I heaved over, my lungs burning with every ragged breath as I threw my weight heavily on the Blade of Evil's Bane that cleaved the hard snow before me in two.

I could see Ashei close in on my left within my blurry peripherals. She stayed close, watching my every move like a hawk. Her face was obscured by the Yeti mask, yet I can tell she's gripped by a rare moment of concern over me.

Despite the night of rest, my body doesn't feel replenished at all. I still feel weak, now given no choice but to lean on my sword for support when I feel like giving out.

My blotched, purple fingers came into view, the hypothermia spreading further, starting at my fingertips but now its fatal grip stretches to my knuckles. An inkling of fear nestled deep in my heart, knowing I needed to get out of this cold. I will die here if we don't hurry.

I uprooted my sword from its spot in fatigued determination, the force making me stumble backwards weakly, keeping my sword to my side in case I need it again.

Thankfully, the pelting snowstorm died down sometime last night in my sleep. That made the trek slightly easier, as my numb face is no longer being stabbed and my vision not nearly as obscured, able to see the seemingly boundless expanse of white around me.

I took a few more paced steps in the thick snow, my energy fading fast which is causing us to move even slower than yesterday. My balance is wobbly, as I feel constant resistance from the snow each time I wade through it. I yell out with a step, partially out to keep myself and also in frustration. I know I'm the reason we're not at our destination yet and I can't stand the feeling knowing I've become something of a burden.

By the end of my path, my body lurches forward in objection, breathing heavily. I opened my eyes that I didn't realize were closed, and sluggishly tried to get my sword in front of myself. But I was too slow to react, the pillowy snow coming in fast to embrace me hard.

I felt an arm stretch across my chest, catching my fall. My body went limp in the strong embrace. Staying upwards needed too much strength from me that I currently didn't have. I felt my right arm swung behind myself, brushing over muscular shoulders as a hand tightly embraced my own, anchoring me beside Ashei. I kept a feeble grip on my sword.

"We need to keep moving. Stay with me Link!"

My body was pushed into motion despite its protests, Ashei taking the lead for us both.

I'm hauled along for what feels like an eternity, time meaning nothing to me anymore. Ashei was silent besides a few grunts, leaving my only companion sharp anxiety, becoming hyper fixated on my failing body, picking up on every small cue that conveyed I was dying a slow and painful death.

Between my tired body and my racing mind, my eyes fluttered shut again, too overwhelmed to keep open.

"Wake up, Link! We are just about there!"

I moaned, summoning just enough energy to lift my head up, barely able to make out the dark shape of a house in the far distance. I mustered a smirk as powerful waves of relief flooded my body, allowing my head rest again and sleep to easily dull everything over.

The rest was all an indistinguishable blur. Various voices clambered around me from both sides. One held a panic, almost yelling with fright, though I couldn't tell why. My sword was released from my slack grip, I felt my body being raised up once more, limbs suspended in limbo for what felt like forever until I sensed something soft below me, body stretched out. I leaned into the reassuring feeling, the only thing that made sense as I passed out again.

The distinct, sharp smell of fish and an array of exotic spices awoke my senses with a hollow clank of something wooden. Soft, even breathing filled my ears.

A pervasive heat warmed my cheeks and bloomed over my still body once more, I was suddenly aware of a thick coat of sweat all over my body.

I shifted, surprised to find a surge of strength that I haven't had in a good while. I lifted my arm up towards my face, turning it in confusion as my arm was found bare. The purple infestation of hypothermia is all but gone, replaced by a healthy orange tint. My thumping heart was slowed with relief, releasing a breath that I didn't realize I held. Thank the Goddesses.

The fish aroma wafted through the room and tickled my nose, my stomach immediately crying out for sustenance.

With a grunt, I brace myself, hoisting myself upwards under shaking arms.

"Hey, hey, easy, easy," Ashei's voice softly chimes in to my left, as she gently places her hands on my back and chest, helping me sit.

Upwards, I became aware that my chest was also exposed as the blanket that covered me moments ago crumpled into a heap around my waist. Ashei's reassuring hand let off my chest and a red bowl was offered to me in its place. "Eat." She simply said. I must've given her a confused look because she added, "we will talk about it after. You need to gather your strength." The bowl was nudged towards me, encouraging me. "Eat."

I stretched both arms out, placing the warm bowl between my crossed legs. A sudden overpowering hunger took me over as the various delicious spices filled my nostrils. I grabbed the wooden utensil, eating the first bite tenderly until it hit my stomach and then stared gulping down spoonful after spoonful of the soup. The ferociousness of my hunger was bottomless, I couldn't get enough of the food. I felt like I had never eaten in my whole life. I finished the bowl within practically seconds, and another steaming one was offered to me. I eagerly devoured its contents.

Draining the last drop, I wiped my dribbling mouth clean with the back of my hand, stomach somewhat satisfied after a few minutes.

My glance turns to my companion, who gets up from her chair seeing as I licked another bowl clean. She places the object on a table in my near distance, setting herself back down in the chair. I can sense something twisting in the room.

"So. I'll break it down for you." Ashei spoke. "You've been asleep for four days now." She sighed, letting a heavy pause linger between us. "You almost died, Link. I barely got you here in time, the hypothermia set in fast. We did everything to keep you breathing: piling blanket after blanket on you, warming a fire, aggressively rubbing your limbs and despite all of our efforts, you almost didn't make it. You didn't stabilize until the second day in." We locked eyes, hers unmistakably shiny from fresh tears forming. "I thought I was going to lose you."

A thick silence stretched out between us, the crackling of the fire popping and sizzling. My brows furrowed, a surge of anger and shame settled deep in me as I recalled the panicked yelling from earlier, now realizing it was Ashei's voice, screaming out for help. My hands curled into tight fists, my nails creating crimson half moons in my palms. I silently berated myself as remorse flooded over, imagining all the struggle and pain I caused Ashei. I could have cost us both our lives because of my foolish, rash mistake.

"In case you didn't realize, I got us to the Yeti's mansion. You're safe in one of their bedrooms. We ended up encountering the bandits during the second day we got here." She paused for a few moments, seemingly gathering herself. "They hit hard and… we lost one of our men." I noted her voice quivering as she finished her words, showing a rare display of sadness.

Another stretch of silence grew, my guilt and self-hatred growing deeper as I immediately pinned the blame on my shoulders.

Would he still be alive today if I didn't make that mistake?

"They retreated that day after he was cut down, and I know that isn't going to be the last time we see them. I suspect they'll be back again within a day or two, and we need to prepare as soon as possible."

After another quiet moment, she rose from the chair, placing a tender hand on my shoulder on the way out. "Get some rest. We are going to need your infamous courage in the coming days if we are going to win this."

With that, she left the room, leaving me with my racing and self-loathing thoughts.

A/N: I feel like I made Ashei come off a little too emotional in this chapter, since she seems like the type to not really show emotion, but I feel like her almost losing two close friends in the span of a day or two would make anyone even with the most composed resolve to break down.

Let me know what you think of this chapter!