What Is Left After?

"Drink the milk the," I say. "It's UHT, so it should still be good."

Jelsa: I laughed. "Maybe it'll help me grow taller," I joked as I grabbed some.

"I've been drinking a huge volume of milk for a very long time," I say, "and my bones are 10 percent denser than that of someone else my age and size. I don't know whether it's a coincidence."
I sit next to her and stroke her hair while she drinks.

Jelsa: I smiled as he stroked my hair. "Well, hopefully it'll help me grow some more," I joked. "Although I haven't grown for seven years, so it's unlikely."

"You don't need to be taller," I chuckle. "You're fun-size."
I stroke her cheek gently, and frown.
"Although you are very thin."

Jelsa: I giggled. "Fun-sized, huh? Well, that's good. It's fun to be fun-sized. And thin."

"I do worry about how thin you are," I say. "We don't know how long the food will last for, and if we have a bad winter..."
I shrug. "I will happily starve in place of you, but that will not do forever."

((Also, guess what I learnt to do on holiday!))

Jelsa: I shook my head. "We'll figure out a way," I whispered. "I know we will. Don't say stuff like that."

(haha what'd you learn to do?)

I smile. "I'm sure you're right. But for now, you need to eat something."

((I learnt how to hang and shackle a man in one piece of rope!))

Jelsa: I nodded and took a little of the food. "Are you any good at planting stuff?" I asked. "My brother used to grow food."

(O.o that sounds like fun? )

"I know the principle, but I've never actually tried it. We had better be prepared for some rough harvests... Unless you are experienced at horticulture?"
I draw a steel hip-flask from my coat and take a very slight sip. I wipe the top and proffer it to Jelsa.
"Cherry brandy? It's powerful stuff, so just take a slight sip."

((It's a wonderful skill. I now know a lot about knots.))

Jelsa: I shook my head. "I'm not much for the outdoors, but I can learn, especially if it means survival." I glanced at the drink for a moment, hesitant. I was never a huge fan of drinking from the same containers as other people, but I was curious, so I took a sip. "It's...got an interesting taste..."

(hahahhaa. I'm sure that's useful when you're writing!)

"Bit of a kick, eh? But it's one of my coping mechanisms."
I notice her hestitation. "I don't normally share flasks, but alcohol is a natural anti-septic, so I make an exception."

((It will be. Also, I'm going to give "me" some of the stuff that I will have shortly and would take with me in this instance. A book on knots, and a pair of mediaeval gauntlets. Also, let's assume that "you" have a lot of rope with you.))

Jelsa: I stared at the flask for a bit, then passed it back to him. "Yeah," I said. "Things change when the world ends."

(sounds good to me. I have a lot of rope because that was all I could find? xD)

"Absolutely. Do you want something to eat?"

((I meant, as well as the stuff "you" already have.))

Jelsa: I sighed. "Nah, I'm actually not that hungry right now." I smiled at him. "But thanks for asking. You're so considerate."

(haha I forgot what I have. I think I mighta bought cheese though, I like cheese...)

"Fair enough. Remind me, are there still wolves and bears in America?"

((Cheese is good.))

Jelsa: I frowned. "Well, I personally haven't seen any around, but there might be a few."

(I know, right? )

I maintain a cool exterior. "That's cool. We can cope with wolves and bears."
I take a slightly larger sip of cherry brandy.

Jelsa: I laughed. "You mean you'll take care of them while I hide from them," I teased.

"What I mean is, I'll distract them until you're safe and then run like no one has ever run before. I reckon that with a bear after me I could beat Ussein Bolt at 100 metres."

Jelsa: I frowned. "But you'll be able to get away too, right?" I didn't want him to think I'd leave him stuck with a bear...

"I can hope," I say. "But let's not think about that right now."

Jelsa: I shook my head. "Different subject," I whispered. Suddenly, a lump rose in my throat, and I wrapped my arms around him. "I'm so scared..."

"We're both alive yet," I whisper, patting her on the head.