.Ch. 10: The Winding Mountain Path.
The three of them formed a single-file line: Sasuke in front followed by Sakura and lastly, Naruto. As they walked on in silence, Sakura was left to watch the scenery before her. It didn't look different than any other ordinary mountain. This particular mountain, however, sent a cold icy chill like a snake slivering up her spine. There was something strange here. It was present in the air. Sasuke continued well ahead on the path and Sakura found it increasingly difficult to keep up. Sweat stuck to her body, matting her bangs to her forehead. She was shivering; tired; hungry. Taking no more, she sat down, leaning against the mountain cliff turning her back to the wind to shield herself.
Naruto almost tripped over her as he kneeled next to her and called to Sasuke to come back. Sasuke turned to look back; realizing Sakura's condition and hurried back. The trio kneeled there, huddled together, waiting for the wind to die down. The wind, however, became stronger; threatening to blow them away, but Sasuke and Naruto stood as hard as a rock as ever, as if the wind didn't affect them at all. Sakura's teeth chattered loudly as Naruto and Sasuke leaned closer to keep warm. After waiting a few minutes, Sasuke muttered something softly; Naruto's eyebrows furrowing together in a frustrated understanding. Sakura didn't hear what he said, so he repeated himself.
"If we stay here, the wind will keep picking up and we'll be blown away. We have to get moving." He spoke in her ear as she nodded and the three stood up. Huddling closer than before, they struggled on their way up the path, grabbing at the ice wall to help them. Naruto slipped slightly before recovering and hurrying to catch up to Sakura and Sasuke. The wind tore at Sasuke's hair, thrashing it about as snowflakes stuck against the black color of his hair. Sakura was grasping with her other hand onto Sasuke's coat; the trio's footprints crunched in the snow, showering a few feet around them every time they lifted a foot and set it back down.
They were panting; hurrying as fast as they could to reach the top. Snow flew at them, blocking the view of the rest of the mountain until they could hardly see their own hand in front of their faces. Sasuke blindly groped at anything to help them move along as Naruto wheezed behind Sakura, still pulling the sled.
"I…g-g-g-g…Guys! I c-c-c-can't p-p-pull th-the sssled an-ny fur-ther!" he called out to Sakura and Sasuke. Sasuke turned, around as Sakura leaned against him for body heat. "P-pass me th-the sled!" he cried out to Naruto, who yanked at the rope attached to the sled. Heaving it forward, he made his way up to where Sakura and Sasuke were and handed over the rope to Sasuke, who promptly tied it to his belt.
"g-g-g-grab the r-rope!" he yelled to Sakura and Naruto who quickly did so, and they made their way forward again.
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Struggling
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Freezing
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Tired
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Hungry
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Light shone through the sky…a bright light…warmth immediately coming in small amounts, but that was good. They were nearing the top of the mountain. Once they arrived, they sat there, admiring the sight before them. Mountains could be seen, spreading across the horizon, the snow glittering in reflection to the sun's rays and Mount Everest was close. Once they got to the base of the mountain they were on, they could make their way through the valley in between the mountains until they reached their destination.
The sky was still clouded…another storm was coming. Sasuke sighed as he leaned back against a rock that jutted out of the snow. Naruto had shut his eyes for a moment next to him and Sakura was huddled against him on his other side. A soft breeze was present as it gently tugged at them, as if pulling them towards Mount Everest. Sasuke's eyes focused on their goal as Sakura's shined in excitement. This was a chance of adventure that neither of them had been through before, and nothing was going to stop them from surviving this challenge.
Standing, Sakura moved to Naruto and shook him awake, Sasuke ready to go as they began their descent. They hurried now, the wind hadn't picked up yet and it was easier than the trek up. Taking the opportunity, they reached the bottom in an hour, out of breath, but still, not as much difficulty as before.
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He was angry. No, he was furious. "What do you mean that my SON is lost in the Himalayan mountains? Not only that, but two others? Couldn't you find some other way to rid that girl instead of putting my son's life in danger?" The man before him cringed.
"we've already sent out a rescue team. They should be there by now, picking the three up-" Static interrupted him as the walkie-talkie clipped to his belt came to life in a series of hurried yells.
"The chopper went…" Static "I repeat! The chopper went down! The storm is too dangerous! We weren't able to make it to them! They're still out there! If that storm reaches them before we do, then they'll-" the man turned off his walkie-talkie.
"Get them out before that storm gets to them. Or else you'll be answering to me personally."
"……..yes sir."
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They made it. It had been a span of three days, but they made it. The base looked empty, as if left for vacation, or worse. Evacuated. Who knew what was coming? Naruto had opened a tent in a far corner of the kitchen, surrounded by cans of food while meanwhile; Sasuke was talking to Sakura over the stove, frying meat. Pieces of their conversation could be heard from where Naruto was sitting, who was straining to eavesdrop.
"What do you think will happen? Those monitors in the other room…."
"I know. I don't like the looks of it either. It's like something huge is coming."
"Sasuke, we're going to be okay right?"
Silence.
"I don't know Sakura. I don't know."
Frowning, Naruto sat up and peeked through the open tent door. Sakura was leaning on Sasuke's back, Sasuke cooking. Suddenly Sakura leaned further to the right, and her face contorted in pain as she gasped and held on to the side of her stomach, slowly inching her way down. Sasuke noticed and threw aside the pan as he catched her before she could fall any further.
Naruto stood hurriedly, rushing to their sides, and helped Sasuke carry her to the table, where they moved aside her shirt and gaped. A cut was visible on the left side of her waist, and by its purplish hue, it looked infected. Gasping, she closed her eyes, watching the world spin, hearing Sasuke call out to her while Naruto left her side to rush into the medical room.
Then, everything when white, and finally, darkness consumed her.