Chapter 9 – Cold Realization

There is one thing that virtually everyone who knows me knows. That is my total hate of being cold. I hate standing around in a chilly wind, I hate snow for the most part and ice drives me crazy. Why was it then that I was currently walking through a snow and ice filled landscape and actually liking it?! If I hadn't had something more important on my mind I would have considered getting my head seen too.

"Hey Links wait up!" came Klim's voice over the whistle of the wind.

I turned slowly to see Kit Kat and Klim running as best they could towards me through the snow. Kit Kat seemed to be coping ok with the snow but Klim looked like an ice sculpture. They finally reached me.

"What's with the speed Lynx?" asked Klim as we started off again.

"You gotta keep moving in cold climates. You stay warm that way. Everyone knows that." I answered.

Klim seemed to think for a moment before replying.

"But why so fast?" he insisted.

I had to think about this before answering. When I did it was a simple answer.

"I dunno, I just feel like it." I said looking at him, "Why'd you like going to slow?"

Klim seemed to stop and think for a moment.

"Ok then I guess we better get going." he said.

Just then something caught my attention. I threw out my arm and stopped Klim.

"One sec Klim. Take a look up there." I said.

Klim looked up and so did I. High above us at the top of the mountain a large sheet of snow sat. I eyed it carefully.

"That's an avalanche waiting to happen." said Klim softly.

"Agreed. We'll have to be quiet for a while. Guess we'll have to go slow after all." I said.

"YO GUYS!" WAIT UP!" cried Kit Kat from behind us.

My eyes went wide as Klim spun on the spot.

"Shhhhh!" he hissed at Kat as he pointed upwards.

"What?" asked Kat.

A dull rumbling from above made my heart sink. It was too late. It had already started. Klim took of towards Kat before I could do anything. There was no time left though. I spun my tails and in a massive blast of snow shot into the sky. My tails providing so much lift it actually surprised me. Ever since I had come into the mountains I had felt an odd sensation and for some reason, even though the wind was incredibly strong, I was able to keep a steady hover. I looked down at the ground below. The avalanche had already washed over the area we had been standing in and had continued on down the mountain. He heart filled with dread.

"Klim? Kat?" I said to myself slowly.

Could they be….NO! I opened my eyes wide and scanned the snow blown landscape, my ears tuned for any sounds. I stayed like this for several seconds before something caught my eye. Away to the side of the mountain I could see a small speck of red. It stuck out like a lighthouse and next to it was another partially red figure. I blinked and looked again. The specs were still there! I dove from the sky, becoming a white comet as I flung my tails behind me to increase my downward speed. As I neared the ground I spun my tails again, gained enough lift and hovered forwards. Even through the blizzard I could tell I had been right.

"HEY!" I called loudly.

Klim and Kat both turned round and I breathed a sigh of relief.

"Geez am I glad you're ok. For a moment there I thought…how did you avoid that avalanche? Where did that speed come from?"

"I guess I didn't know I had it in me." shrugged Klim.

"Now I'm even colder." shivered Kat.

I took another breath and a more pressing matter came to mind. I looked up at the peak and then back at Klim and Kat.

"Come on, let's go." I said.

"Right." said Klim as we all set off into the mountain again.

It must have been a few hours later when I finally realized time again. A blizzard had started up and snow and ice whistled around us. Strange thing was that I actually felt warmer the colder it got. I looked up at the third peak we were aiming for.

"Yo Lynx, is this the one?" called Klim.

"Yeah I think so." I said glancing over my shoulder.

A faint red glow surrounded Kit Kat as he used his red emerald to warm himself up and Klim had wrapped his arms around himself. They both looked freezing, even Kit Kat.

"Lynx?" said Klim, "How about a break?"

I looked at Klim more closely. He was certainly bearing up the worst. His red colour had dimmed slightly and his teeth chattered around frantically. As much as I feared for him we had to keep going.

"No, we can't stop. We have to keep going." I said.

"Wait a sec Lynx." said Kit Kat as he strode forwards pointing, "What about that cave. I can build a fire in there and we can rest up for a while."

"Sounds good to me." said Klim as he tore off towards the cave.

I looked at Kat and followed Klim into the cave. It wasn't soon afterwards that Klim and Kat were huddles around a fire in the middle of the cave. I shot a glance at them and walked over to the caves entrance. I stood in the entrance my nine tails fanned out behind me. The feeling in my mind seemed to grow now that I was still. A strong sense of understanding and belonging. I was weird at best. My expression made me look like I was examining something. My head kept flicking to different angles.

"Lynx? Something up?" said Klim behind me.

I glanced over my shoulder to see Klim had got up and walked over to me. I turned back to the outside.

"Oh it's just…..I dunno….it's like I belong here." I said with a shrug.

The blizzard was fading now and the sun has come out from the clouds. The snow covered landscape looked dazzling in the light. A small smile settled on my face as my eyes closed slightly. I took a deep sighing breath.

"It's beautiful." said Klim slowly.

Just then a loud roar split the air followed by Kit Kats scream as he tore past us and out of the cave. I stared at him and ran after him.

"What is it? What's in ther?" asked Klim.

"The….the….the…" spluttered Kat.

"Come on Kat. Spit it out!" I said.

Something had him totally spooked.

"The abominable snowman!" he shouted.

"Yeti's?" said Klim turning round.

There was a roar and a rumble and a huge white creature comes storming out of the cave. It was huge, at least 20 feet tall.

"More like a giant." said Klim taking out his spear.

"Huh!" I said as I did a small spin and drew my sword, "He looks more mouse than monster. Come on."

I spun my tails creating a small gust of snow and charged at the yeti. Gaining lift, I shot straight up and executed a cleanly aimed strike at the monsters chest. To my surprise the attack did absolutely nothing. The mark on the creature's chest was barely noticeable. The yeti took at a swing at my but I managed to dodge it. Klim had charged forwards and jammed his spear into the yeti's heel. His attack also did nothing. Before the yeti could react a large fireball streaked forwards and hit the yeti's leg. It howled in pain and stumbled back.

"FIRE!" cried Klim, "Of course. Fire is its weakness. Kat, think you can channel that fire into my spear?"

Kat didn't answer. Instead another beam shot from his emerald and struck Klim's spear. It glowed red and Klim dived forwards. His attack cut right into the yeti's leg making it howl again. The yeti swung forwards but Klim's new found speed allowed him to avoid the strike easily.

"Nice one Klim." I yelled getting caught up in things, "Kat, a little fire here please."

"Coming right up." shouted Kat in response as another beam shot from the emerald.

The beam streaked towards me and I held out my sword. I suddenly noticed that my sword was glowing blue again like it had when Klim had used it to break the lock of my cell in Robotnik's base. As the fire got within a few feet of me time slowed down again. The beam crept forwards and got within a few inches of my blade. As it did the blue glow intensified. The beam hit the glow and stopped. Suddenly time returned to normal as the red beam dispersed in a million directions at once. I was stunned. What was going on? I had little time to work it out though as the yeti's next attacked connected perfectly with me. I was flung back and hit the snow. I became aware of an intense pain in my right leg. I looked down and saw why. During the strike my sword, unsheathed and loose in my hand, had been thrust into my leg. It stuck right through my leg and out the other side. I quickly reached over and pulled it out. A soundless scream escaped from my mouth. Blood dripped onto the snow around me. The pain I was feeling was intense but I had had worst. That time before the Desert of Doom when that strange purple blob had attacked and my tails had been severely hit. If it hadn't been for……MY EMERALD! In a second the green emerald was in my hand. I concentrated on it and there was a flash. My leg didn't hurt anymore. I looked down to see the wound was healed but my blood still covered the snow and my blade. I stood up quickly and faced the battle.

"This thing is a god send." I said to myself.

"NOW KAT!" cried Klim.

I looked up to see Klim standing on the yeti's head. A beam of fire hit his spear and he drove it into the yeti's head. It groaned and started to collapse. Klim jumped off as the yeti fell. I could see what was going to happen. Klim was going to land moments before the yeti landed. He wouldn't have time to dodge. I spun my tails again and took off, making up the ground between me and Klim quickly. I grabbed him and pulled him to one side as the yeti hit the snow behind us.

"Thanks bud." said Klim as I lowered him to the ground.

"No problem." I replied looking at Kat. "That was impressive Kat. I didn't really think you had it in you."

"It was nothing really." replied Kat.

"Well you got strength there, you too Klim. I get the feeling you've got a few more adventure in front of you." I said with a slow nod.

"And you?" asked Klim.

I gave a small chuckle and turned away. I looked out over the mountain and sighed.

"Most certainly….if it's possible. But next time I'd like to be able to choose when I come here so I can prepare." I replied.

I heard Klim laugh behind me. Just then the ground shook and began to rise. I almost fell over at the sudden movement.

"Woah! What the?" cried Kat.

We rose for some time. As we did I felt the feeling in my head growing stronger. It was near I could feel it. The rising stopped and we all looked around.

"LOOK!" cried Klim, "It's the shrine."

I spun on the spot. I charged past Klim and into the shrine. On a pedicle at the far end of the room sat a glowing aqua coloured gem. Slowly I reached my hands out to it. My breathing slowed down to virtually nothing as my fingers brushed against the emerald. It was cold to the touch but strangely enough it filled me with an odd warm feeling. I carefully grasped the emerald and lifted it from the pedicle. My sword by my side started to hum and for a moment it glowed a faint blue colour. I blinked and slowly turned and left the shrine. I continued to stare at it as I walked out.

"There's something different about this one." I said slowly.

"Really? Lemme see." said Klim as he grabbed the emerald from my hands, "I don't feel anything funny."

He threw the emerald back at me and I caught it quickly. I looked at the emerald again and blinked.

"Well it's probably nothing." I said not really believing it myself.

There WAS something different about this emerald. Maybe the others couldn't sense it but I could. I started to walk away with Klim.

"Hey wait up guys! Don't leave me." yelled Kat as he tore after us, "I'm afraid of heights."

Is there anything you're not afraid of? I shook me head and continued on. At my side my sword hummed and glowed again.