Riding away from the town, those fifteen or so minutes seemed to stretch out longer as the day had grown colder and the trees would soon shed their coats. Fall would soon be here as in their own time and they had to get back to their world as soon as possible. Time was of the essence and the longer they stayed here, the more they ran the risk of being discovered and without having made any allies just yet, it would be very bad.
As they entered the next town, the shops and pubs seemed to be emptying as the townsfolks hurried back to their homes in fear of the incoming chill and night. Back in their own time, it wasn't unusual to find the children all hiding inside when the cold weather fell. During this time, they were well inside before the first wave of darkness fell at any time of year, moreso at this one..
Finally making their way to an inn and to their room that the innkeeper led them to. The entire room was lit by sconces and candles making Viper silently curse this time's lack of electricity and heat. No oil, no gas, no electricity, none of the luxuries she held dear. Once the keeper left, Viper shed her scabbard and pulled out a coat she had packed in the saddlebag and wrapped it around her whilst Hawke added another log to the already lit fireplace in their room. Thank the dark gods for small miracles she thought, and began to conjure up two huge mugs of hot chocolate. Hawke didn't enjoy the beverage as she did so she had made sure to bring what he did enjoy, a few bottles of favorite whiskey from their time. Nothing warmed his blood with lightning speed he'd say as a few sips of that potent liquor did, albeit one thing.
Even from this refuge, she could hear the wind screaming against the windows as it battered the inn. With a "Be back in a tic", Hawke had gone outside to get more logs and to check on the horses in the barn, leaving Viper to settle on a seat in front of the now roaring fireplace. She stared into the flames and waited as the sky grew darker, occasionally sipping her steaming liquid. It may have been minutes, but it felt like hours that she waited, her drink slowly diminishing and the fire slowly dying.
She jumped up when the door burst open and blew the candles out that were placed throughout the room, revealing a dark figure looming in the doorway, his long coat swirling in the darkness as the cold rushed into the once cozy room. The empty mug had fallen silently on the rug as she stared at the intruder with her sword drawn in one hand and her dagger in the other, the only light coming from that near pitch hall were from his eyes glowing an ominous blue from under the veil of darkness and the light from the fireplace behind her. The wind continued to roar into the room, causing her now goose fleshed skin to prickle while a chill ran up her spine that was until he moved closer and the light from a window revealed his identity..
"You," she whispered both angrily and relieved, lowering her weapons and wrapping her arms around herself.
"Me," Hawke growled in a feigned menacing growl, his eyes growing brighter with amusement as they drank in her now relaxed body. He took a step forward, the floor creaking in protest beneath his weight and that of the logs he carried, his pace stopped to slam the door close behind him with the sole of his boot. The room became still once again as Hawke throw a few logs into the fire, stoking it to last the night.
Once he was satisfied with his work, he strode towards Viper, stopping only inches from her face as her eyes turned to look at him once again. She simply looked at him with his wind tangled black hair cascading over his stormy blue eyes. His scent invaded her nostrils, a mix of fire and earth, blood and flesh. His smell was so intoxicating and his eyes, those captivating blue orbs that glowed so fiercely, had frightened her, but she found herself unable to look away.
Their eyes fought a silent battle until she was forced to shake her head with a smile.
"If you ever do that again..."
"Scared you didn't I?" Hawke gloated "I still got it" Hawke chuckled incensing Viper further till she was staring at him through narrowed eyes. He simply gazed back with an intense smile on his angelic face, though he was far from an angel.
"Imma going to get you for that one" she finally laughed and walked over to kneel before the fire, warming herself after that little stunt and conjuring another mug of hot chocolate while Hawke opened his bottle to take a healthy swig.
And as they sat before the fire, a remote part of her, the Beast within all kindred, wanted to go out and explore the nightlife, but in this age and being in such an unfamiliar place, she opted to fight it back to keep a low profile from the denizens of the night, for now at least. She and Hawke would need to save their energy and discuss their plans. Tomorrow was another day and they still had work to do..