Peeta's a little surprised at how quickly Daine agrees to take the first sleeping shift, and he eyes her searchingly as she makes herself comfortable. He's fairly certain he understands her reasons, and he appreciates them even if he finds them unnecessary.
Once Shadow is clear of the other pillow, Peeta pushes it against the headboard and leans back against it beside Daine. The struggles of the nightmare are still too fresh in his mind for him to completely relax. He stares at the walls for a while, feeling restless and hollow, before spotting his sketchpad on the bedside table. Drawing has always served as a ready distraction, but when he opens the pad to the first blank page, he finds his mind just as empty. The only image he can seem to pull up is Daine disappearing beneath the ground.
He glances over to check on her, a little surprised to find that she has already nodded off. He watches her for a few minutes as her features soften and her breathing slows. Molly twitches gently beside her, and Daine's closest hand flexes gently as if in sympathy or comfort. The glow from the lamp highlights the different shades in Daine's hair and makes Shadow's eyes - barely more than slits as he watches Peeta with that cat-specific mix of curiosity and disinterest - sparkle mysteriously. Peeta's hands long for colors to work with, but he makes do with pencil, sketching out the scene with sure, steady strokes. Daine shifts a few times in her sleep before he's done, but the initial image was so strong that he doesn't need the reference much past the initial stages.
It's just past five when he comes to himself again. The sketch is closer to an actual drawing now, and he can feel the ache in his shoulders from sitting in such an awkward position for so long. He can also feel the lack of sleep - and of restful sleep - catching up to him.
Setting aside the pad, he checks on Daine again. She still looks peaceful, even more so than when she first lay down, and he decides he can risk resting his eyes for a moment. Careful not to wake her - or to disturb Sarge, who has joined the group on the bed - he inches down into more of a reclining state and closes his eyes.
no subject
Once Shadow is clear of the other pillow, Peeta pushes it against the headboard and leans back against it beside Daine. The struggles of the nightmare are still too fresh in his mind for him to completely relax. He stares at the walls for a while, feeling restless and hollow, before spotting his sketchpad on the bedside table. Drawing has always served as a ready distraction, but when he opens the pad to the first blank page, he finds his mind just as empty. The only image he can seem to pull up is Daine disappearing beneath the ground.
He glances over to check on her, a little surprised to find that she has already nodded off. He watches her for a few minutes as her features soften and her breathing slows. Molly twitches gently beside her, and Daine's closest hand flexes gently as if in sympathy or comfort. The glow from the lamp highlights the different shades in Daine's hair and makes Shadow's eyes - barely more than slits as he watches Peeta with that cat-specific mix of curiosity and disinterest - sparkle mysteriously. Peeta's hands long for colors to work with, but he makes do with pencil, sketching out the scene with sure, steady strokes. Daine shifts a few times in her sleep before he's done, but the initial image was so strong that he doesn't need the reference much past the initial stages.
It's just past five when he comes to himself again. The sketch is closer to an actual drawing now, and he can feel the ache in his shoulders from sitting in such an awkward position for so long. He can also feel the lack of sleep - and of restful sleep - catching up to him.
Setting aside the pad, he checks on Daine again. She still looks peaceful, even more so than when she first lay down, and he decides he can risk resting his eyes for a moment. Careful not to wake her - or to disturb Sarge, who has joined the group on the bed - he inches down into more of a reclining state and closes his eyes.
A few minutes later, he's sound asleep.