MERRY CHRISTMAS! If you celebrate this holiday, I hope it's filled with magical snowflakes and wonderful memories in the making. If not, I hope you enjoy this wonderful winter's day and any other holiday you celebrate!
I'm finally home from college, and phew does it feel amazing. It's Christmas Eve right now, and appreciate that I stayed up very late writing this hot mess of a chapter. Totally went off the rails with it, but I'll blame Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse for it as it totally inspired me and I needed to write some action!
I hope you enjoy, remember, review! Happy Holidays!
Shirayuki awoke once more to the evening sky and the smell of something roasting. She sat up with a groan, rubbing her eye. Zen wasn't in the tent with her, but the flap was open to reveal a slightly more purple sky. "Zen?" She called out lazily, stretching her arms.
"Morning, sunshine." Zen laughed, poking his head through the opening of the tent. His white hair was brushed and he had dressed. "I'm making dinner – or, I guess breakfast for us."
Shirayuki blinked. "Oh." She got out of her sleeping bag and shuffled forward. On her hands and knees, she looked to her right. The horses were snoozing on their feet – something she still found insane. What creature slept standing up? But she shrugged it off and looked to her left, where Zen had started a fire.
Her eyes widened at the dancing orange and red flames. At the bottom licked blue flames, and it sat on the wooden logs uncomfortably, like at any moment it was going to spill over and onto the ground. Zen had put the fire over a pile of dirt – Shirayuki noticed. He had dug two sticks upright next to the fire, and was using a black pan to roast something over the flames. The fire lashed at the bottom of the pan, but it was unmoving.
"That's fire." Zen said at her awe.
"I know that much." Shirayuki snapped.
Zen laughed again. "Just don't touch it."
Shirayuki pulled her eyes away from the hypnotizing flame and glared at the Prince. He had donned his riding trousers, his thick black boots, and his shawl. The mermaid's eyes moved towards his side, where she knew the tattoo of the moon in all its cycles was probably glowing. He had his sword hanging at his side, and near the river sat the bow and arrow they had bought. "What are you cooking?"
"Deer." Zen responded. He moved to the fire and grabbed the edge of the pan, which was carefully pointed away from the fire. He shook the pan slightly, causing whatever was inside of it to swish around. "I went out and hunted a few hours ago."
"Oh. Thanks. Let me get changed first."
"Take your time." Zen nodded in agreement.
Shirayuki ducked back into the tent. She closed the tent's flap for privacy as she began to fumble for her clothing. She pulled on a pair of black pants meant for riding, her brown boots that moved up to her knees, and a dark blue shirt over her bra. It had taken her a few tries to get accustomed to the way bras worked on land. Below Surface, bras had a small twist of a clasp that locked into place. Above Surface, it was a hook around the back.
Shirayuki finished her outfit with the shawl and then quickly braided her hair, holding it in place with her pin from Below Surface. She stared at it with a pang in her heart. She had only been gone about three days, and yet she missed her home world so desperately. At least there she hadn't had to constantly be pulling her hair out of her face.
She emerged from the tent to find Zen had pulled the meat from the pan. "I hope you like it." He told her as she walked over, sitting on the grass next to him. This close to the pit Zen had dug, she could feel the intense heat flutter over her cheeks. It made her toes curl up and she shivered as Zen handed her a piece of meat and a napkin. She missed being able to just toss her food into the water and have it wait there for her.
The meat was hot and hurt her hands to hold for too long, so she kept switching hands.
"Usually," Zen said over a mouthful, "we use plates and forks. But I didn't buy any since their too much of a hassle to carry when it's just the two of us with two horses."
"I remember." Shirayuki scowled at Zen. "We ate with them over at Gladys's."
Zen nodded sheepishly. His hair was curly out of the water, and it was almost long enough to cover his eyes. He had to keep pushing it to the side, so it formed a weird sort of wave over his forehead. "Right, sorry. Do you like it?"
Shirayuki shrugged. She took a tentative bite, and blinked at the flavor. She took her time to chew it, then swallowed. "It's good." She admitted.
"Good to know you like it." Zen smiled. He looked up at the sky, where the sun was long gone. There wasn't a single cloud in the sky – which was good news for them. "I don't know if you know this, but while we went shopping I sent a letter to Mitsuhide and Kiki."
"Who? And when did you do that?" Shirayuki blinked.
"Mitsuhide and Kiki – they're my personal knights, and my closest friends. They'll help us get back into the castle. I can trust them with anything." He took another bite. "On the way back to the inn, you don't remember me stopping in that little building, you said you'd wait outside?"
"Oh." Shirayuki nodded. "I was looking out for more…pirates." She paused in her dinner. "Zen, something I don't understand. Do you think the pirates we met in town knew what had happened already?"
Zen pursed his lips. "They didn't seem any bothered by it, if they did."
Shirayuki sighed. She took another bite of the deer. "Do you think your friends – Mitsuhide and Kiki can help with identifying the knife we found?"
Zen hummed. "They might. No one knows weapons like Kiki – especially if their from a noble family or royal. She can wield almost anything, and I've never beaten her in a duel."
"Why would you duel her?" Shirayuki blinked. "I thought you were friends."
Zen laughed. "I've only ever dueled with her for practice – we only spar. I would hate to be on the other end of her blade for real."
"Ah." Shirayuki nodded. She hadn't yet heard "duel" used in the context of just training. "And Mitsuhide – do you duel him too?"
"Yes. He's almost on the same level as Kiki. They've always ended in draws whenever they spar, but I think if it was a serious fight Kiki could probably win." He winced. "Don't tell him I said that when we meet up with them, okay?"
Shirayuki smiled. "I won't. When do you think they'll meet us?"
Zen looked up, then around. "I told them that we were taking an odd path, but towards the next town. We'll get there in about a day."
Shirayuki nodded. She finished her meat and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. She stood and moved to the river, washing her hands before cupping the cool water and rubbing her lips dry. "Thank you for the meal, Zen."
Zen nodded. "Of course. It's good practice to get used to fighting on land again."
As she stared at her reflection in the river, a smile broke over Shirayuki's face. She flicked her fingers over the water, and from the little droplets she scattered rose five little bubbles out of the river's current. She lifted her hand, the little drops following her in mid air. She turned around and curled her hand into a fist, the drops of water hardening into something similar to snow. When she flicked her hand out again, this time with her fingers together, they sailed through the air.
Across the clearing, they made contact on the back of Zen's head. He gasped and whirled with surprise, staring at her with a comical look on his face. "How rude!"
Shirayuki stuck her tongue out, but then heard the swell of water behind her. "Uh oh." She turned around slowly, watching as a whole wall of the river rose from its place on the ground. It towered over her, and with a sigh she turned back to Zen. "You would dare?"
He had his hand held out towards her, and he tilted his head. "I might. Unless you say you're sorry."
She felt a grin pull on her lips. "And if I don't, you'll dump all this water on top of me?"
"Something like that." He laughed.
"Well, I won't say sorry, because then I would be lying."
Zen lifted his shoulder. "Alright then, your fate is sealed." He withdrew his hand and the water thundered as it began to drop over Shirayuki. At the very last second, she thrust her hand, palm up, directly above her head. The water sighed as it parted over her, cascading to the ground next to her but not a single drop touched even her palm as it did. Once the onslaught ended, Shirayuki grinned up at Zen's shocked face.
"Speaking of a spar, I'm pretty sure I'm the mermaid here." Shirayuki got to her feet, tossing her shawl back around her shoulders to free her arms. "And I have much more control of the Aigua than you ever would, human."
Zen recognized the teasing nature in her gaze but stood up nonetheless. "Be that as it may, we humans are adaptable creatures. I'm sure I can best you – you at least couldn't take me down with the ease at which you boast."
Shirayuki rolled his eyes at how he changed his wording. She curled her hand into a fist and threw it back to her head, then forward towards him.
A whip of water lashed from the river, charging just past Zen and sizzling as it struck the fire, putting it out in an instant douse. Shirayuki pulled her hand back to her side and the water slowly retreated past Zen, hovering around Shirayuki's legs as she tilted her head.
The steam of the newly put out flame hissed against the pan. The horses stirred, but didn't flinch at the nature-defying feats being performed not far from them.
Zen started to lift his hands, when suddenly he leaned his fingers forward.
Shirayuki gasped in surprise as the very water she was holding steady in the air splashed back over her midriff, soaking her top through. She shivered at the cool feeling, and angrily flicked her hands, letting the water retreat into the river. "Not bad." She swiped her hand in a curving motion in front of her stomach. All the water that had soaked into her clothing pulled free and into the air, leaving not a trace except for the goosebumps on her arms. She moved the remaining water over to Zen, and Zen let it simply splash him across the bend of his nose with a smug smile.
"Thanks, I learned from the best." He sighed and wiped his face with his sleeve. Then he slowed, his eyes going to the ground. "I think it's time."
Shirayuki saw the glow reflected in his eyes before she looked down and saw it herself. The ground beneath them began to grow with a white glow, each individual grass stalk shimmering like it had been coated by moonlight.
And from that glow rose a familiar figure.
The Moon wore the same dress she had last night. But now, the dark stripe Shirayuki had noticed yesterday was slightly larger. She dipped her head, and gestured for Zen and Shirayuki to follow the path she was lighting for them.
They were trotting through the night when Shirayuki noticed it. Thunder and River were almost step and step, but Thunder was just the teeniest bit ahead. So Shirayuki had ample view of Zen's side. She knew that looking away from the road was potentially dangerous, but she had to glance at the Prince for this very reason.
Through the side of his shirt, she could see his tattoo's glowing. Bright enough to see through his shirt, but when his shawl moved forward slightly it blocked them from view once more. She checked her arm, and sure enough, they glowed brighter at night.
She opened her mouth to call out to Zen, when suddenly both the horses stopped. Shirayuki, unprepared for the halt, crashed forward against River's neck. "Oof!" She pushed herself back. Under her, River felt like a feral animal. His muscles were tense, and Shirayuki felt a thrill of fear creep over her spine at the lack of control.
Zen had caught himself and was looking to where Thunder was looking. His blue eyes were narrowed. "What is…that?"
Shirayuki followed his gaze. The horses were staring through the trees, where a faint orange glow hissed over the horizon. "Reminds me of the fire." She hummed.
Zen twisted in his seat, staring at her. "Shirayuki, do you smell anything?"
Shirayuki inhaled deeply through her nose. "It kinda smells like what those men had in their mouths back in the town. Smoke?"
"Forest fire." Zen hissed. He gathered his reins, and his stance tightened. Thunder responded under him, lifting her mighty head and kicking her front hooves. Her tail swished.
Shirayuki tensed as River followed her lead.
"We're going to have to run for it." Zen turned to face her, his blue eyes reassuring. "Move with River, hang on tight with your legs. Heels down." He reminded.
Shirayuki pushed her heels down and squeezed with her knees, nodding. She didn't gather her reins, trusting River would follow Thunder closely.
Zen spurred Thunder with a kissing noise, and Thunder needed no more prompting.
Shirayuki had cantered before, but the gallop was different. The wind turned biting and tossed her hood off her head so quickly Shirayuki thought it was ripped from her shawl. Her teeth clenched and she fought the urge to lean forward. She forced her muscles to relax, moving with River's steady stride. Just hearing the pounding of River's hooves ripping through the foliage was enough to send her heart into her throat. Even that close, she couldn't hear it beating. The only thing she heard was River – his hooves, his breaths, and the flicks of his tail as he galloped.
While terrifying, there was something absolutely exhilarating and powerful about the run. Shirayuki felt as if she could run the entire length of the world, she felt like nothing could stop her. Not even the smell of the smoke that was definitely getting stronger.
The path glowed, sparks of white curls exploding from their race. River was almost next to Thunder, and Zen managed to glance back at Shirayuki. The wind pushed his hair all over the top of his head, and Shirayuki thought it was almost hypnotizing to stare at.
There was a whisper through the air, and then the Moon appeared in front of them. She was riding side – saddle on a pure white steed with massive glowing wings. It didn't even touch the ground as it cantered, and Thunder snorted at it – probably angry to give up the spot of leader in this race.
The Moon's face was pinched with worry. She had a dark line down her side, bigger each night. "Quickly, my dears." She hissed. "Follow me. We can't let the fire catch us."
Thunder and River put on a burst of speed that nearly threw Shirayuki from her seat. She sat upwards, leaning towards River's neck in something Zen called a "half seat". It was immensely easier than trying to keep her butt in the saddle.
The steed of the Moon took a hard left, and River actually skidded a little in a sort of stop – go movement. Shirayuki clutched her fingers through his mane, almost releasing the reins as her body trembled with the movement. River tossed his head and leapt a few paces to find his stride. It was as if there was a path his hooves were following – a ghost he had to merge with. And he did so flawlessly.
Pride and awe swelled through Shirayuki and she leaned forward a little to whisper to the horse. "You're incredible."
His one ear twitched in acknowledgement as he caught up to Thunder.
The smoke was suffocating, but the Moon's steed beat it's mighty wings and the black cloud approaching them dissipated. The Moon looked back at the two riders. "May the stars speed your path, young ones." She murmured.
Shirayuki felt a sting on her arm and spared a glance down at her forearm. Her new tattoos were glowing brightly, almost blinding to look at. She glanced at Zen, who's were beaming through his shirt, cascading his side in a brilliant glow.
Shirayuki heard a roar and turned her gaze to the side. To her horror, she saw an orange glow. "What…is that?!" She called.
A blast of heat made her wince and Thunder nickered nervously. Zen dug his heels in and tightened his fingers. "Focus, girl!" He urged.
The Moon glared at the orange glow as it raced beside them. Her eyes widened. "That is-!"
A horrible, horrible laughter interrupted her. The trees groaned and some came crashing to the ground. Shirayuki narrowed her eyes against the glow, and all the moisture in her mouth dried. There was another horse running through the fire – no, it was made of the flames. It had a black body, with fire licking from its hooves, mane, tail, and eyes. It didn't look at them, it's mouth was opened to reveal pointed canines. The rider was headless, but swung a sword made of flame, letting it graze over the leaves and the trunks of all it passed. The rider turned, and even with no head Shirayuki felt the prickle on the back of her neck of someone staring at her.
The Moon shouted. "Follow me!" The path abruptly turned and again the horses were forced to make a sliding turn, following the Moon's light.
Zen glanced over to see the headless horseman too, and Shirayuki saw true fear grip his gaze. He looked at her sharply. "Stay close to me!"
Shirayuki nor River needed an urging for that. River galloped to the side of Thunder, matching her mighty stride.
The Moon shouted at the other horseman, who had seemingly followed them with not even a misstep. "Stay away! These two are protected by the Tides!"
The laughter echoed again. Shirayuki jumped as there was a loud boom, and all of a sudden a tree that they were passing began to drop towards them. Zen and Shirayuki ducked, and River gave a jump forward as the trunk brushed his hindquarters. But they powered on.
"He'll kill us!" Shirayuki cried. "We can't outrun him!"
The Moon pursed her lips. "What sorcery is this?" She asked.
The mermaid looked at Zen, who looked aghast at her gaze. "I don't know! Until a few days ago, I didn't think there was any magic on land!"
Another trunk fell towards them, and this time the Moon's steed had to lift a wing to toss it back in the opposite direction. Shirayuki could feel River's flank heave from the intense sprint. Thunder did not look much better.
Her new legs were shaking with the strain of staying up. But she didn't trust herself to sit back down, not when River was in the thicket of his stride.
Another tree, this time perfectly positioned to crush Shirayuki and Zen.
Shirayuki didn't think about her next action.
Time did not slow down, nor did any particular thought other than her fear flash through her head.
One second she was watching the tree fall from the back of her horse. The next, she was in the air, her two hands connected with the bark and pushing it the other way.
The biggest shock was that it worked.
Then the bigger shock was her landing on the ground. She gasped as the breath was knocked out of her and she rolled through a wall of white light, the moon's path curling around her to mark her body with those strange stains.
"Shirayuki!" She heard Zen scream. But then a wall of fire erupted between her and the screaming horses, the hot red glow parting the Moon's white glow like an actual blade through seaweed.
Shirayuki covered her face with her arms at the spattering embers floating towards her. One singed into her hair and she quickly slapped at the burning sensation.
The laughter shook her bones and she looked up to see the headless horseman. His steed was snorting and tossing its head, stomping at the ground as if the moon's path bothered it. The rider dismounted. He wore a long, singed cape connected with an almost familiar crest at the base of his collarbone. Underneath, a knight's armor covered him from head to toe, golden bronze as if it burned with fire underneath it. He hovered his blade of flames towards Shirayuki, and she felt all of her blood run cold.
Her breath wouldn't come, her heartbeat shook her whole core.
The headless man laughed. His steed stalked around them, leaving a trail of fire until Shirayuki was truly trapped.
She heard Zen scream in the distance, and the terrified whinny of one of the horses.
The headless man raised his sword of flame high above his head.
Shirayuki closed her eyes. She turned her head, hoping for a painless death.
Instead, a loud clang rang through the area, giving her skin goosebumps as a chill of power ran through her.
She looked up.
Her knife floated in front of her, having somehow managed to catch the blade at the base of its hilt. It trembled with the effort, but kept the sword at bay.
The headless horseman reared back, and his steed actually reared in shock.
Before the rush of adrenaline could pass, Shirayuki reached up and grabbed the knife's hilt. She got to her feet, her one leg almost buckling on her as she gasped for breath. The air tasted nasty in her mouth and scraped her lungs – she missed breathing in the ocean so much.
As if the thought had brought it, Shirayuki felt her eyes burn with power. They did still glow. She raised the knife and brought it into a fighting stance, leveling with the swordsman.
Getting over his shock, he readied a stance as well.
Shirayuki read his posture. He was not taking her seriously. His left leg was being used as his support leg, despite obviously favoring his right side. He had a curious tilt in his shoulder, and he let his other arm dangle uselessly as he pointed his blade at her. Still, he held tight to his hilt – he was worried about another surprise.
Shirayuki would use that to her advantage at the first chance.
He lunged first, and Shirayuki rolled under his legs, taking the opportunity to slash at a small opening his armor, just at the joint of his knee. However, it was a simple graze thanks to her awkward positioning and movements. She jumped back to her feet and whirled to face the demon, her braid slapping her in the cheek.
The horseman stumbled, his gloved hand going down to the inside of his leg to see the damage. He did not bleed, Shirayuki noted. He straightened his posture again to face her.
It was getting harder and harder to breathe, but her eyes still glowed. The man lunged for her again, this time with a strike aimed at her neck. Shirayuki had to use both hands to block. She stopped the flaming sword with the flat of her tiny blade, putting her hand against the other side to steady it. She hissed in pain as embers tickled across her fingers and palm.
This wouldn't work, she needed a sword like Zen had to face this threat.
The man drew back his sword and spun, striking at her other side. Shirayuki managed to duck under it, but before she could dive between his legs again he kicked her, sending her dangerously close to the flames.
She stopped herself with her hands and legs, crouching on the ground as she fell to her knee. Her shoulder throbbed where she had been hit, she was sure she would have a nasty bruise. Her hands still glowed with the mark of the moon – it helped remind her she was not alone. She stood again, fire blasting heat behind her as she readied the knife again.
The horseman rolled his shoulder and made another stab at her.
She blocked the tip of the blade in much the same way, but this time spun before he did and landed a hard punch to his side, just under his ribcage. The horseman stumbled into the flames fearlessly, but Shirayuki had the frozen fears of a battler. She let out a fierce cry as she lunged for the man again.
He scrambled out of the way, still engulfed in the fire. He laughed, and Shirayuki had a moment of confusion before something heavy knocked her forward, causing her to almost faceplant into the flames. Luckily, she threw her hands down and caught herself on her hands and knees.
The flames licked around her fingers and legs and she hissed with pain, jumping back out of the fire with a cry.
The steed of the headless horseman had shoved her, and was stalking towards her as if it had seen enough of her standing up to his rider.
The horseman laughed, content to watch his beast end her.
It snapped its canines at Shirayuki and she moved backwards slowly, wishing her knife was a sword.
There was another whinny, and a huge shaped lunged over the fire to collide with the demon, sending it falling to the ground with a scream that sounded too human.
River reared over the demon, who lifted it's head and flailed it's legs at River's to try and knock him over. River whinnied a challenge and brought his hooves down over the demon's neck in a move that would otherwise be fatal. And true, it did force the demon to release a steam of smoke from its nostrils, but the demon still thrashed.
River backed away on his hind legs, landing just before the flames and circling slowly to Shirayuki, his ears pinned straight back.
Shirayuki reached up and grabbed the stirrup hanging from his saddle. She hoisted herself up, putting her arm over her horse. "Good boy." She panted.
River bared his teeth at the demon, who rose as his rider walked around to brandish his sword at Shirayuki next to his horse. He laughed.
River snapped his jaws, and the demon did the same.
Shirayuki looked at her blade. The knife glowed – had it gotten bigger since her last swing? She moved upwards, her arm around River's withers and tangling in his mane. Sweat poured down the horse's neck. She was honored that such a noble beast had chosen to come back and fight with her.
That awe sent a rush through Shirayuki, not unlike the wave crushing the sand beneath it as it rushed to shore. Shirayuki felt a jolt of power travel down her arm, and she watched as her knife extended. The hilt grew in her grasp, balancing to her weight as the blade reached out to level at the headless horseman's chest.
It was smaller than his blade, but Shirayuki recognized a symbol at the bottom of the metal. Carved in thin white lines, a full moon cradled in the curve of a wave. A perfect copy on both sides of the blade.
The hilt was decorated with five pearls, and Shirayuki felt a pulse of familiar magic that reminded her of home radiate from them. She smiled and swung the blade once.
However, the magic was not done filling her. Through her left arm it rushed, and she gasped as River's coat began to glow. His mane lifted off of his neck, lines of what looked like blue lightning rushing through it. His hooves pounded the ground.
Shirayuki looked back and blinked. While he still had hind legs, and a glowing white tail crackling with energy, he also looked like he had sprouted a fish's tail. It flickered, and the more Shirayuki focused on it the less clear it became.
The hippocampus were thought to be a long extinct sea creature that the mers used to ride through the waves. They were the horses that had tumbled through the waves and returned back to their creator after being spat onto the land, unlike their mammalian brethren who rushed to run free and wild.
The headless horseman laughed again, bringing Shirayuki's attention back to him.
With her new blade, and power rushing through her body, and a steed made of the ocean's waves beside her, Shirayuki charged the demon.
River crashed his head against the fire horse's, both of them shoving – at odds until River lashed his tail and began to push the demon backwards through the dirt.
Shirayuki's blade met the horseman's with a resounding clang, and Shirayuki heard the rush of the ocean as if she was jumping through it's waves. Where her blade met the horseman's, the fire of his sword sputtered weakly as if the metal was wet.
Shirayuki pulled back and stabbed at the headless horseman's upper chest plate. She left a long scratch against the armor, and using the slide she slashed downwards and broke through the armor straps. The chest plate peeled from his chest and dangled uselessly on his other side. Before the demon could strike her back, she ripped through his upper chest and spun back and out of the way, her sword still ready and pointed upwards as she held it downwards.
The horseman stumbled back. Without his chest plate, he had sunken gray skin, cut cleanly apart to reveal nothing but an old, yellow ribcage. He held his hand over his chest and his laughter was tighter this time, a little similar to a nervous chuckle.
Shirayuki spared a glance at her steed.
River tossed the fire demon on its side, sending it rolling through the flames with a groan. His pelt glowed as if stars dappled his hindquarters, and as he twitched his head a bolt of what Shirayuki thought might be lightning sent a wave of dirt over the flames and had the fire demon squealing.
Shirayuki turned back to the Headless Horseman, who was rising to his feet. He lunged at her with a stab, and Shirayuki easily ducked under the jab. She knocked his sword upwards, sending his arm backwards and leaving him open for Shirayuki to slice his chest again, this time downwards.
Her arms trembled with the amount of power she was expressing. But she couldn't give up just yet. Not trusting her stamina to last, she jumped back towards the Headless Horseman and knocked him back with her knee. On his back, she stepped over him and stabbed her sword straight through him into he ground. "In the name of the Sea and the Moon, I banish you back to the ground!" She shouted, not exactly sure what she meant.
But they seemed to have an effect.
Shhhhhhhh, shhhhhhh. Came the sound of the waves. Shirayuki felt a rush of power run through her that made her curl her toes. Her hair flung upwards and she breathed her first clean breath of air since the fire had started.
When she looked down again, the horseman was gone, and her sword was burrowed into the ground. She looked to River, who was standing with panting sides alone as the fire parted and died around him into a circle of ash and embers.
Shirayuki pulled her sword free with a grunt, suddenly not finding the strength to wield so hefty a weapon. As if following her thoughts, the blade once again shrunk to a simple dagger. Or, maybe not simple, as it floated free from her fingers and twirled almost happily through the ruined air.
River walked towards her, the glow from his pelt fading and his mane once again resting against his neck. He huffed as Shirayuki leaned against him, her head pounding with pain and tears threatening to spill as the adrenaline faded.
"Shirayuki!" Zen's voice reached her ears.
Desperately, she looked around. But her vision was fading, and she was sliding off of the support of River, despite the horse's best efforts.
White light erupted around her feet, the path of the Moon being reignited as if a match was lit to it. The tendrils curled around her boots and clung to her shoes as she fell to her knees. She began to tilt, but then warm hands curled around the back of her head and her lower back. White lines brushed all around them as Zen brought her to his chest.
"Are you okay?" He asked, breathless and blue eyes glowing in reflection of the path.
She could only smile faintly. She turned her face into his chest, breathing in his warm scent – like flowers or the heat of the sun. Then, her consciousness slipped into nothing.