Weiss Rose
"Summer!" I shout at the top of my lungs, cupping my hands in front of my mouth to amplify the sound as much as possible. As soon as Yang called and told us that Summer had gone missing, Ruby and I rushed up to the ski resort so fast we nearly forgot to even pack our snow gear.
Apparently, Summer had snuck off on her own to try and attempt a ski run that Yang wouldn't let her do. In the process she must have gotten lost because Yang said she never made it back to the lodge.
It took us almost four hours of driving to get there and thankfully when we did Yang and Blake already had a search party out on the mountain looking for her. Ruby and I joined in immediately, wasting no time getting out there and looking for our baby.
To our surprise, when Nicholas got the news, he managed to convince one of he and Kirinu's friends at the computer camp who could drive to run him up to the resort right away so he could help too. They actually got here shortly before us and were already out searching too.
We've been out here for two hours and no one has found her. I'm trying my best not to panic but it's getting harder and harder with each passing moment. She's so young, how long can she last out here on her own? No…No I can't think about that right now.
"Weiss…" Ruby puts her hand on my shoulder. "What if…by the time we find her she's already…"
Looks like I wasn't the only one concerned about that, which makes perfect sense. Between the two of us, Ruby has always been the one to worry the most, at least when it comes to the kids.
I just put my hand on top of hers and give it a gentle squeeze. "It's okay Ruby, we'll find her and bring her home. Just focus on that." I say in as reassuring a voice as I can muster.
It seems to do the trick, mostly at least. She is clearly still worried but does her best to put on a determined expression as we continue our search.
"Has anyone found her yet?" Nicholas' voice comes in over the radio on my hip.
"No sweetie, just keep looking, she can't have gone that far." I reply, trying to sound calm for his sake. He is incredibly protective of her and I know he has to be freaking out right now
"We've already covered over half this mountain? Where could she be?" Yang chimes in, not exactly helpful but I understand where she is coming from.
"It doesn't matter, we just need to keep look-..." I'm cut off mid-sentence by what looks like a bunch of little holes in the snow trailing off one after the other. "Ruby, look!"
Ruby who had been checking behind some brush, hurries over to me, the deep snow crunching beneath her feet. "What is it?"
I point toward my discover and her eyes go wide. "Do you think…?" She asks.
My heart pounds in my chest as I move closer to the tracks. "They look like little footprints," I say, my breath coming out in visible puffs in the cold air. Ruby's eyes meet mine, and I can see the worry etched into her expression, mirroring my own.
I hold my radio up to my mouth. "Ruby and I think we may have found footprints, we're gonna follow them and see where they lead." I report.
"Where are you and Mom at?" Nicholas asks. "I'll come help."
"No sweetie, you keep searching where you are. Mom and I have got this." I reply. "The more ground we cover the better."
He clearly doesn't like it but he seems to understand and doesn't press the issue further. Meanwhile, Ruby and I make haste following the tracks further down the mountain.
As we make our way along the trail of tiny holes, I can hear the crunch of the snow under our boots and the occasional crackle of the radio as the search party coordinates. The tracks weave around trees and rocks, leading us deeper into the forested part of the mountain.
The cold air bites at my cheeks, but I push forward with determination. Each step feels heavier and heavier as the tracks continue to wind through the dense trees for what feels like an eternity. I can feel my heart racing, a mixture of hope and fear driving me on.
The further we go, the more the forest seems to close in around us. The tall pines tower above, their branches heavy with snow, creating a canopy that blocks out much of the fading daylight. Ruby stays close by my side, her eyes scanning the ground intently.
Just as our hope began to slowly fade, we hear a faint sound, almost like a whimper. My breath catches in my throat as I strain to listen. Ruby's hand grips my arm, and we both stop in our tracks, hearts pounding in unison as our eyes scan vigorously through the surrounding trees.
"Did you hear that?" Ruby whispers, her voice trembling slightly.
I nodded. I hear the sound again and this time I quickly turn toward it, my gaze becoming fixed on the direction of the sound. "Come on," I urge, taking off at a brisk pace, my eyes darting from side to side, trying to catch another glimpse of movement or sound.
The whimpering grows louder as we near a small clearing. In the middle of the clearing stood a solitary tree that was taller than all the rest. My heart leaps into my throat when I look under the massive tree, as I spot a small figure huddled at the base of a tree, half-buried in snow. "Summer!" I cry out, rushing forward without a second thought.
Ruby is right behind me, and together we reach our little girl in a matter of seconds. Ruby quickly kneels and takes Summer in her arms. "Summer sweetie, open your eyes, okay?" Ruby's voice cracks with emotion, desperate to confirm that Summer is at least conscious.
She doesn't open her eyes immediately, combined with her frail body and how long she'd been out here in the cold, we nearly started to panic. What if we were too late and the whimpers we heard were simply her life leaving her little body.
"Summer…please." I caress her cheek, tears starting to pool in my eyes. Just as I nearly break down, Summer slowly opens her eyes and looks up at us with tear-streaked cheeks. Her expression a mixture of relief, exhaustion, sadness…it was enough to break a mother's heart. She must have been so tired and cold and scared.
"Mama…Mommy!" she sobs, as we embrace her.
"It's okay, sweetie, we're here now," I attempt to soothe her, hugging her tightly. Ruby's arms are now wrapped around the both of us, her own tears mingling with the snowflakes that continue to fall.
"Let's get you back to the lodge," Ruby says gently, lifting Summer into her arms. I pick up the radio and quickly inform the search party that we've found her. Relief floods through me as we start making our way back, our mission now being to get Summer to warmth and safety.
Unfortunately, as we are making our way back, a blizzard suddenly rolls in out of nowhere. Snow had been falling for awhile and the wind had been blowing pretty fast but this was on another level. We tried to keep pressing ahead regardless but knew that might not be a good idea. We still had at least an hour walk back to the lodge and in these conditions we could easily get lost.
Not to mention that Summer was already freezing, and this was far from helping. As we are walking, I spot a small cave and decide it might be best to take shelter and wait for the blizzard to pass.
"Ruby!" I shouted over the loud wind. "This is too dangerous, we need to take shelter!"
I point to the cave I spotted. Ruby looks like she wants to argue at first, she really wanted to just get Summer back but seeing how serious I am must have stopped her voice before it could come out.
Instead she nods and follows me into the cave. "If we are going to hunker down here, we need to start a fire at least." Ruby says, handing the shivering Summer to me. "Try to keep her warm and I'll try to get some wood."
"Don't go to far Ruby…I don't want to have to send a search part after you too Dolt." I say, opening my coat and doing my best to bundle summer in there with me. Ruby just offers a somewhat forced smile in response.
"I'll be okay…don't worry." She says kneeling. She kisses me and kisses Summer on the forehead before getting back to her feet and with a determined expression, makes her way back out into the cold.
I hold Summer close, feeling her small body trembling against mine. The cave provides some respite from the biting wind, but the cold still seeps in through the stone walls. I rub Summer's back gently, trying to generate some warmth.
As I sit on the cave floor, I am acutely aware of how precarious our situation is. Ruby's footsteps crunching through the snow fade into the distance, leaving Summer and me in an eerie silence. I try to whisper soothing words to her, praying that Ruby will return quickly with firewood.
Minutes stretch into what feels like hours. Summer's breathing becomes shallower, her eyelids fluttering. "Stay with me, sweetheart," I murmur, my voice wavering. I tighten my embrace, trying to shield my baby from the cold as best I can.
Finally, just as I was about to lose hope, I heard Ruby's footsteps again. She steps into the cave, her arms full of wood and a look of determination in her eyes. "I found enough to keep us going for a while," she says, her voice steady despite the situation. She quickly sets to work, arranging the wood and striking a match.
I don't know how she manages to make me love her more and more, over and over again but somehow, she does. Even after all these years, every time I think I couldn't possibly love her more, she proves me wrong.
As the fire begins to crackle and glow, warmth starts to fill the cave. I watch as Ruby carefully tends to the flames, making sure they stay strong. The flickering light casts shadows on the walls, creating a comforting ambiance that serves as a stark contrast to the cold darkness outside.
Summer stirs slightly, her eyes opening just a bit more. "Mommy, it's warmer now," she whispers, her voice faint but filled with a glimmer of hope. I smile through my tears and kiss her forehead. "Yes, sweetie, thanks to Mama. We'll be okay."
As the fire burns brighter, Ruby sits down beside us, wrapping her arms around both Summer and me. We huddle together, drawing strength and warmth from one another. The storm rages outside, but inside the cave, we find a sense of peace and safety. Ruby's hand finds mine, and we hold on tight, knowing that together, we can face whatever comes our way.
Hours pass by and the storm begins to weaken, the howling wind gradually subsiding. By the time the first hints of dawn begin to break through the clouds, the blizzard vanishes entirely, almost like a bad dream.
Ruby rises first, carefully stoking the embers of the fire to ensure it won't pose a danger once we leave. "It's time," she says softly, her breath visible in the cold air. "Let's get Summer home."
I nod, rising to my feet with Summer still held gently but firmly in my arms. "Ready, sweetheart?" I ask her in a soft tone of voice. She nods, a sleepy but determined look on her face.
With Ruby leading the way, we step out of the cave and into the crisp morning air. The world is transformed, a pristine blanket of snow covering everything. The journey ahead is daunting, but together, we are unstoppable. A belief I have always held but even more so now.
The trek back to the lodge is arduous, each step a battle against the deep snow, but we move with a renewed sense of purpose. Summer clings to me, her small hands gripping tightly as we press on. The lodge, once a distant beacon of hope, gradually comes into view.
When we finally arrive, we are greeted with cheers and tears of relief from the search party. Yang is the first to run over. Once she makes sure Ruby and I are okay, she takes Summer at my request. I'm so tired that I'm worried I may drop her and besides I want her to get inside as soon as possible.
Nicholas gives us a look, essentially asking if it was okay to go with his aunt to check on Summer. We both smile and give a nod of approval; he doesn't waste a second and runs inside after Yang and Summer.
The rest help Ruby and I get inside, and we are enveloped in warm blankets and comforting embraces. An overwhelming sense of relief washing over us as we resist the urge to collapse then and there.
Ruby, Sumer and I are all looked at by a doctor. He is surprised that aside from obvious exhaustion none of us seem to be in any danger, which comes as even more of a relief for Ruby and I. We were worried that with Summer's frail body there might have been lasting damage from the cold, but it looks like we were able to avoid that.
Of course, Ruby and I want to ask Summer all sort of questions. Like why she wandered off in the first place. However, given everything that has happened, we agree that those questions can wait. Right now, we just want to savor the relief that comes with knowing our baby is safe.
As we settled by the fire in the lodge, Summer snuggled right in between us still sleeping, I looked at Ruby and smiled. "We made it," I say, my voice filled with gratitude as I plant a kiss on top of Summer's head.
Ruby smiles back, her eyes twinkling with the same emotions. "We always do," she responds, her words a promise and a testament to our unyielding bond.
And as we sit there, surrounded by friends and warmth, I know that no matter what challenges lie ahead, we will face them together, our love and determination guiding us through even the fiercest storms.
