"Amber! Now!"
"I've got it!"
Amber tightened her grip on her bow, knelt down, and, focusing her Vision on the arrow she aimed to the starry sky, she let the string of her bow loose, letting a rain of fiery arrows upon the Fatui Cryo Cicin Mage.
As the Cryo Mage and its Cicin were pelted by Fiery Rain, Lumine jumped and, with a twirl, summoned a compact tornado. Aiming for the Mage, her attack absorbed the fire from the arrows and turned into blazing winds, sucking in the Fatui and its creatures and making short work of them.
"These Fatui are everywhere!" Amber remarked and only let herself relax once a few moments had passed. Too many times had suddenly more enemies appeared right after defeating one of them. "Right, Lumine? … Lumine?"
Amber turned to the Traveler and gasped when she saw her on her knees, covering herself and trembling nonstop.
"Lumine!" The Outrider ran to her side and just as quickly removed her jacket and placed it over Lumine's shoulders. Amber quickly searched her pockets and failed to find any remaining Heatshield Potions. She then searched through Lumine's belongings, but could not find any either. "What happened to your potions?!"
"I-I gave you… my last a-a while ago…" Lumine struggled to even speak, but even so managed to let out a weak chuckle.
It took Amber a moment to process what Lumine had told her. "You didn't have to…!" No, now was not the time to argue about these things. Amber had to get Lumine to a fire or a brazier quickly, or otherwise… Otherwise…
Amber shook her head, pushing away any "if"s. She had to think. Amber stood up and quickly looked around. If it were any place other than Dragonspine, she could simply set ablaze some foliage for warmth, but the seemingly eternal snow storm made it impossible to light anything on fire. Only a torch or some dry firewood that was hidden from the harsh weather would be able to be set ablaze-
Then it hit her. Amber remembered a small abandoned encampment, hidden away in a cave, its entrance small enough to protect anyone from the subzero winds of the dreaded mountain. Amber made haste and took one of Lumine's arms and put it over her shoulders, and in one swift motion, Amber had put her arms behind Lumine's back and underneath her legs and lifted her off of the ground. It was only then that Amber noticed how cold Lumine was and how much she was trembling, only made more obvious when Lumine closed her arms a little and got closer to Amber, seeking for her body warmth out of instinct.
The Outrider of the Knights of Favonius had not failed in her duties of protecting others and did not plan to change that tonight.
Amber put Lumine down on the old cloth set up by an adventurer from who knows how long ago. Closing her eyes, she focused her Vision on the palm of her hand until it became engulfed in fire. The fire jumped to the old but dry firewood, starting a small campfire. Taking out her Baron Bunny, Amber placed it near the cave entrance.
"Keep watch," Amber commanded, and the plush doll saluted in response and turned around to keep a vigilant eye outside.
The Outrider placed her hand on Lumine's arm. It was still cold, but she was not trembling anymore. Only then did Amber allow herself to let out a sigh of relief. She leaned against the side of the cave and slowly sat down next to Lumine.
Sharing her body warmth would help her recover faster, Amber thought.
Suddenly the exhaustion of combat, hiking, and weathering the harsh temperatures of Dragonspine piled on her. Leaning on Lumine and resting her head on her shoulder, Amber found it more difficult to keep her eyes open.
Some rest would not be so bad right now, she told herself.
Baron Bunny is keeping watch, anyways.
"Hmm…" Amber began to wake up as she felt something move against her. The fireplace cracks and warmth had lulled her tired body to falling asleep. Amber stretched out her arms and let out a groan, but when she tried to get up, something held her down. Or someone.
Amber looked back to see a sleeping Lumine, who in her slumber had moved and spooned the Outrider. Amber smiled and simply sat back down, relaxing in her hold.
"Hnng…" Lumine cuddled closer to Amber and let out a sigh. "You're so warm, Amber."
"Well, I wasn't the one who almost froze to death!"
There was no witty response or remark. Lumine simply tightened her hold and pressed the side of her head against Amber's back.
"I'm sorry. And… thank you."
In the name of Barbatos. Amber knew she was not the strongest knight in the Order, nor of Mondstat, but how could she feel so weak to this girl? It was unfair.
"But really, it was that Fatuus's fault," Lumine mumbled.
"Taking over the Goth Grand Hotel wasn't enough for those guys! Now they're all over Dragonspine too! They are so annoying."
"Hmmm," Lumine simply hummed in agreement. Dragonspine had been the most inhospitable place in Teyvat so far, but this little cave was the most comfortable she had been in a while. Lumine pressed her face on Amber and cuddled her.
"Are you still cold?"
"Hmm, not really." Both warmths from the fire and the Outrider made her feel quite comfortable.
"But your nose is cold," Amber remarked, and turned around to face Lumine. Amber took off her gloves and touched both of Lumine's ears.
"Your hands are warm."
"No, you're still cold," Amber repeated herself. Lumine unwrapped her arms off of Amber and instead took hold of her hands, intertwining her fingers with hers,
"I don't feel cold," Lumine whispered but leaned closer to Amber.
"Maybe the Geo Hypostasis hit you too hard in your head when I wasn't keeping an eye on you in Liyue."
Amber laughed at her own joke, but quickly grew silent when Lumine leaned closer and pressed her lips on her own.
"Well, is my nose still cold?"
"Hm, maybe. I should check it again, just to make sure."