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  This is a continuation of Giftmas Jerky part 1.

  I recommend reading chapters 3-6 of Locus: The Age of Spring, and Giftmas Jerky Pt 1 before reading further.

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  Giftmas Jerky (Part 2)

  It was already Giftmas morning, and light filtered through the tent. It was too hard to sleep with the hundreds of thoughts playing in his head—but it was even harder now that he was too tired to stay awake and it was too bright to sleep.

  Zrrrp— A shock went through Miles, and he lifted his head to see who unzipped his tent. Emi stepped inside, dressed in long-sleeve cozy clothes and messy hair like she'd just gotten out of bed herself. She closed the tent behind her and smiled with her big eyes.

  "Hey," Miles said. It wasn't fair that she was here so early—he wasn't awake yet.

  Emi dropped down onto her knees beside him. "Good morning," she said. She raised her finger to her lips and looked away from him like she was waiting for him to say something.

  Too tired. "Come here," Miles said, spreading his arm out to make space for her.

  Emi lay down, rustling the covers over her as a cold breeze infiltrated the once-warm bedding. She rested the weight of her head onto his chest above his heart.

  "Is today my lucky day? Or is this some kind of Giftmas blessing?" Miles yawned, wrapping his arm around her, placing his hand on her head. Her wiry hair kept touching his fingers, so he pet it flat.

  "Shut up," Emi said.

  They were silent for a minute or longer. Miles closed his eyes and let his hand relax onto Emi's head. He could fall asleep like this—maybe Emi already had.

  "I know I said I wouldn't get you anything," Emi's voice burst through the quiet.

  Shit—this was going to be about Giftmas.

  "But..." She sat up crookedly and started rummaging for something.

  "Emi," Miles said, and dropped his arm onto her shoulder, closing his eyes. "Sleep."

  But she pulled something out anyway—completely ignoring him. He opened his eyes to see her holding a small wooden box out to him.

  "I made it, so... it's not a big deal."

  Right. "No big deal." After their conversation about not getting each other anything, how long had she been planning on secretly giving him something anyway?

  Miles took the wood box from her, turning it over in his hands. It was light and smooth; a piece of twine held the top and bottom together, secured with a knob like a chest. She made this—

  "We said no gifts."

  Emi's face started to turn red, and her smile flickered into a frown like it couldn't make up its mind.

  "Sorry. I know. It's okay if you didn't get me anything," she said, dropping her head onto Miles's chest, covering her face, and then lifting it again. "If you don't want it, that's okay too. I'll just keep it or give it to someone else."

  But she was giving it to HIM—that honestly felt really nice. But if it could so easily be given to just anyone, he might not even like the gift.

  Miles's heart sank into his chest, and he sighed. "Nice box."

  "Your gift is inside it, idiot. You can keep the box too," she told him.

  "Yeah, I know," he tried to keep the smile on—but it kept falling off.

  Emi had pulled back from him, watching and waiting intensely. His fingers were slow this morning.

  He yawned, prying the twine off the knob with his thumb, and opened the box.

  Inside,

  nestled in the center like it was a valuable treasure, was Garrett's freaking rabbit jerky.

  What—

  The—

  Fuck.

  "Is that Garrett's jerky?" Miles asked. A smile tugged at his cheeks.

  Emi burst out laughing. "Yes!" she cackled. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

  What the hell was this? It was so stupid—so... what even—so great.

  Emi sat up and put her hair behind her ear. "I know how much you love it."

  "So much." A laugh escaped him. The jerky gift was pretty funny. That was just the kind of thing he'd do to mess with someone—but to do it to him? Emi was so... special.

  He held up the jerky. "Thank you. You know just what I like."

  Emi smiled, and Miles put it back in the box. This was his—and there was no way Emi was going to give it to anyone else.

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  "Oh, one more thing," she said. There was more—

  Emi was on her knees, going through her pockets. Her hair curled around her neck, and her face was pink like it was whenever she was upset.

  Exhaling, Miles scooted closer to her. He opened his arms around her, holding his hands at the soft curve of her waist. Emi stopped moving, which allowed Miles to rest his head on her shoulder. She was so warm and huggable.

  "Here." She held out a metal chain in front of them, its ends tied into a necklace. "Since your other one broke."

  Miles sat up straight for a better look. It was metal with little white things threaded into a pattern. The necklace she was thinking of was a twisted fiber rope with the Twin Blades symbol. It was more... manly. This looked like stuff Sansi and Cass wore. Did she make this for him—or would she be hurt if he just kept the jerky and gave this to someone else?

  "Ah. That was nice of you." Miles took it from her. It was a lot heavier than it looked.

  "That's, um, from the foxes you got a while ago."

  Foxes—what?

  He laid the necklace across his palm and looked at the small white pieces threaded into the chain. Teeth. Huh.

  Foxes had been multiplying in the woods for the last couple of months. Not sure where they were coming from, but the rebels had noticed fewer rabbits and squirrels around. Miles took it upon himself to hunt them down and ended up bringing back six foxes for fur and meat.

  Emi collected their teeth—

  "I had no idea. How long did this take you to make?" Miles asked, and put it on over his head. It sat nicely at his upper chest like it was made for him. Because it was.

  "Way too long." Her voice was a little shaky.

  "You're so freaking good at making things." He hugged her tightly around her waist again and felt her exhale. "You know, you just really messed up. I'll never truly be naked because I'm never taking this off."

  She leaned her head back onto him.

  "Damn. I should have thought of that." She nuzzled into his neck and sighed.

  Oh—"I have something for you, too."

  

  "Here," Miles said, maneuvering around tree roots to an opening in front of Lake Crystal. Emi came up next to him, so he moved his arm in a wave to show her that the lake was their destination.

  Emi looked at the lake and back at Miles. She had a twisted smile on her lips like she was trying to guess what Miles was thinking. Hopefully, he could take her by surprise.

  "Are we... having a picnic?" Emi asked as they walked toward the water.

  "Mmm," Miles muttered—not ready to give her an answer.

  When they got closer, he dropped his pack to the ground and knelt to rifle through it. Clothes, a drill thing, light, more clothes, snacks— Ah. A small T-shirt and a pair of shorts. That was it.

  "Here." Miles tossed the clothes at her, and she snagged them before they hit her.

  "You're kidding me," she said. "It's cold. It's winter. You hate swimming." She had excitement in her voice—then it softened. "Is it just me?"

  Miles stood up and dropped the towels on the ground. He knew he'd regret it—but today was about making Emi happy.

  He bounced on his feet preparing for the rush, then started to take off his shirt. His fox-tooth necklace hit his chest and the chilly breeze swept over him instantly, freezing his skin on impact.

  As soon as he pulled his shirt over his head, he saw Emi standing there, smiling at him.

  "What? Am I going to be the first one in?" he asked her, teeth chattering.He watched the tide come in and pull back.

  Out of all the days of the year, every time she asked him to go swimming he'd say no—she could go without him. But she never did end up going. This was the worst day possible for it—but hopefully... it would mean something.

  "Hold on," Emi said, slipping out of her clothes. Not fast enough—today he needed to impress her. He didn't have boxes, chains, or flowers, or anything she could actually keep after this was over... so he had to make it something she wouldn't forget.

  He took off, running into the cold air and splashing into the freezing tide at his ankles. Crash. Crash. The water splashed around him, trying to push him back. He slowed and strolled through the lake as he went further into it, ice at his heart, blood draining from his frozen legs.

  When he got waist-deep, he turned his shivering body around. Emi was crashing into the water behind him. She had her arms folded over herself, shivering, then lowered herself into the water until it reached her shoulders.

  "WOO!" she said. "That's fucking cold!"

  She swam toward Miles and stopped beside him, head barely above the water." Yeah. It is. You like it, though?" Miles said. Shit—shouldn't have asked. Did he want to know?

  She stood up in front of Miles and wiped wet hair out of her face. Her teeth chattered when she spoke. "I love it."

  Miles let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding.

  "Good." he rubbed the smooth surface of a fox tooth that jutted out from the necklace, pressing the point into his thumb.

  Sansi was right about one thing. Miles really did know best about Emi.

  Emi wouldn't have cared for trinkets and stuff. She liked doing things and going places. Things that were spontaneous and outside routine— But she didn't want to do it alone.

  "Happy Giftmas," Miles said, rubbing the goosebumps on his arms.

  Emi took his hands and looked up at him. Her skin was pale from the cold. She was doe-eyed, and she smiled even as she shivered.

  "Thank you." She raised up—maybe on her tiptoes—and kissed Miles's cheek.

  He couldn't feel her lips. It was just like something wet and cold touched it. It was nice anyway.

  He was definitely not staying in the water for long—but hopefully she was enjoying it.

  "Now get in here," she said, and pushed Miles backward into the water.

  Thank you for reading!

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  Here on March 16th at 1PM EST.