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Karl's teeth chatter violently in his skull. The sound reverberates and pierces the night air.
The whirl of the icy wind punishes him for even thinking he could have a calm time out here.
Every breath that he manages to huff out freezes right in front of his face, and he can already feel himself starting to literally freeze up.
Sopping wet and out in the middle of nowhere. Some bank off the Rhine river, but the terrain is unfamiliar and snow covered anyway.
“You should consider taking off all those clothes.”
Oh yeah. His saviour.
He glares at the man who just suggested to him such an absurd idea. The strange man scoffs when he doesn’t get an answer and focuses back on the fire he’s been trying to start for the past 5 minutes.
“Just saying. You’ll only freeze faster in those. If it's that big a deal to you I have extras in my kit.”
Karl considers this. It's true, if he stays in his wet clothes it wont much matter how fast this guy starts a fire, as Karl will freeze to death before he can even enjoy it.
“Fine.” he grumbles. Fumbling and numb fingers mess with his buttons, and the man turns from the unsuccessful fire to open his knapsack and begin to dig through its contents.
Whilst he undresses himself, Karl observes the soldier in front of him. He definitely, definitely is in the wrong place.
An American marine. Deep in Prussian territory with only a stupid rowboat as his transport. He looks close to Karl's age, maybe his mid thirties with pale skin, ever furrowed brows, and a small red scar that marks his cheek, just under his left eye.
Karl's just undone his coat when the American man hands him a shirt, trousers, and an overcoat. The clothes are not his size, but he cannot afford to be picky at this time, so he slips off his own garments in trade for the American mans’.
“Soo… why were ya in that river, there?”
“I… am unsure.”
The stranger grunts.
The fire finally catches, but blows out immediately from the wind.
“Shit. Well, you don't mind freezing to death do you?”
Karl grits his teeth and shakes his head. “I’d really rather not.”
The man then stands to take a quick look at their surroundings. Not looking good. But, he seems to notice something that interests him. Without a word, he grabs Karl by the arm and wrenches the officer from his spot in the snow with a displeased yelp from the higher up.
With the simple direction of a pointed finger, Karl lays his eyes on one of the thicker trees in the area. What this foolish man thinks the thing can do for them, he isn't sure of at all. Hypothermia can drive the most under control men mad.
His crazy companion gives him a light shove, and a confused but compliant Karl starts in the direction of the tree. When he turns to look at the marine, said man is already catching up, a blank- when did he get a blanket!?
“Get a move on would ya!” the guy exclaims as he grabs Karl by the wrist just to keep dragging him.
“Let go you-!”
The man finally reaches the tree and sends Karl to the snow with a rather violent shove. Karls has half a mind to show this man just who he’s meeting around with, but then the man himself sits down against the thick tree trunk, a blanket already hung over his shoulders.
He offers an arm to Karl, unused side of the blanket hanging in the air.
“Warm up?” he offers with a gap toothy grin.
This insolent, ape-like buffoon… If he figures a man like Karl would ever stoop to the levels of himself, he must be sick in the head!
What he ought to do is sock the fool square in the jaw, thank him for his clothes, and steal his boat to get the hell out of this cursed place.
What he should not do is pick himself up from the ground only to pathetically drop back to sitting, only now tucked up against the larger man's frame. He shouldn't let the guy drape his stupid arm over Karl's shoulders and keep it there. He should not welcome the kindness that the man offers! He damn well should not enjoy the warmth of the blanket nor the company that this stranger provides!
But, alas, he does just that.
The sun sets slowly over the course of a half an hour. It really speeds up its descent in its last fleeting five minutes. All the while, Karl watches from his spot on the forest floor. Tucked into the side of another man and unfortunately not all too unhappy about it.