This was originally part of the last chapter, but ended up growing into one of its own- just took a couple more days to edit and revise (i.e., make it readable...) to post it. Hope it makes up for the delay between the first two. The next should be up relatively soon (for my timing, anyway...) too, since its already started.
Luffy looked around the cavern he had entered- gazing interestedly at the ice crystallizing the walls. He tilted his head, this way and that- watching the tiny rainbows flicker when shafts of sunlight hit it just right…
His stomach grumbled loudly, protesting the passing of another uneaten meal, and he remembered his mission.
"Saaaaanjiiiiiiiiiii!", he yelled loudly, a chorus of ghostly Luffy's accompanying him in his call as the sound bounced off walls some distance away. He smiled slightly at the novelty, and yelled 'steak' next- then 'lamb', 'fish', and 'yeti'.
He wasn't sure where he had heard the last one, but it sounded tasty. Maybe Sanji could cook him one when they got back. It had to be some kind of meat- maybe he'd shish-kabob it?
The thoughts of different dishes filled his mind so quickly that by the time his stomach complained again, he had nearly forgotten why he was there- but called out for the cook again at the reminder. He didn't know where he could be- he KNEW Nami had said to come here for him… it was a big icy cavern, so Sanji had to be here.
He put his hands on his hips- annoyed now, that the cook was hiding. This was no time to play- it was past lunch, now!
Looking around again, he started trudging further along the cliff he had come down. Sanji had to be here somewhere- he'd just have to find him. They could play again back on the ship. After lunch. And a snack… or three.
Smiling now at the thought, he called out once more; his voice reverberated across the icy walls - causing threatening cracks along the structure, though he never noticed.
Luffy continued his search- walking deeper into the gorge, never noticing when the light faded behind narrowing walls above.
Zoro wasn't sure how far he had walked, but it already seemed like it had taken too long- like he wasn't really moving anywhere. The frozen land passed under him without much notice; the land so bleak in its sameness as to leave no landmarks to judge the time or distance with.
The place he had found Sanji was long behind them, he knew- but the ship was still nowhere in sight. He continued to move on, following the shallow tracks he had left behind in his venture from the Going Merry. The trail he followed weaved almost aimlessly, but he was reluctant to leave it- knowing that it was certain to end at the ship.
His muscles had started to burn from the effort and cold- even as skin had numbed uncomfortably, icy needles prickling his flesh. The pervasive chill seemed to seep into his very bones, leaving him worn and weary- but he didn't dare stop to rest.
The swordsman trudged forward, limp burden swaying slightly with each step. It was funny; with the other man unconscious and so obviously helpless (a fact that he registered for the next time they had an argument) it was almost hard to remember what an ass he was when awake.
Well, not that hard, really.
He had wanted just to throw the cook over his shoulder and hurry back, but some twinge had stopped him. It would have made things easier- much easier, but he wasn't sure how badly injured the other man was, and didn't want Chopper to... well, he wouldn't yell, exactly- there was certainly no heat in it when he did- but that look he'd give was so much worse. It almost made him feel... guilty.
Almost.
He hitched his burden higher, ready to start a one-sided argument with the unconscious man, if only to break the monotony; the soft crunch of snow under his boots the only outward sound. Even that was a relief, over the din of blood and breath in his ears.
Once or twice he had thought he'd seen something on the horizon, hope flaring that it had been the ship, or one of his nakama- even a shelter to take pause at, but in each case, whatever it had been was gone when he'd turned his head to look.
He was almost beginning to wonder if he was going crazy, but shrugged it off. He didn't have time for something as trivial as insanity.
Zoro looked out over the barren land- the space he had yet to traverse. A wasteland of white spread out in all directions- no markings, no landmarks to find his bearings in sight, the only blemish on the land, his own footsteps and scrubby dead weeds- a legacy of some warmer time. He was glad for the track to follow- this was not a place he'd relish being lost in. At least the snow had largely stopped, save a few lonely flakes that would drift down lazily from time to time. Regardless, the land under him seemed more ice than snow- crusted and refrozen under a hardening shell. He was likely nearing the shore- the snow had been softer the further inland he had gone.
He trod a little heavier, steps louder for a few moments before he paused, panting lightly - expelling white vapor with every breath. This wasn't good; he was breathing far too hard for the effort he was exerting. Zoro wasn't sure of its meaning, but was almost certain it wasn't good. The cold air flooded into his lungs with every stabbing breath, almost visibly stealing his heat- his strength, burning everything it touched with an icy fire and releasing it to the air around him. He watched the clouding effect continue for a minute, before he got his breathing under control- forcing it to slow; evening what had become ragged and irregular.
Training, that's what this was.
When his heart rate had slowed again with the measured pulls of breath he took, he spared his charge a quick look and gave himself a start, losing the calm he'd found.
It might have been a trick of the light, or his imagination, but when he spared the unconscious man a brief glance, he could have sworn he had looked a little blue. Blinking hard, he propped the other man up for a closer look.
No, his eyes had been right the first time- and as he paid closer attention, he had to strain to see any signs of life. When he had first found the love-cook it had been easier to tell he was still breathing, but now it was so shallow the swordsman was nearly convinced he imagined it.
Cursing, he balanced Sanji in one arm, and then shifted him to the other as he ripped off his own coat. Damn stupid love cook, making him climb down a damn cliff after his sorry ass, lug him across the damn island and now go cold. He was NOT going to hear the end of this for some time. Tucking the warmed coat around Sanji, he hefted the other man's body higher against his chest, holding him closer- if awkwardly- to keep in the transferred heat.
"If you die after all this, I'm going to kill you", Zoro growled, and started jogging toward the ship- unconsciously speeding up as he went on. At least he had footprints to follow, this time.