As time passed Moth would only come in and out of Lane's room occasionally to feed him and help him practice walking, after a few days his cold had disappeared which left him uncomfortable due to his wounds. Moth would always comment that Lane could heal as fast as a humanoid because he'd predicted that it'd take Lane at least a month to start walking again. They had become rather friendly but Lane could tell Moth was drawing a line with him due to what Cricket was saying to him.
Lane fiddled with the cane Moth made for him which he had been told to use while he was walking. Moth had told him that he was going hunting a few hours ago, a weekly occurrence for the humanoid. He's always so busy. He grabbed the cane and used it to help him stand, leaning on it as he hobbled his way out of his room. The room was decorated by some handmade furniture and herbs that were hung up to dry, there were several bock cases littered with worn books. The collection of books were made of topics like architecture, cooking, farming and hunting, but nothing in the room kept Lane's interest. He opened the heavy wooden door out into the snow, the chill in the air causing him to shiver in his thin clothes. Moth's house was a small cottage that was built around a tree in a small clearing surrounded by a thick pine forest. One time when he'd gone walking with Moth he had mentioned that he cut down most of the trees in the area to make the clearing. The small house, untouched by the outside of the world was a safe haven that Lane wanted to live in forever. He quickly shook off the thought as he wandered through the area in search of Moth. He made his way to the back of the house where the woodshed and greenhouse were built. It's incredible that Moth built all this.
"Lane!?" Moth called out from behind him drawing him out of his thoughts and making him spin around. Moth rushed towards him, a thick black coat wrapped around himself while two rabbits hung off his shoulders, strung up by a wire. His hands were stained with blood and a crossbow was hanging limply in his grasp that shook as he walked. His warm breath fogged the air in short breaths as he strode over. "What are you doing out here? You shouldn't go outside without me." Lane went to respond but was immediately cut off. "And why are you in such thin clothes? The cold will make your wounds worse." He quickly removed his cloak and leaned up to wrap it around Lane. Lane's body relaxed as he felt the warm interior, his mouth curled into a small smile as he watched Moth fiddled with the cloak and fastened it in place. "I wanted to come watch you hunt."
"Then you should've told me, its dangerous for you to go out alone, there are walkers, traps and wild animals around." He grabbed Lanes hands, commenting on how cold they were before slipping off his own gloves and putting them on Lane. "Unfortunately, I'm finished hunting for the day but I've still got to do some work if you would like to join me?" Moth's eyes stared up at Lane as he talked, intently waiting his answer. Lane smiled knowing how much the humanoid wanted him to join him, "I'll take you up on that." Moth nodded and took the lead to walk towards the woodshed while Lane followed, lifting up the cloak to inhale some of Moth's smell as he went. "Please tell me when you want to go out from now on, you had me worried." He dropped the cloak as Moth turned back to him, trying to not look suspicious. "I will, don't worry."
They made it to the small wooden woodshed by the back of the house. The shed was simple with metal mesh walls and a scrap metal roof but it was open at the front and back with wood cut into various shapes stacked neatly inside. Next to the shed was a large wood stack and a small chair that would be used for taking breaks. Moth gestured for Lane to sit down before stringing the rabbits up on a hook on one of the side walls of the shed. Lane glanced around but he couldn't spot an axe to cut wood with but Moth seemed unbothered. Instead he went over to the wood stack and picked up a piece of wood and put it on the ground in front of Lane. He fiddled with it in his hands for a moment before stepping back, he glanced over once at Lane to check if he was watching before gripping something tightly in his hand and pulling.
The wood creaked for a moment before it was suddenly cut up into thin pieces and scattered all over the snow covered ground. Lane's eyes widened in surprise as Moth started gathering up the wood scattered across the ground. "How did you do that?" Moth glanced up at him with a proud smile on his face. "I used those threads that I used to sew you up with. It's easier than using an axe."
He sure does a lot of work, he cooks, cleans, hunts, gardens and builds. Makes me wonder what the other guy does. "Do you always work like this?" Moth shrugged, "Usually I do, it's a bit easier in the summer because we don't need any wood and there is no snow to clean. I'm pretty happy with the work, it keeps me busy." Lane watched as Moth continued cutting the wood, creating a small pile. "Does Cricket help you?" Moth seems confused by the question but laughs. "He does other things." He pulled on his strings again before putting the pieces into the pile. "This seems like enough for today." He mumbled to himself. He picks up the pile in one hand, signaling for Lane to give him the rabbits but he refuses. "I'll carry them inside for you."
Lane walked ahead of Moth, opening the door for him. "You need to skin the rabbits, right Moth?" Moth glanced over to him as he put the wood next to the fire. "Uh, yeah so I can stew them." Lane smiled at him, "Alright. I'll do it for you." He moved to the kitchen table, taking out a knife and cutting into them stripping the fur and organs away. Moth seemed surprised but accepted the help with a smile, he stacked the wood neatly before heading to the door. "I'm going to the green house. Are there any vegetables that you want in particular?" Moth asked, glancing over at him. "I'll eat whatever you like."
Moth smiles and exited the house for a few minutes before he brought over a few more vegetables, cutting them up on the table beside him. The two silently worked, enjoying each other's company as the wind rustled through the trees outside and the sound of knives slicing and cutting echoed through the house. Moth sighed contently as he worked causing Lane to glance over at him. Lane observed his soft features and his focused and calm expression as he worked. Moth glanced up at him, tilting his head slightly, Lane looked away, his face reddening slightly. "Something wrong?"
"I was worried you were cold after you gave me your cloak." Moth smiled brightly and stretched his wings, "I'm alright, my wings help with the cold." "Do they? They look thin." Moth nodded, "They are thin and fragile but they protect me from the harsh cold winds."
"Can you fly?" Lane blurted out. Moth laughed, causing Lane's face to flush with embarrassment. "I can but it's too draining and I like prefer to keep my feet on the ground." As he was laughing he glanced over to what Lane is doing. "Hold on, you'll lose meat if you don't cut close enough to the skin." He moves his hands over to grasp Lane's, guiding his hands as he strips the skin from the flesh. "And make sure you keep the organs, I'll use them later."
"Alright." Lane mumbled, preoccupied by the thumping and throbbing in his chest.