Disclaimer: Nope, Love Hina is not mine.
Background: Keitaro in Antarctica!
Author's notes: South Pole! DANCES
Halfway through our journey, a huge blizzard blew up and started smashing snow against our tents. We were locked in for about two days, when Motoko finally decided that she was not going to be cooped up in the tent any longer, and opened the door of the tent without consulting me. I noticed her stupid act just before she exited, and I lunged for her, but missed. The moment she scampered out of the tent, a wall of snow flew in and sent me smashing into the back of the tent. I struggled to get free, but the snow was too heavy, and more snow was piling in by the second. Still I struggled, and just as I was losing hope, two strong arms pulled me out of my icy prison.
I emerged from the tent shivering, but the true horror came when I opened my eyes.
The blizzard had buried all our equipment in thick layers of snow, and I could see Su and Kitsune trying to dig a snow cave big enough to hold us. My saviors, Naru and Motoko, after checking that I was ok, if a bit cold, ran over towards the pair and helped to build the snow cave before it was too late. Over to the left, I could see Shinobu trying to salvage some fuel and food items. I looked over to the girls, and I saw that they had not supported the entrance of their cave. At this rate, the snowy entrance would collapse in on us the moment we entered. Noticing the emergency, I yelled.
"NARU AND MOTOKO! STOP YOUR WORK AND GO GET SOME SLEDGES OUT OF THE SNOW!"
I saw that Motoko and Naru had confused expressions on their faces, but they did not question my judgment, and ran off to dig some sledges out of the snow. I rushed over to warn Kitsune and Su before the entrance collapsed and left us out in the snow, exhausted and stuck in the worst blizzard I had ever seen. As I ran, I shouted again.
"STOP! SU AND KITSUNE! THE ENTRANCE I GOING TO COLLAPSE!"
They looked at the top, and instantly realized their carelessness. They started to reinforce the top of the ceiling before it really collapsed, and it managed to hold until Naru and Motoko dashed over to prop the entrance up with the sledges. At this, all five of us started to dig faster and faster, until the hole finally got big enough to house all six of us. I called out to Shinobu, who came carrying most of our fuel, some crockery and some supplies. We all dived into the cave, and once everyone was accounted for, we sealed up the cave.
Inside the small cave, which was big enough for us to stretch but not to stand, we all tried to find the best position to lie down in. We were all exhausted, and Shinobu tried to keep us going with hot food and drink. For this act, which probably saved out lives, I am eternally grateful to her. As we sat around, I noticed that many of us had worried expressions on our faces. I know that the foremost thought running through our heads was, "What if we die here?". Nobody raised it, but somehow I knew.
After a few hours, I decided to go out and check what was happening outside. Naru volunteered to accompany me, and we slowly unsealed the cave. Once again, something unpleasant happened, and I was flung back into the cave by the sheer force of the wind. I slammed into Naru, and we both slammed onto the cold hard floor that, although was made up of snow, might as well have been concrete. I landed on Naru, so I wasn't badly hurt, but I know Naru was feeling the pain. She groaned, and I stepped of her immediately.
I ordered Shinobu and Su to help Naru, while Motoko and Kitsune followed me out of the cave in search of something that would help us a great deal.
The radio.
Since there were three tents, each member was sent to search for one tent. Only one of the tents was outfitted with a radio, and looking back, I realized how stupid it was of me to only bring one of it. I didn't stay on it too long, for action was the key word here. I dashed towards one of the tents, and only the tip told me that there was indeed a tent there. I ran in, and searched for the radio, but I couldn't find it. Disheartened, I quickly made my way back to the tent.
Later on, when I was in the cave together helping Naru, Motoko came in and told me that Kitsune had found the radio and was going to stay in the tent. Against my orders, Motoko said she was going to join her and disappeared. When we made sure that she was not coming back, we sealed up the cave entrance.
Again, although no one in the cave raised it, I was sure that the thought of death was foremost in our heads. I saw Shinobu weeping silently when she thought no one was watching. I felt very guilty, bringing her along with me on this trip, when I could have left her behind and ensured her safety. Now, I was not so sure. Back to the current situation, we could only stare helplessly as the methane from the dump Naru had taken earlier and our body heat warmed up the ceiling and caused it to sag. I was afraid that it would cave in on us. Fortunately, the ceiling held.
For the last time, I decided to check what was happening outside. I unsealed the cave slowly this time, and when I peered outside, what I saw gave me hope. Even through it was still far from calm weather, at least it had died down a little. I motioned for Su to follow me, and we went out, grabbed one of the tents, which had finally collapsed, and struggled to erect it. When it was finished, I told Su to get in, and I ran all the way back to the cave, where Shinobu and I took Naru out and brought her to the tent where Su was. We set her in, and Shinobu and I went off in search of the final missing tent.
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