Page 7 of Battle of Hearts

Sawyer nodded, pulling on her cold-weather gear to prepare for the day’s tasks. “Let’s make sure everything is set up in case we’re able to hold training.”

Mirren continued her readings as Sawyer took a seat at the table in front of her. They worked together in silence, preparing for the day’s activities and ensuring that everything was in order. The storm outside continued its relentless assault, but within the outpost, they found peace and rhythm within their work.

As they finished their preparations, Sawyer found herself stealing glances at Mirren. The feelings of attraction began to resurface as her eyes traced the curves of every inch of the woman’s face. Sawyer, however, mentally cursed herself and forced herself to remain focused, to keep her emotions in check. This was no time for distractions, even though Mirren’s presence was making it impossible.

Sawyer was here to lead, to ensure that the mission went smoothly, and she couldn’t afford to let anything—or anyone—get in her way. She took a deep breath, trying to push her feelings aside and focus on the tasks at hand.

“I’m going to check over the equipment and see if I can get a signal to reach out to base,” Sawyer said, her voice steady and professional.

Mirren nodded, her expression serious. “Sounds good. I’ll double check the weather data and make sure we’re prepared for any changes.”

They worked together, moving with a shared sense of purpose. Despite the challenges outside, there was a sense of camaraderie that had developed between them. Perhaps the two of them being stuck in this outpost together wouldn’t be so difficult after all.

The day wore on, with Sawyer spending quite a bit of time outside gathering more firewood and trying to clear up the snow blocking the outpost, while Mirren stayed inside and watched her tablet for any changes. The storm outside showed no signs of letting up, and Sawyer couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease. It was almost as if the harsh conditions were testing them, pushing them to their limits, trying to see if the two of them would make it out with each other’s help.

When sunset came, it had felt as if the day had gone by all too fast as the two women finished their preparations and took a moment to rest, Sawyer cooking their prepped meals in the wood oven, the fire crackling softly as it heated up their meal of fish and potatoes. The room was warm and inviting, a stark contrast to the harshness of the storm outside. The two women settled in the chairs in front of the fire, hungrily shoveling the hot food into their mouths.

“This is going to be one hell of a training mission,” Mirren said, breaking the silence. When Sawyer met her eyes, Mirren let out a small laugh. The likelihood of the training mission proceeding anytime soon seemed highly improbable due to the fact the storm was only getting worse by the minute.

Sawyer couldn’t help but smirk just slightly, one of the few instances she dared to let any real emotion show. “Yes, it will be.”

Mirren scooped a potato into her mouth, her eyes never leaving Sawyer. “It’s a shame,” she said, tilting her head as she swallowed her food. “It would have been a hell of a time with you leading.”

Sawyer felt a pang in her chest at Mirren’s words, one she struggled to push aside. The younger woman hadn’t been shy at all in showing admiration and respect for her. It made her experience all sorts of confusing feelings—gratitude, nervousness, and intensifying attraction. Feelings she all forced to the side as she grabbed her plate and stood to her feet, stretching her muscles.

“Let’s get some rest,” Sawyer said, ignoring the feelings bubbling in with her. “If the storm doesn’t ease up by the morning, we may have to return to base.”

Mirren nodded. For a second there seemed to be something akin to defeat glistening in her eyes, probably from Sawyer ignoring her compliment instead of acknowledging it. She yawned as she rose from her seat. “Good idea.”

As they settled down for the night, Sawyer found her mind swirling with different thoughts, her body riddled with different emotions. She lay down on her bunk, the warmth of the fire and the steady rhythm of Mirren’s breathing providing a sense of comfort. There was no telling how much longer they would be there. The storm outside howled violently, heavy snowfall pelting against the windows. But she found solace in the tension easing between she and Mirren. She could even bring herself to admit that she liked the company.

4

MIRREN

The blizzard outside raged with a furious intensity, snowflakes swirling in chaotic patterns as if the sky itself had torn open. Inside the outpost, Sawyer and Mirren struggled against the encroaching cold, the blazing fire and their many layers doing little to battle the cold. Their breaths fogged the air as they stood in front of the fire, desperately trying their hardest to cling onto as much warmth as they could get.

Sawyer had left to try to get a signal outside, but she returned nearly ten minutes later, shivering violently with a grim look on her face. Concerned flashed across Mirren’s narrowed eyes as she asked, “Any luck?”

The captain shook her head as she took a seat at the chair next to Mirren. “I’m not getting any signal. The Humvee’s is still intact, but the weather is getting so bad I’m not sure when we will get to use it.”

Mirren peered out the small grimy window into the storm. Visibility had been reduced to mere feet, the whiteout consuming the world outside. Her heart raced with a mix of anxiety and urgency as she turned to check the condition of the outpost’s supplies, starting with her rucksack and moving ontothe many shelves. They still had tons of supplies, but if they ended up stuck here longer than they’d anticipated, there was no telling how long they would last.

The reality of their situation had become starkly clear—this was no ordinary storm.

“Captain, we have a problem,” Mirren said moments later after she’d shifted from checking the supplies to her tablet, her voice resolute despite the tension coiling in her chest. “The storm is significantly worse than we anticipated. It’s moving in faster and more aggressively.” She looked up from the screen. “We need to return to Fort Resolute immediately.”

Sawyer looked up from the fire, her green eyes narrowing as she took in Mirren’s serious expression. The captain’s usually composed demeanor was strained, a few strands of her brunette hair still damp from the frosty outdoors. “Are you sure about this?” she asked, her voice carrying a hint of concern. She didn’t ask the question with doubt but wanted to ensure that Mirren was certain. It was a long journey back. If they got stuck, they’d be in deep trouble.

Mirren nodded quickly. “I’m certain. We have to take the chance now. If we wait any longer, we may not make it.”

Sawyer didn’t hesitate to jolt up from her seat after those words. The two women immediately got to work, shoving their belongings back into their rucksacks and packing any extra supplies they might need for the journey. Despite the discomfort it brought, Sawyer shoved on another shirt to help layer against the icy winds. “Add an extra layer if you can,” she said as she turned around and looked at Mirren, who nodded. The captain stepped away to give her privacy, but from the corner of her eye she could still see the woman as she put on another layer, her clothes shifting to expose bits of pale flesh in the meantime. Heat rose to Saywer’s cheeks, and she immediately averted her gaze.

The storm pelted their faces the second they pushed through the door, the heavy, violent snowfall practically blinding them as they made their way toward the Humvee. The thick layer of snow on the ground made it nearly impossible to navigate, and their steady breaths quickly shifted into exhausted pants as they struggled to push through the snow. It took nearly a few minutes for the pair to finally reach the Humvee, both women thrusting their bodies inside and sighing theatrically out of sheer exhaustion the second their butts hit the seats.

Sawyer attempted to start the engine. It started, then suddenly, to their dismay, it stalled. Out of the corner of her eyes, she could see Mirren’s eyes widen, but she ignored it as she tried the engine again. Once more, the engine stalled.

“Fuck,” Sawyer cursed, gritting her teeth. “It won’t start. The engine’s completely frozen.”

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