The Yetis trudged through the knee-deep snow as they walked towards the valley, uncomfortably adjusting their balance as their feet touched the irregular rocks below. The wind had picked up again, and closer than ever to the mountain, the Yetis took the brunt of it – some of the Yetis stumbling from the sheer force.
This was a first for the Yetis, despite their experience; they had simply hunkered down in their tents whenever they had faced winds of this force. They were walking at an abysmal rate, speed down to a fraction of their usual pace as they struggle.
Petrova, with his trademark creativity, had grabbed a small shield to hide his face from the winds. It was working, the other Yetis beginning to follow suit.
Away from the other Yetis, Frostnova simply walked forwards, the snowflakes parting as her own Arts formed a shield ahead of her. Tendrils of cold white stretched from her wand as she built her shield of ice – the front continuously being chipped away by endless snow.
Comparatively, she was having a much easier time – and at least she had somebody to talk to.
"What a mess." Andrey commented. "Can't see more than an arm's length away."
"This is new, even for us."
"You haven't experienced blizzards before?"
"We don't traverse through them. But now, we need to reach the valley. I'd assume Patriot's messengers are waiting there."
"It feels like a waste of troops, to leave some just to check on you." Andrey said.
"But if this is a test, he needs accurate information."
"Ah. That makes sense." Frostnova continued trudging through the snow, traversing the uneven ground beneath with care, but keeping a steady pace.
The other Yetis were also increasing their own speeds, slowly learning how to deal with the blizzard as they walked – their mules and carts keeping steady behind them. Frostnova still kept a steady lead on them; if there was any danger, she'd rather encounter it first.
The other Yetis were far less resilient – less powerful – then her, and she didn't want to lose any of them unnecessarily.
As the winds beat at her shield, she advanced.
Hours passed as the Yetis grinded their way forwards, taking frequent breaks as they found rocks or snowbanks to block the blizzard.
And as such, it was Frostnova who made it first to the valley more then half a day later; her hands touching icy stone, her feet touching freezing ice. She hid behind a rocky alcove, looking up at the slanted, jagged stone – searching for a way up.
She soon found one. A straight path of slanted rock lay before her, stretching up to a small cave high up – the perfect vantage point.
The snow may have made it precarious for the average climber, but she was no average climber, and nor were the Yetis coming after her. And so, she slowly began her climb, hands finding grip on rock after rock.
Slowly, she clambered up the wall. The wind was even stronger here in the valley, the rocks along the sides focusing the wind into a never-ending series of concentrated blasts.
As she climbed, Frostnova looked up, counting the distance.
Ten meters…
Five…
Four…
And just as she was almost there, she slipped, hands failing to find purchase on a tilted face – leaving her grasping at thin air. Forcibly, she stopped her thrashing – and just in time, allowing her to regain her footing.
She took a deep breath, steadying her heartbeat. That was close.
Again, she tried to grip the rocks. This time, she succeeded, slowly putting her weight on the face and moving further up.
Just a ledge now.
Hands grasping the snowy ledge, feet on the rocks below, Frostnova made the final step – and rolled onto the ledge, gasping for air.
"First time I've seen you winded." Andrey noted.
"Easy–" Frostnova panted, bringing her feet off the ledge and going further into the cave. " – for you to say."
"Yeah… It's still very impressive. I wouldn't be able to do that."
"It's not impressive. I shouldn't have been that tired." Standing up and sitting down on a nearby rock, Frostnova sighed. "It means I have weaknesses."
"I wouldn't call an inherent limit a weakness. I doubt many people could have done better."
"But the few that could…" Frostnova began.
"Wouldn't be fighting you while climbing." Andrey countered.
"I suppose." Frostnova looked out in silence at the snow blowing past, quietly straightening her hair and adjusting her snow-covered coat.
As Frostnova looked out at the blizzard, Andrey looked out with her. "When do you think the Yetis will arrive?"
"An hour, maybe two. They'll make it. Are you ready for the battle?"
"Yes. Are you?"
Frostnova nodded. "Always."
"Your turn to be dramatic, huh?"
"What, I can't be? Wars are dramatic, and I can't be dead serious all the time."
"Tired?" Andrey smiled warmly, though he knew she couldn't see it.
"Mhm." Grunting, Frostnova stood up. "What do you propose?"
"Should we watch the snow together?"
"I thought we were already doing that."
The Yetis eventually found their way into the valley, many of the Yetis simply weathering the blizzard in the caves and alcoves lower down on the rocky side of the valley rather than bother to climb. Frostnova could vaguely make out their shapes in the blizzard, even white against a shifting maelstrom of snow. Still alone, Frostnova looked down at the Yetis as they helped each other up, the Yetis struggling far more than she did in the winds.
Perhaps she had overestimated their climbing skills.
Her bunny ears swayed lightly in the breeze that entered through the opening as she looked at the endless snow. There was no color in this place, just white, gray, and the blackness of night.
"Sister, you up there?" A faint voice came from below her. Petrova.
"Yes." She calmly replied, her voice carrying through the din.
"Got it!" Petrova replied, then was silent, the sound of faint voices below her soon reaching her ears – Petrova apparently having decided to transmit that message to the other groups.
Standing up again, Frostnova paced around the cramped space of the cave for a few steps, attempting to loosen the tension in her body.
Andrey was right. She was tired. Not just in body, but in soul. Too much had happened. First Andrey came along, then they were sidetracked by that hunter, and then that convoy.
Days of time spent off-track, confronting entirely new experiences – and now that she had time to rest, they all rushed back at her.
"Ah!" A wave of pain came from her right leg, and she stumbled and almost fell, catching herself against the smooth stone.
"Y-What happened?" Andrey asked, worried.
"Oripathy… You felt that?" Leaning against the wall for support, Frostnova slowly slid down against it, the intial spike of pain fading and leaving a dull, throbbing pulse. "Agh…"
"Partially. Your senses and vision are… somewhat detached, from mine. That felt like a small pulse in my leg."
"Good." Frostnova shifted slightly, trying to ease the pain.
"How so?"
"Pain can influence your decisions. If you can feel enough to register it –" Frostnova winced another wave of agony hit – "but not enough to be affected by it, you can make correct decisions."
"…Yes. I… don't think I can help, can I?"
Frostnova leaned against the wall, making sure to keep her leg still. "You don't need to. It'll pass."
Breathing heavily, she stared at the wall opposite to her, eyes focusing and unfocusing. "Just need to keep my mind off it."
Andrey seemed to understand, and he continued asking questions. "Has this even happened in combat?"
"No. It's rare, and usually occurs around once a month. Persists… maybe ten, twenty minutes."
"Ten to twenty minutes? That's a long time."
"Not over the course of a month. I'm more concerned about the Arts that knocked you out last time."
"Those were barely a few seconds, right?"
"But they're unpredictable. Were they triggered, somehow?"
Already, the pain was abating slightly. A good sign.
"By a word, I think. "Patriot.""
"And the flashbacks are related to knowledge." Frostnova realized.
"Yes, so if I'm missing something related to combat…"
"Mhm. If those Arts activate in combat, it would be risky."
"Then stay in the back, maybe."
"Can't do that. I need to guard the Yetis; else we'll lose more."
"At least stay with the Yetis, then. They can cover you." Andrey's tone held a hint of worry in it again – Frostnova could sense it, if not hear it.
Not that she cared. "You sound like Patriot."
"Yes, I suppose I do... You can handle yourself, right?" Despite her chastising, Andrey still left a worried question behind before quieting down.
"Yes, I can. Just because you're my assistant of sorts doesn't mean you need to spend all your time worrying over me."
"Since when did I become an assistant?" Andrey asked after some time, the quiet beginning to get to him.
"Since you started helping me everywhere. Thank you for the help, by the way."
"It's an honor."
"Forgot who I am? It's not much of an honor to be helping an Infected rebel."
"I'd rather help you then some stuck-up nobility hiding in a castle."
"Maybe one day you'll get to see me kill one." Frostnova smiled lightly.
"Another dream of yours?"
"I'm serious."
Not caring for how morbid the comment was, or the persistent pain in her leg, the two spent the last few hours of the day simply with each other, spending their last few moments in peace before war and death returned to them.
By the next morning, the blizzard had cleared, and the sun shined coldly on the Yetis as they climbed out of their hastily-pitched tents.
Frostnova woke up to the sound of the other Yetis talking and chatting below. With a sigh, she realized she had slept in late. Usually, she would wake before all the other Yetis, which afforded her some time to prepare anything she needed.
She couldn't allow herself to be so lax.
"Good morning." Andrey said as she went down and rejoined the rest of the Yetis, fishing out a chunk of bread from one of the carts. "Slept late?"
"Unfortunately. Anything new?"
"Not much."
As the Yetis were going through their routines, Patriot's messengers arrived, making a beeline for Frostnova.
"Miss Frostnova?" Hearing their call, Frostnova turned to face the two Guerillas.
"Just call me Frostnova. Here to report?"
"Yes." The other Guerilla began. "We will be observing your forces from further within the valley and will report to Patriot if necessary."
"I understand." Frostnova politely nodded.
"We… can't help you. Sorry for that." The first Guerilla added, after a moment of silence.
"It's fine. You are dismissed."
With a salute, the Guerillas left, walking further towards the valley.
"Military training. That was an Ursus salute." Andrey noted, looking at their fading forms.
"Huh. That makes sense."
Frostnova looked up at the imposing stone that surrounded the Yetis, the towering walls looking down on their minuscule forms. Perhaps, in just a few short days, this valley would be bathed in blood and screams.
Maybe the Yetis would win, or maybe they would all die here at the hands of their enemies. Looking at the horizon, then back to those imposing forms, Frostnova sighed.
The lofty mountains above cared little for it.
AN: I've got a bit of a habit of ending chapters somewhat dramatic (and in general writing things at a rather fast pace). Not sure if people like it or not, or if my quality is still keeping in line with my first few chapters. As always, leave a review if you've got something to say!