"Just try it for one night!"

Auralee hadn't meant to raise her voice, but there was snow falling and that meant it was far too cold for either Kerr or Ilmari to be sleeping outside. Even the neighbors' barn wouldn't be warm enough and she was getting tired of protests to the contrary.

"It would be a value experience," Ilmari finally said, though he didn't look entirely convinced. "But is there space in your bed for all three of us?"

Auralee nearly choked. That was certainly a jump!

"Let's do blankets by the hearth to start," she replied quickly. Honestly, of all the things for Ilmari to say...

Kerr just shrugged. "I could just turn back and I'd be fine."

"We're supposed to be-"

"I know." Kerr frowned, crossing his arms. "I just think it'd be easier."

"I'll see about blankets." If Kerr and Ilmari wanted to bicker, they could bicker. Auralee walked towards the house to see about blankets. She knew there were plenty of quilts and pillows available; on the coldest nights it was normal for whole families to sleep close to the hearth to share heat. Sure, it wouldn't be outside, but at wouldn't be as constrained as beds, at least, and some furniture could get shoved around...

"Aura? Is that you?" Auralee heard her mother's voice from elsewhere in the house.

"It's me. I need some blankets. I think I've convinced them to try sleeping inside tonight, so I'm going to make a sort of... nest, I guess, for them."

Auralee's mother appeared in the nearest doorway and gave Auralee a little smile.

"And will you be nesting with them?"

The noise Auralee made was far from dignified, but it certainly expressed what she needed to express.

"There's plenty of blankets for all three of you."