I heard yells and screams as I dove into the icy water, my mind only on one thing…

I have to save him, I can't let him drown. Can't… let… drown…

My vision went hazy, but I swam further down until I saw him...

We both reached our hands out, trying to reach each other as we both sank down into the icy blue. I silently begged in my mind, don't close your eyes, don't close your eyes.

He closed his eyes, and his body went limp.

I wanted to scream, but only bubbles of air escaped my mouth…

I pushed forward, straining in the cold. I felt his paw and grabbed it, pulling him towards me. I used the remaining strength and energy I had to push myself upwards, towards the light of the surface…

I burst through the surface of the water, gasping for breath. The air felt warm compared to the water against my face.

They surrounded me, and I felt glad. I heard their voices, asking me if I was ok, but I was so exhausted I couldn't say anything. As they stepped closer, I heard the ice crackle.

"Please…" I begged, barely able to speak. "... stay… stay away. I-I can get myself out…"

I hugged his furry body close to me, trying to keep him warm and out of the water. I weakly reached for my sword, which seemed heavy in my hand. I raised it, then brought it down on the hard ice, making small chunks break off.

I did this for about 10 minutes, hacking away at the ice. The entire time I was focused on getting to thicker ice more quickly. I didn't care about myself. I just wanted to get him to his friends. I wanted him to live.

When I finally got to thick enough ice, I pulled myself up and out as they rushed towards me. I felt someone's hand on my shoulder, and somebody else took him out of my arms. They put my coat back on me, but that did little to keep me warm. My whole body was numb, and I was unable to move anything but my head and arms.

I took my sword and brought it down the ice, leaning on the hilt. I was so cold, so tired, I just wanted to close my eyes and sleep forever.

No. You can't do that. You have to get up and help them. You're not going to die. Find your strength. Get up. And get going.

I calmed down, but I kept shivering. I felt someone grab my hand. I looked to the side, and there stood an afraid looking tree being.

It wasn't until now that I realized what species he really was. He was a Floral Colossus, a species thought to be extinct. He was just a child, at that. Only half a foot tall. He looked into my eyes, as if asking me if I was ok.

"What's your name, little guy?"

"I am Groot." he replied back

"Well then, Groot," I whispered smiling. "You think you could help me?"

"I am Groot"

"Thanks, little guy."

He held onto my hand a little tighter, and I stopped shivering. I could feel my body now, but I was still a little cold. I stood up shakily.

"I need to get all of you to a safer area."

They hesitated, but the green girl stepped towards me and handed the raccoon back to me. I wrapped him in the coat.

"Follow me. Hurry."

I led them back to the falls. I carried Racoon (I had decided that that was his temporary name) in my arms, and every one and a while he would open his eyes a little. The green girl walked almost beside me, while Quill and the other guy were behind. Groot had somehow sneaked onto my shoulder and sat there, eyeing his unconscious friend.

When we reached Whisper Falls, I was able to part the waters with only one hand. We walked through the water and they all gasped when they saw the cave. Groot looked up at the ginormous tree with its little platforms and rooms in its branches in awe.

"It's… It's beautiful!" whispered the green lady.

"Yeah." I responded, smiling."It's home."

I led them up the various ladders and stairs to the Sick Room, where had all of my medical equipment and medicines.

I laid Racoon down on the recovery table, hooked him up to a VitaReader, and pressed a button that began to heat up the table.

I heard Quill say from behind me, "Is… Is he going to be okay?"

"He'll be fine. He just needs to get his body temperature up. I'm more worried about you." I said, turning to them. "I'll be right back."

I grabbed 5 chairs and fur blankets and set them around the table. I gave each of them a blanket, which they all immediately wrapped around themselves.

I took the rest of Quill's bandages off, pleased to see that his wounds were already halfway healed, already becoming scars.

"Wha… But-but how? How the hell did you do that?!" he said, confused.

I laughed. "Magic."

I stepped over to the other side of the room. I grabbed a pot and put some water in it. I set it over an electric powered fire on the stone counter, and opened the cupboard above it to reveal shelves and shelves of glass jars full of herbs, oils, and various preserved parts. I grabbed some dried Lavender and Asuka herbs, as well as Sutaka oil and a small vial.

I took a measuring spoon and added some of each herb and oil into the now boiling water. I took my sword out of my scabbard, and held the blade up. The Snow Beast's red blood covered the entire tip of the blade, so I tipped it down on top of the vial, allowing exactly 10 drops of blood to escape the blade into the vial.

I set the vial onto a stand and grabbed a jar of bright blue crystals from the cupboard. Using a pair of tweezers, I took one of the crystals and carefully dropped it into the vial of blood. The mixture swirled and turned a violent shade of purple, and a magenta cloud of gas poured out of the top of the vial.

"Uhh… Holdup nobody breathe for just a minute…" I said frantically trying to find my air gun. I heard them all inhale and stop breathing all together. It only occurred to me now that they were watching me and probably wondering what the hell I was doing. I found the gun and used it to suck up all of the gas. I emptied it into a jar with the same gas and put it back on the shelf.

"Everything has a use… even mistakes like me…" I said out loud, muttering the last part. I immediately regretted what I had said because I knew that they probably heard. Oh my gods Heather. They probably think you're frickin' insane, now. Yay.

I cleared my throat and continued working. I added the changed blood to the pot and stirred it. It started to glow green and strange-smelling steam curled off the surface. I poured the contents of the pot over a strainer over a glass, and a gelatin-like green-ish blob collected on the strainer. The liquid was purple and smelled like burning rubber, but it was the best I could do on a short notice.

I was about to turn around when I heard a hoarse voice from behind me say, "So are you like a witch or something?"

I turned around to see all of them looking at me in curiosity, confusion, and suspicion in their eyes. But I was most relieved to see that Raccoon was awake and sitting up on the table. I realized he was the one who spoke. I rolled my eyes.

"No."

"Then what were you doing with that blood and water and weird shriveled up stuff?"

"Like I said... Magic."

"Drink this." I said, handing him the glass with the purple liquid.

He winced at the smell. "No way, lady. The his thing smells like dead people dipped in oil. No offense."

"None taken. But you need to drink it, even if it's just a little." I replied, setting a glass of warm water down beside him.

"And what's this? Ectoplasm or somethin'?" I saw a smirk creep up on his face out of the corner of my eye.

"No, it's water. So drink the damn thing and get it over with."

He let out a sort of groan, but he tipped the glass to his mouth and drank half of it before putting the glass down and gagging.

"What the hell was in that?" he half-shouted, looking like he was going to be sick.

"Just herbs and oils. And blood. Just a tad bit of blood." I laughed. "...but it'll make you feel better. And speaking of feeling better…"

I put the green blob in a jar and gave it to Quill. I took a roll of bandages and gave it to the green girl.

"Why are you giving this to me?"

"I need you to help him put that, umm… antibiotic on his wounds and bandage them up after."

"Well aren't you the one with the medical specialty?"

"Yeah, but you have this thing going on between you two and based on what I've seen of you, I most definitely do not want to get between it…"

It must have been comical because Racoon started laughing his head off and so was the guy with the strange red scars. The girl looked at me like she wanted to kill me, but Quill couldn't help but smiling. Either way, she walked over to him and did as I told her.

"Hey, so now that you've helped us, maybe you should do the same for yourself…" said Racoon.

"What do you mean?"

"Lady, you look like hell."

I turned to the mirror, and I could finally see what he meant. My whole body was covered in cuts and bruises, and my some parts of my body were red from the cold.

"Wow. I do look like hell."

I grabbed a small vial from the cupboard. The vial contained green swirling liquid, and I hated having to use it because it hurt so much. I opened it, and my nose and eyes instantly burned from the fumes. They looked at it curiously.

"Gives instant healing results. But everything comes with a price. That's why they call it the Draught of Pain."

YoI hated myself and knew I would regret my decision. I popped the cork off, and I swallowed all of the liquid in one gulp.

I doubled over and my vision swam. I dropped the vial and it broke into a million pieces on the floor. I saw someone rush to me out of the corner of my eye, but I held my hand out, signifying I was fine. Even though I wasn't.

The Draught of Pain might be one of my most painful experiences. I felt like every bone in my body was breaking, like my stomach was exploding and my head was on fire. I couldn't breathe.

But just as fast as it started, it stopped. Somebody lent me their hand, and I took it. I stood up, and realized it was the green girl.

I looked at my hand, and the cuts and bruises healed like they were being washed away by some kind of magical water.

They stared at me for what seemed like the hundredth time that day.

"What?"

The green girl rolled her eyes. "The things you seem to put yourself through."

"All in a day's work." I responded weakly. I stood up.

"Who are you guys anyway? Some band of misfits?" I teased.

"No. I'm Starlord, as you already know, and that's Gamora… He's Drax… That's Groot… And that's Rocket…"

I made a quick mental note.

"... And together we're the Guardians of the Galaxy."

"Well then, Guardians of the Galaxy, I'm Heather. And I hope I made a good first impression."