This is a shorter chapter, yes, but it's an important one. This chapter is really rapid, despite the reality of it likely being multiple hours long. Enjoy!
We're deep into the forest. The snow is falling heavy, and is just as thick in the air as it is on the ground. The buggy is going as fast as it can, the lights blazing forward, so to see any incoming pines. You can only see a few metres to the sides, and the tire tracks rapidly fade into the white-spotted darkness behind us. The sky is obscured by the trees, snow, and storm above. The only thing stopping us from gaining frostbite at record speeds is the buggy's roof. Every now and then, Rose calls out for the kids; I, periodically, do the same. But every single time, there is no reply.
...
It's surely been at least an hour. We're beginning to lose hope, when suddenly... in the distance...
"h-h-hello...?"
A response.
I look at Rose, who looks at me. We silently nod, and the buggy turns towards the direction of the voice.
"We're coming!" Rose calls out.
As we speed along, the voice grows in volume. "Who's there? Can you help? Please! He won't wake up!"
We stop. Two human children shield their eyes from the glare of the headlights. A small, grey, caterpillar-like creature sit on the shoulder of one, also turning away from the light. A Meowth stands next to them, coin shining, body shaking. In the arms of one child is what looks to be a Cyndaquill, flames out, cold, and barely alive.
"Please!" The boy holding the Cyndaquill cries out, tears covering his face. "You have to help him!"
I look to Rose again. We nod, and step into the deepening snow.
"Come on, onto the buggy." Rose's voice is rather monotone, likely trying to keep them calm.
"The faster we get back, the faster your friend gets help. Hop on" I say to the ones that can understand me.
As we turn around to retrace our steps, we realise how hard that truly is. What doesn't help, is that one of the headlights flickers dead the moment we sit down. I'm just praying it's a straight line back.
"Will he be okay?" The Scatterbug pleads.
I pause for a moment, there's no way I could truly know. Do I lie?
"Yes." I reply...
I'll find out if I did lie later...
...
...
"Achoo!"
'It feels like we've been out here forever! We've got to be close by now!' I was never known for my patience.
The snow is somehow heavier than before; We can barely see the incoming trees. Coupled with us driving into the now roaring winds, it's safe to say I'm probably at least developing a cold. Whatever I'm contracting is nothing compared to the Cyndaquill's current state. He stopped moving shortly after we started back. His friend is hugging him tightly, giving him as much warmth as possible. The rest of us are just trying not to fall off as Rose speeds over the rough terrain. There's no way to tell which direction camp is, let alone what path we took away from it. We just have to pray we get lucky.
*Bleep* The walkie-talkie beeps to life. It's mostly static, but in the midst of it, we can make out some words. "-come in Ro- Rose! Can you -us?!" Finally! A signal!
Rose stops the buggy and immediately responds. "Yes! Hello?! Can you hear me?!"
"Distort -ut yes. -ere are you -found the kids?"
"I've got the kids with me, but the snowfall's too thick to see further than a metre!"
"Copy tha-. Will launch- flare from camp -oment."
"We'll keep an eye out"
There's a silence. We all start looking around for any sort of unnatural light. We see nothing.
...
*BANG-fssshhhh...*
It's faint, but I hear something. Something loud, yet distant; Far to the right. It sounded like a gunshot mixed with a firework, almost like a... A flare!
I jump out of the cart and motion towards where I heard the noise. "Over here!"
"What? Did you see it?"
I nod. I know I didn't 'see' it, but now is not the time for specifics.
"Okay! Let's go then! Lead the way!" Rose sounds panicked, though a little hopeful too.
I instantly bolt off towards the sound's location, and I hear the buggy closely follow me.
I don't turn around, out of fear of losing the direction. I don't slow, out of fear of exhaustion and the cold catching up to me. I don't stop, out of fear for the Cyndaquill's life. I just. Keep. Running.
...
...
I am ready to succumb to it all. The snow, the stress, the pain in my feet, head, everywhere. What has been minutes of running feels like hours. 'Where is it?! I know it's here! It has to be!' The throbbing in my head won't stop. My feet cool more with every snowy step.
But I don't notice. I don't care.
I am ready to succumb to it all. But I won't. Not yet...
I don't even see it coming, but I smack right into the back wall of the cabins. Thankfully, Rose does see it, and slams down on the breaks. The buggy skids along, and stops just before the wall. We all sit there for a moment, staring at the wood, several emotions coursing through each of us. Rose is the first to snap out of the 'trance', and immediately backs up the buggy to go around the house. I slowly follow them as Rose drives off to the medical bay. By the time I've caught up, the last of the kids are entering the building. Rose turns and kneels down to face me.
"You did good today. Thank you." She gets in the buggy, and drives it away to shelter it from the snow. I sigh, relieved we found our way back.
The snow...
'I'm still in the snow!' Like cat being hit by a cargo truck, my senses return all at once, along with their screams of pain. My legs feel heavy. My head is spinning. My tail aches, and I forgot I even had that! 'Do I have a tail? Is this a dream? What even am I?' I don't know what to think, so I just think it all. My brain is having millions of thoughts, yet only a couple are comprehensible.
I collapse, on my side, into the snow. It's blurry, but I think someone saw and ran over to me. As it all grows to be too much, I close my eyes, and have one, final thought:
...
"Who am I..."
...
I pass out.