Author's Note: Thank you again for the reviews! I would appreciate constructive criticism. It helps me become a better writer. :3 Also, apologies if chapter six didn't show up yesterday. FanFiction is glitchy as HEAK. Anyhow, ENOJOY TEH CHAPTER!

Chapter Seven - Into the Storm

Squid trudges on through the snowy forest, Fizzy behind him.

Up above them, dark clouds are moving in.

"Erm, don't 'cha think we should be worrying about that?" Fizzy asks. "It is kind of a definite blizzard, and we're nearly directly underneath it."

"I don't care," Squid replies. "I'm going to find this 'HitTheTarget' and make him pay for destroying my house."

"But, isn't revenge bad?" Fizzy asks, struggling to keep up with Squid. "Plus, it's the Christmas season - it's supposed to be jolly!"

"Well, it was his choice - he could've been friendly and kept his ugly face hidden, but no," Squid says, picking up speed. "He just had to make his presence known, and now look!"

He throws his tentacles into the air in emphasis, and at that moment a deafening growl sounds from above their heads. Lightning strikes the ground ahead, setting a tree ablaze. Fizzy yelps, stopping.

"Ugh," Squid grumbles. "Could this day get any worse...?" He freezes, his voice trailing away.

Ahead of them, a massive, ominous white shape is visible, coming their way, and it takes a moment for Squid to realize it's snow. A huge, white sheet of snow. Cold wind - colder than before, at least - comes blowing in. The tree on fire is put out immediately. The blizzard has reached them.

"Well, then," Fizzy says. "Don't say I didn't warn you."

Squid turns and runs, back the way they came, and Fizzy follows as fast as his elephant feet can take him.

They race through the trees, the whistling - or roaring, more like - of the wind growing louder every minute. Squid turns to Fizzy; The poor soul looks absolutely terrified, and Squid assumes he's never been in a life-or-death situation.

Speaking of which, Squid feels like this life-or-death situation will most likely end in the latter, and now he is equally as terrified.

I'm not ready to die, he thinks. I've only just awoken up from my nap!

Squid is aware of tears running down his face. The sound of the blizzard behind them is overwhelming. He looks up to the cloud covered sky.

It is dark, but not nearly as dark as the situation they are in.

The next moment, the only thing Squid can see is white as the blizzard reaches them. He collapses.

And freezes.

Squid opens his eyes.

He can see nothing but white.

He attempts move his tentacle.

it touches cold, wet snow.

Yes, he is most definitely buried in a pile of snow.

He opens his mouth, and immediately snow falls into it. "Help!" he spits, his voice muffled even to him.

He tries to move, but he is extremely weak. And cold, might I add.

I've got to get out of here before I freeze to death, he thinks.

He struggles to move, every joint in his body aches. He tries to break into the surface, but he's not sure which way is up and which way is down. Suddenly, he stops his struggling at the sound of footsteps. Someone is near.

"Fizzy?" he croaks. "Is that you?"

"Nah," a voice replies. A voice he recognizes from somewhere, but he can't remember where. "It's just me."

Squid hears the sound of a shovel digging out snow. The next moment, a hole appears above his head and, after his eyes have adjusted to the light, he recognizes the airliner pilot from that morning, staring down at him, grinning, a shovel in his hand.

"Of all people!" Squid exclaims. Then he adds, "How did you find me?"

"Oh, I've been following you all day," the pilot replies.

Squid blinks. "Why?"

"I have my reasons..."

Squid doesn't care what those 'reasons' are at the moment. "Could ya, maybe, dig me out?" he asks instead.

"Oh, sure," the pilot replies, grabbing his shovel and stabbing it into the snow, nearly hitting Squid's stomach.

"Oy! Careful, mate!"

The pilot apologizes. He begins digging again, more careful this time, and eventually Squid is out, standing in the snow, shivering. He scans the terrain. Trees are uprooted left right and centre. Snow covers everything.

"Thanks, mate." he pants.

The pilot nods.

"Hey, have you seen an elephant in golden pants recently?"

The airliner pilot shakes his head. "No, I don't think so... Well, unless you count five minutes ago as 'recently', when some elephant in gold pants was kidnapped by some dude and taken away by force."

Squid blinked. "You must be joking."

The pilot laughs. "Do I look like someone who would joke about that?"

"Yes, you do."

"You're right, I probably would," the pilot says. "But I'm not joking right now. Some elephant in gold pants really was taken away."

"Which direction?" Squid demands.

"Alright, alright, no need to be hasty," The pilot turns and points in the direction of the funland. "If you go that way, you shall find what you are searching for." He closes his eyes and does a gesture indicating he's same wise old wizard.

"Kay, great." Squid pushes past the pilot. "Thanks, mate."

"'T'was my pleasure." The pilot bows respectively.

"Alright, see ya around, mate." Squid runs off through the forest.

"Until then, young grasshopper!" the pilot calls. "Until then!"

"Enough with the sensei malarkey!" Squid shouts over his shoulder.

That guy's a wacko, he thinks as he runs off through the forest.