Part Three
Wendy stirred to the light coming in from outside. She grimaced as she tried to move. Wendy turned to Dipper who was still asleep.
"Dipper?"
Dipper didn't respond.
"Dipper, we should get going.."
When she tried to wake him, she froze as Dipper was freezing cold.
"Dipper? Dipper!"
She shook him but he didn't respond.
"D-Dipper! Come on!"
After a few moments, Dipper finally began to stir.
"Wendy.." He croaked.
"Dipper, we have to go! Now..!"
Dipper tried to get up but found his body wouldn't move. He coughed painfully. It hurt to breathe as every gasp felt as though he was inhaling jagged pieces of ice.
"Dipper.. Dipper, are you okay?"
Dipper gritted his teeth and fought to get up. Wendy carefully helped him stand up.
"W..Wendy.."
As he stood, his vision spun wildly as his head throbbed. He took one step before his eyes drifted shut and he collapsed to the floor.
"DIPPER!"
She reached out to him and shook him.
"Dipper..? Dipper!"
When there came no response, Wendy began to panic.
"Dipper! Wake up!"
Frantically, Wendy pulled back the collar of Dipper's jacket and placed her fingers against his neck. Relief washed over her as she felt he still had a pulse, though it was extremely slow.
"D...don't worry, Dipper.."
She carefully lifted Dipper up, holding him bridal style as she painfully stood up. Wendy gazed out into the wilderness. She gritted her teeth as she took a painful step. Every step she took hurt as her entire body screamed at her. The the fiery haired teen continued out into the valley, her feet sinking down into the heavy, wet, knee-deep snow. Wendy fought to continue walking. After a while of walking, she found the ground beginning to slope upward as she seemed be approaching an incline. As she walked Wendy found the snow was growing deeper. Wendy grimaced as the snow seemed to burn her already soaking skin whenever it came into contact. The falling snow did not stop as she continued her trek up the snowy hill. Wendy pushed herself harder, willing herself to move onward with fierce determination. She told herself that she had to keep walking l. Dipper was counting on her and though she felt exhausted, she was taught as a girl by her father to never give up. Every step she took was slowly becoming harder but she pressed onward. Finally, Wendy found the hill beginning to level out, indicating she had reached the top. Wendy stood, staring off into the distance. The empty valley, and surrounding foothills stared back at her. There was nothing but snow, as the eye could see. Wendy's heart sank and she collapsed, the strength in her legs finally giving out.
"No.."
Wendy let out a painful cough and could taste the blood in her mouth. She looked down at Dipper and saw he still hadn't stirred. Thinking quickly, Wendy took off her thick jacket and draped it around him.
"I'm not letting you die on me!" she exclaimed. "You.."
She stopped and though, she had told herself not to cry, could feel tears slowly slipping down her cheeks.
"I can't let you die.."
Dipper said nothing and Wendy felt more tears forming in her eyes. Taking a moment, Wendy began gathering her strength again and forced herself to stand ip. Wendy coughed, feeling the pain in her her chest and stomach, now feeling the full extent of her injuries. As she tried to breathe, she could feel an agony in her chest from her broken ribs. She squeezed her eyes shut and continued to walk, refusing to stop. Dipper took this moment to stir and he let out a tired groan.
"Wendy?"
Wendy snapped her gaze down at him and found Dipper staring back.
"Dipper.."
"A...are you crying?"
Wendy nearly froze to a stop at the question. She could feel her tears were beginning to freeze to her cheeks and she closed her eyes.
"Wendy..."
Wendy soon stopped walking and swallowed hard before speaking.
"I.. Dipper.. I.."
Wendy cringed as her breath suddenly hitched in her throat. She soon glanced up, squinting into the distance. Not far from the tree line, was an old and abandoned shack.
"We're.. Almost.."
Wendy nearly choked as she tried to breathe. Dipper began to panic.
"Wendy? W-what is it? What's WRONG?"
Wendy didn't respond. It was hard for her to breathe, let alone speak another word. It was when they had finally made it to the cabin that Wendy finally collapsed, falling to her side into the surprisingly welcoming snow.
Dipper quickly stood and ran to her side.
"Wendy? WENDY!"
Dipper frantically shook her but she did not respond.
"W...Wendy...?" he whimpered.
He turned and looked up at the door to the old cabin then at Wendy in the snow.
"D..don't worry Wendy.." he whispered. "W-we're almost there.."
With that, Dipper carefully lifted her up the best he could and proceeded to het her up the steps, into the cabin. It was only when he had gotten them both safely into the cabin that Dipper finally collapsed.
"We.. We made it, Wendy.."
Dipper sat beside her on the floor and realizing he had her jacket around him, he gently took it off and folded it up to use as a makeshift pillow. With a shaky hand and placed it beneath her head before his fingers lightly brushed her hair back from her face.
Dipper took her hand, holding it tightly.
"Oh Wendy... I'm so sorry..."
