~Chapter 15~
Rapunzel
Father ignored my suggestion to stop and make camp for the night in this frigid wilderness. Mother had a habit of not listening to me, but my father was showing the same disrespect. Flynn and I looked out across the chasm that was hidden beneath delicate sheets of ice and snow. It was surprising that none of us fell to our deaths. Flynn circled around our immediate area keeping an eye out for that creature that stirred the horses. A predator larger than a wolf, but I didn't get a good enough look at it in this limited light.
"You sure you're okay?" Flynn questioned again.
"Why do you doubt my answer?" I challenged.
"Because I know you tend to put other's needs before your own as that is what your healing ability has taught you and the weight that has been put upon your shoulders."
I couldn't argue that fact and that irritated me a bit.
"I have a gift, so I've used it to help others," I reasoned.
"Mainly your mother," Flynn added, "And now your own father is using you."
I didn't understand what he was implying.
"Can we keep moving please?" I urged knowing this was not the time or place to argue about my parents. I didn't want to argue nor did I care to, but Flynn kept bringing up these sore places in my heart. Why were such accusations so painful to hear? I heard fathers voice echo across the chasm to us. We could hear him, but couldn't see anything through the thick mists gathered around us. The echoes repeated as my father called my name and I cupped my hands around my mouth.
"We're okay," I answered back, so my father wouldn't worry.
"Find Luna Callima and return to the ship." Father called back without missing a beat. It was impossible to have a conversation with the whistling winds distorting many of the words. Short and to the point.
"We best keep moving," Flynn urged, "You can't heal anyone if you freeze to death."
"Where do we even go? We have no idea where the flower even is," I replied.
Pascal emerged from the safety of my hair tucked under my hood as he circled my shoulder seemingly agitated.
"What's wrong with him?" Flynn mocked.
"I'm not sure, I've never seen him act like this."
I patted Pascal's head as he jumped up and down still trying to get my attention. His skin was a fierce blue and I figured it was due to him being cold.
"I don't understand," I told him with a shrug.
Pascal then glanced between Flynn and I and jumped toward Flynn as he quickly caught him before he fell into the snow at our feet.
"The snow has gone to his head," Flynn mocked, but I watched Pascal curiously as he stuck his tongue to Flynn's face, which he didn't appreciate. Flynn rubbed his face annoyed putting Pascal on his shoulder as Pascal pointed with his tail looking at me. We couldn't see anything moving forward, but Pascal could. I squinted my eyes looking in the direction Pascal had pointed out, northeast. Half a mile away through a sparse outcrop of trees, I squinted my eyes noticing that there was a mouth of a cave hidden back against a range of rocky hills. I couldn't tell if anything lay beyond that due to the mist and darkness. The moon shone on the cave and it began to give off an iridescent blue hue.
"Flynn, I think Pascal found us shelter," I said.
He glanced at me curiously as Pascal pointed in the direction with his tail again.
"I don't see anything, Blondie," Flynn replied. "We should stay vigilant, that creature could be found in those trees ahead."
"Come on, we can't stay out here. Don't you trust me?" I challenged.
"Of course, I do."
"Then let's not stay here and freeze." I urged.
Pascal hung out on Flynn's shoulder as he took hold of the two horses' reins leading them forward. I moved ahead leading the way forward as clearly he couldn't see what I did. Something was urging me forward and yet I felt a strange sense of foreboding ahead. I wasn't sure if that was because of the creature or just the general danger of being stuck in this wilderness without knowing how and where to find the Luna Callima. Every step the snow beneath our boots crunched followed by the horses' hooves. As we walked forward more, Flynn eventually spoke out excitedly finally seeing the cave opening. We were almost there when my right foot fell deep into the snow tripping me to my knees. A new sense of cold hit my leg as I felt water surge up my leg as my whole body went under breaking through the ice. Panic filled my senses as the icy waters stung my body like knives were being shoved into me. I still didn't know how to swim, but in my panic, I tried to kick up returning to the hole right above me. My limbs could hardly move as I paddled up. My head hit the top of the ice with a thud. The hole I fell through already froze over. My lungs were burning for a breath. My thoughts were shutting down forgetting how to tell my limbs to even move. This is how it ends. Moments later, I felt something pull my arms up as I heard more noise splashing out above the water. Gasping for air as I coughed, I heard muffled sounds as I was trying to breathe. I barely managed to open my eyes as I saw Flynn take off his own cloak draping it over me before scooping me up putting me on Max's back. My teeth were chattering as my lips quivered. My body could barely be felt. It felt colder above the water to me probably due to the winds. Riding hard, I could hear Max's stride ringing in my ears.
"Stay with me, Rapunzel!" Flynn said behind me, "You're stronger than this."
My eyes were fluttering open and closed this whole time. Though it wasn't long before my eyes closed again and I fell unconscious.
A familiar tune filled my ears as my mind was reawakening. The next thing I realized, my eyes popped open as I was leaning against soft fur. Max was laying down at my back, but my cheek was pressed again Flynn's shoulder. He looked me with great concern, but immediately relief as our eyes met. Looking around we had made it to the cave and there was a fire already going right in front of us. As I tried to move and get some assemblance of sensation in my body, I realized my wrist had been wrapped by a piece of my cold, wet hair. Feeling confused, I looked back up at Flynn, but found I couldn't find my voice.
"Save your energy," He nodded, "You're going to be okay."
"What did you do?" Barely managed to choke out.
"For once, the healing incantation was used for you and your well being, Rapunzel."
"You sang?"
"Of course I did, to save your life. I think with you being awake now meant that it worked."
"How long was I out?"
"A few hours, you had me worried."
I tried to shift myself again, but I was still struggling to feel anything.
"You're okay, just rest if you need to."
Forcing myself to change position, I pushed my hands down at my sides to straighten my back, but I instead I just flopped back against Max who snorted in response. Pascal appeared climbing down my shoulder and hopped up and down on my stomach in front of me.
"H-Hey Pascal,"
He circled nervously before climbing up toward my cheek rubbing his head against my jawline.
"I'm okay, buddy."
Flynn still had his cloak around me and I was quite aware of his proximity to me. We had been this close before the night we lit the paper lanterns, but this was different. My heart was racing inside my chest just pondering of why he felt the need to be so close when the fire was doing its job in keeping me warm. Though truthfully, I didn't mind how close he was.
"Your voice is already starting to come back, that's good. Can you feel your feet?" He asked. Forcing my muscles to cooperate, my boots were off placed close to the fire to dry off. I moved my feet, but only a subtle gesture.
"Maybe I should try the incantation again," I muttered.
"I didn't realize it had to be you," Flynn said, sounding defeated.
"No, that's not what I'm saying," I paused, "I think what you did worked, but just not to it's full potential of power."
"I see." He said staring forward at the fire.
We both paused as the fire crackled.
"I thought I was dead, Flynn. You saved my life." I weakly grinned.
He glanced at me with a soft smile.
"And I'd do it again. You want to try the incantation again. I'd feel better if your lips weren't looking various shades of blue and purple."
"Am I bruised?"
"No. Skin changes color under alarming temperature changes, that's all. You're gonna be okay."
"Can you help me sit up?" I asked, nervously.
Flynn immediately got up grasping me from under my arms pulling me up more straight leaning against Max at my back. Pascal hopped off me curling in a ball next to the fire as he basked in its warmth.
"Better?" He asked.
"Much," I nodded.
I pulled a piece of my hair out in front of me wrapping it around my left wrist. Closing my eyes, I sang the incantation. Immediately, I felt warmth and feeling surge from my head to my toes. My pruny hands vanished and my hair went from wet to dry in moments. Feeling renewed strength I stood on my feet spinning in place excitedly.
"Wow, so this is what this feels like?" I said.
Flynn's gaze narrowed.
"You never have healed yourself?"
"At home, I never needed to. Mother was my priority."
"So you've never been sick?"
I shrugged.
"I once got red dots all over me as a kid and they were so itchy. Mother said that it was a part of growing up and helpful for building up my strength."
"And you believed her?"
"She's my mother, Flynn." I said, "Have you ever had red spots?"
He nodded.
"Back at the orphanage, they lasted for a few weeks but went away. Everyone in the orphanage got them around the same time."
"How awful."
"It was during that time that the headmistress, Mrs. Mabry read us a story called The Tales of Flynnigan Rider. We all loved that story."
My eyes widened on hearing that name.
"Flynnigan Rider?" I questioned, "You have a story named so close to your own. It must be confusing."
Flynn inhaled a heavy breath as I nervously sat down.
"I've never told anyone this, but someone ought to know and I don't want to lie to you anymore." He said, his voice trailing off quietly.
"Lie?" I asked, raising a brow.
His eyes locked with mine as his face looked so solemn.
"Flynn Rider is a character in a book. My name is Eugene Fitzherbert."