Re: [Woods: Gwen/Melody/The Sheriff]
[The UTV wasn't the newest model, but it worked just fine, huh? It traversed the narrow veinsa the woods, bumpy and loud, with headlights catching on tree trunks bright as chalk. If there was anybody else there—animals or otherwise, Cris didn't see nonea them. He had on his uniform beneath issued coat, collar pulled up to his ears and a beanie tugged down over untamed black. For the first time, too, he was kinda glad he had the beard going on. It didn't do a lot, but it did some, holding his own heat close brief before it wicked away. He had somea those handwarmers stuck against his palms, more in his pockets, unopened. He didn't know what state the girls would be in either, huh? So he had a first aid kit. He'd strapped a couplea blankets in and two coats—not the best, but they'd help.
He didn't really know what he was supposed to be looking for, 'sides two "fugitives." He wasn't even sure what he was gonna encounter, but the Sheriff didn't have his piece at the ready. Maybe he shoulda, but it woulda been real hard to drive, and his gut told him, least with whoever it was—Melody and the other girl—it wouldn't be something he had to worry 'bout. He just hoped it was right.
It was ten or so minutes into the rough ride that the headlights found something other than bland, faceless bark. And Cris killed the engine quick, not wanting to approach when they wouldn't be able to hear him say his parta the dumb lil code he'd told 'em to say. Fumbling with the fleece gloves a bit, he fished his flashlight offa his hip and trudged toward the shapes lurking before him.] What're you girls doin' out here so late? [He said it loud.] Snow's comin'. [It wasn't, but that was the point. He waited for their answer, but honestly, the code was more for them to know it was him. He didn't need to hear the words to know the two girls huddled in the watt-bright beama his flashlight were the ones he was looking for. They were practically turning blue. He started shrugging outta his own coat, hurried and thoughtless.] C'mere.