You keep running, barely able to see, until you're forced to stop when you can't breathe. Slumping against a nearby tree, you sit on the snow, wheezing. You lean your head against the bark, your chest heaving, the seat of your pants getting wet and cold.

You can't think, you don't want to think.

Each breathe sends a sharp pain through your side, and reminds you that you're alive. Clutching your arms around yourself, you grip the jacket given to you by Sans. You're briefly tempted to rip it off and throw it away from yourself, but as it seems to press on your senses, it helps grounds you. Surprisingly better than digging your nails into your arms.

Slowly, trembling, you stand. When the adrenaline leaves you, you feel numb. You let go of Sans's jacket, your arms hanging loosely by your sides.

Speaking of Sans, he has yet to find you. Or he hasn't gone looking yet. It doesn't matter.

More or less calm, you feel a renewed sense of determination to continue on. You do so, heading down once again on the path.

You pass by a bunny Monster selling what appears to be ice cream, but makes no effort to approach them. You don't even slow down, though your stomach growls for a second. You ignore it, and continue straight on.

You come to a dead end, with a couple of stations. Thankfully, there doesn't appear to be any sentries or Monsters. You turn back around and go the other way, ignoring the bunny once again and the snowball on the ice, though it does look like it would be fun to kick around, and turn a corner.

In front of you, are Sans and Papyrus.

Sans immediately sees you, concern plainly written on his face, eye sockets searching your face. You stare back.

Papyrus notices you then, seemingly unaware of Sans's reaction.

"AHA! HELLO HUMAN! FOR THIS NEXT PUZZLE, MY BROTHER CAME UP WITH IT HIMSELF!"

You look around. Nothing. You feel your throat constrict. Perhaps it's another invisible electric maze.

"SANS! WHERE'S THE PUZZLE?"

"right there."

Indeed, when you look at the ground between you and the skeletons again, you see a piece of paper that you had missed your first time look around.

"SANS! THAT ISN'T A SUFFICIENT PUZZLE!"

You don't see his shrug, your gaze fixed on the piece of paper. "oops."

Papyrus loudly sighs, though you don't think he does anything quietly. "FINE. LET US SEE HOW THE HUMAN DEALS WITH YOUR 'PUZZLE'."

You slowly approach the paper, and reach down and pick it up. It's a simple crossword, one that looks like it has been pulled out of a children's coloring book. In the corner, in blue crayon, are words. 'take as long as you need.'

You look up, and the paper falls out of your numb fingers.

"SANS! THEY BARELY EVEN LOOKED AT IT!"

Sans doesn't respond, staring at you and you staring back at him. Finally, he turns to Papyrus. "you're right. you should go prepare the next puzzle to make up for it to the human."

"YOU'RE RIGHT SANS! I SHALL DO THIS RIGHT AWAY!" Papyrus runs off, leaving just you and Sans.

You start walking past Sans, knowing Papyrus will have the next puzzle set up before you get there. And that Sans will be there waiting when you do.

A hand grips your arm, halting your progress. You look down at it, then up its arm up to its owner. His usual smile seems a bit strained, his eye lights once again searching your face. You can tell what he wants to ask, if you're ok, if you want to talk about it, the question on the tip of his tongue. If he asks that, the answer would be no. Instead, to your surprise, he asks, "do you want to get some nice cream kid?"

Startled by the random question, you can only numbly nod, confused.

His smile doesn't become less strained, but he lets go of your arm, and heads back the way you came. When you don't immediately follow, he stops and says over his shoulder. "well, are you coming kiddo?"

You hurry to catch up.

Author's Note: Yeah, Frisk is having some issues. But hopefully nothing a little nice cream won't fix! ^^