"You ready?"

"…No."

Arcade gripped Couries thin shoulders, peering nervously around her on the makeshift sled. He noted how steep the hill was his friend had chosen and shuttered.

"This isn't safe."

Courie laughed and nodded.

"Yup, aint it grand?"

"As your medical consultant, I must advise against doing th-"

Courie pushed off, sending the two of them on a thin piece of wood to a screaming death. Arcade vaguely remembered calling out for his mother before they made contact with a snow bank at the bottom of the hill, the impact knocking him out.

"Arcade?" Courie called, dragging herself out from a snowy tomb. She stood and looked around, flakes of snow falling from her hair as she turned.

"Ahhhh"

She turned to her right. A few feet away Arcade was uncovering himself, stumbling and falling as he struggled to get his legs free. Courie walked over and grabbed him by the arm, hauling him up and onto his feet.

"You okay?" She laughed, ruffling his blonde hair to get the snow out. Arcade wiggled his tongue around in his mouth and winced. He leaned over and calmly spit out blood.

"I thin I bi meh tong!"

"…. What?"

"I bi meh tong!"

"What's that Lassie? Who's trapped in a well?"

The only reason she knew that joke was because of a pre-war book he had showed her. For some reason, that pissed Arcade off even more. Angrily he stuck his tongue out, revealing several bloody bite marks. Courie cringed and placed a hand over her mouth, trying to stifle shocked laughter.

She wasn't very successful.

Arcade tried to yell out an insult in Latin, but with his injured tongue it just came out in a jumble. Courie took in a deep breath, somewhat controlling her giggling.

"You still haven't told me were that well is."

Arcade narrowed his eyes and stormed off back up the hill, trying to look as dignified as possible while struggling to keep his balance in the snow.

"Oh come on dear!" Courie called after him "Don't be like that!"

XXXXX

Following the several sets of footprints in the snow, a few minutes later Courie made her way back to the campsite. Boone was sitting up against a tree, asleep. Rex was beside him, resting his head on the ex-soldiers leg. Arcade was standing by the fire, arms folded across his chest and shivering. He completely ignored Courie as she walked behind him to her back pack and took out a large blanket. She wrapped it around herself, then joined the doctor by the fire.

"Cold?" She asked sweetly. She extended one arm, offering him to join her under the blanket. He watched her out of the corner of his eye and said nothing, a bitter look on his face. Courie sighed.

"Come on now, im sorry. Now come over here before you turn into an Arcade-cicle"

Arcade gave an amused grunt and turned to her. She smiled sincerely, convincing him. He walked over and pulled the end of the blanket over his shoulders, wrapping them both together.

"Better?"

Arcade nodded like a small child, trying to keep a smile off his face.