with a loose thread. "Please."

He jerked upright and gave her a sharp glare, ears pulled back. "You can't tell?"

Frowning, she tilted her head to the side, checking him for injuries. From what she could see, he was fine.

No missing limbs, no blood, no bones. She sniffed the air; maybe it was some sort of disease? Clove, that was normal, then something woodsy.

Jax looked up at her, sighing to himself. "Figure it out yet?"

"I don't know, you don't smell upset." Bracing herself to be pushed away, Ragatha leaned closer. "You smell nice, actually."

"Seriously? Is the cotton in your head this dense?" The fabric slipped off of him as he sat up, crossing his arms over his chest. "I'm in heat."

"Oh!" Instantly, her face turned red, and she sat back, trying to splutter out a sentence. "I, uh, I..."

The sharp scent of lemon filled the small space, making them both cough.

It mixed with Jax's scent to create an oddly homey-- if overpowering-- smell. Cringing, Jax uncrossed his arms and scooted over. "..."

"Do you want me to sit next to you?"

"Do it before I change my mind."

"Right, okay." She scooted in next to him, taking off her jacket and laying it over his shoulders. "Here, you looked cold."

"..." Jax didn't respond, only pulling the jacket tighter around himself and lying back down.

He poked Ragatha's thigh a few times until she uncrossed her legs.

Just as she looked down to ask him what was wrong, he placed his head on her thigh, glaring up at her. "Not a word, dollface."

Red-faced, she nodded and set her hands in her lap, staring at the wagon wall. Time passed in silence, colors swirling outside the wagon in some sort of sunrise.

Jax stirred next to her, blinking awake. "You're still here?"

"Why wouldn't I be?" Shaking herself awake, Ragatha tilted her head to the side and looked down at him. "Are you feeling any better?"

"No," the wood groaned as he sat up, looking out the window at the trees that surrounded their campsite. "..."

"Are you hungry? I think I heard Pomni cooking something." Rubbing her hands together, she leaned closer to him, moving to kiss his snout before backing off. "Sorry, may I?"

"Make it fast."

After a quick kiss, she stepped outside of the wagon, finding everyone huddled around a campfire.

Pomni frowned, Gangle and Zooble exchanged looks, and Kinger gave her an approving nod. Pomni stood up and handed her a plate of sausages. "Is Jax okay?"

"Yeah, he's, uh..." Ragatha glanced back at the wagon, "Doing better."

"What's wrong with him anyway?" Brushing dirt off himself, Zooble looked at the door of the wagon. "It's not like he had to fight bears or anything."

"Uh..."

Just then, Jax slammed the wagon door open and shuffled over to Ragatha, shoving a sausage in his mouth. "Mind your own business, Legos."

"C-come on, Jax, it's cold out here." Laughing awkwardly, Ragatha backed towards the wagon, pulling him by the strap of his overalls. "We'll see you guys later."

In the wagon, he slumped down on a cushion, picking at his food. Ragatha sat down next to him, smiling softly. "I missed this...us."

"..." He didn't look up, but he moved slightly closer, resting his head on hers. "Us, huh?"