Dedicated to my readers. Thank you for the endless love, laughs, and excitement. May you enjoy this story with all of your hearts.
Chapter: 1 Over the Edge
A powerful blizzard raged and blanketed over the Tung Shao Pass. The entire mountain was shrouded by the howling storm. Delving deeper into the snowstorm, tattered flags could be seen waving in the distance. Below them rested the bodies of fallen warriors, each slowly succumbing to the mighty snowfall. Across the frigid range, a pile of snow began to shift. Tiny fractals began to snap off of it as a figure began to take form. It tightened and tumbled, attempting to break free of its icy casing. With a mighty outburst, the figure smashed out of the snow, revealing itself to be a man. The man gasped for air while remaining planted on his knees. He allowed the ice wind to blast across his face, numbing his wounds. The man...was Tomas. Last of the legendary warrior clan of Arendelle, the Maelstrom. Protector of Queen Elsa and Princess Anna. Leader of the Trailblazers.
Tomas was horribly wounded. A gash across his forehead still dripped blood. Each scarlet droplet painted the snow as he moved. He could taste even more blood on his reddened lips. His right arm was slashed up, and poorly nursed with a makeshift tourniquet. He attempted to stand, but fell forward. He winced as the icy ground stung the side of his face. He crawled forward, took a deep breath, and yelled.
"Ziiiiiiiiiiii!" he panted before regaining the strength to call again. "ZIIIIIIIIII!" His shouts went unheard as the snowstorm intensified. His long brown hair swayed in the rising winds while snow particles entrapped themselves in his beard. He continued to crawl forth, his body aching with each surge of movement. "Ziiiiiiii!" he shouted again before falling over on his back.
His eyes fluttered dizzily as he looked up at the grey skies. The blizzard was so tremendous, that it had already begun to blanket him into the ground once more. Tomas grit his teeth, clenched his fists, and rolled over. As he did so, he found himself face to face with the rotting corpse of a Hun warrior. It was equipped with animal skins and a rusted scimitar. Tomas picked up the blade, only to have it fall apart and disappear under the snow. He rose to his feet, exposing a long slash wound he had across his ribcage. He huddled himself up in his coat and trudge onward. Several steps into the carnage of the mountain pass, Tomas caught a glimpse of something red from the corner of his eye. He turned, spotting a slither of a red garment poking out of the snow. He recognized the wavy patterns on it and gasped. It shocked his so much that he fell to his knees again, and rapidly crawled towards the garment.
"Zi!" he shrieked. Like a wild animal, he furiously dug through the snow and ice. His efforts revealed an entire arm, and soon a shoulder. His bleeding, freezing fingers ached as he heaved off a clump of snow and pulled the woman out. She was a young Chinese assassin and one of Tomas' best friends. "Zi!" he shook her limp body. "Come on, come on...wake up!" With another shake, Zi grimaced and began to cough. Her pale lips trembled and the wind blew her single black braid across her face.
Her eyes slowly opened, "T-...Tomas?" she whispered.
"It's me Zi," he faintly smiled while brushing her braid back. "I've got you."
"I think...this...this may be it-"
"Shhhhh. Don't talk like that," assured Tomas. "I'm going to get you out of here." He scooped his companion up into his arms and wearily stood. "We'll find Benjamin...somewhere." His eyes scoured the icy carnage, desperately searching for a way off the mountain. Tomas took two painful steps forward before glancing down at Zi. She was almost as injured as he was, with cuts and bruises littering her torso. She began to close her eyes until Tomas gave her a jolting shake. "Don't you close those eyes. Stay awake."
"Get out of here. Leave me," she wheezed.
"Never. No Trailblazer left behind," assured Tomas. "I'm going to get us out of here." The two came across a ravaged munitions cart. While the explosives were all used up, the cart itself served as a grievous obstacle. Tomas gently put Zi down and reached for his sword. His heart sank when he patted an empty scabbard. Without his blade, he achingly reached behind him and unstrapped his shield. He nearly dropped the piece of steel and gripped it tightly. He brought it down on the cart, emitting a clang as wood split in multiple directions. After clearing a path through, Tomas picked up Zi again and made for the lower slopes. His shield strike had disheveled the snow beneath the cart, and caused it to crumble. Tomas and Zi held onto each other as their foundation gave in. Both were sent tumbling across the slopes in a furious, miniature avalanche. Tomas' leg struck a protruding rock formation, causing him to howl in pain. Zi was thrusted forward, smashing her upper back on another rock formation.
The two slid to the mountain's edge and Tomas grabbed hold of it. The rest of his body dangled as he held onto Zi for dear life. Zi looked up at him with weary eyes, "Tomas..."
"Don't speak," he grunted. "Just hold...on." He did his best to fight through his pain and pull them up. "Almost...there-"
"You're not strong enough," said Zi. "Tomas...you have to let me go."
"No..." he snapped. "I won't!"
"Then I will let go," she replied while loosening her hold on his hand.
Tomas tightened his bloodied grip on her hand, "Like hell you will!"
He attempted to pull up once more, using the memories of his past to drive him. He still remembered the battle atop the North Mountain, all those many years ago, when he dropped his former love and enemy to her supposed death. With one more powerful heave, Tomas scaled the ledge and pulled Zi up with him. He dragged her down to a depression on the slope. As he neared it, he realized it was in fact a cave with icicles dripping from it. Tomas practically fell in, succumbing to his horrific injuries. He held Zi close, allowing her to rest on his chest as they shivered together. Tomas gripped her hand and swore, "I am not going to leave you. Just hold on...Hold on for me...Please."