Heavy. The kind that hangs after something almost ends. Elijah didn't move for a second. Rifle still raised. Watching, waiting.
Then the bear twitched once, then went still. Clara realized she hadn't been breathing. She pulled in air sharp enough to hurt. Elijah. He turned then.
Looked at her. Face cold, focused, but his eyes his eyes searched her. Are you hurt? She shook her head. No.
He nodded once. Then the tension left his shoulders. Just a little. Clara stepped forward into the snow toward him. Her boots sank deep.
But she didn't stop. Didn't think. She reached him and grabbed his coat. Both hands. Hard, you could have the words broke.
Wouldn't come out. Her fingers tightened. Like if she let go he might disappear. Elijah looked down at her. Then slowly set the rifle aside.
His hands came up. Careful. Always careful. He touched her arms. Not pulling.
Just steadying. I didn't. Simple. But it wasn't enough. Not for what she felt right then.
She stepped closer. Pressed into him. Her face against his chest. Breathing uneven. His body went still for a second.
Then his arms closed around her. Slow. Strong. Warm. Blocking out the cold.
Blocking out everything else. You don't get to do that again. She said into his coat. Her voice muffled. Rough.
Stand there like that. Like you don't matter. He let out a quiet breath. I had to. You didn't.
Yes. She pulled back just enough to look up at him. Snow in her hair. Eyes sharp. You don't get to decide that alone anymore.
The words landed. Hard. He didn't answer right away. Just looked at her. Like he was trying to understand something new.
Something he hadn't had before. All right. He said finally. Soft. Real.