"Big sister Yukina…"
"B-Big… Big sister…"
What the fuck happened?! Where is everyone?! I internally screamed! Everyone's gone- Where did they go…?! No, no, no no, this is not good!
Where did James go?! Shaun?! Verd?! Me- where did they all go?!
I wanted to shout their names, but I had to be calm.. Verd's kids were clutching my legs… My body was shaking pretty violently, these kids were crying and coddling to my legs.
Where- fuck! Why does shit like this happen all the time?! Everyone's missing— I tried focusing my hearing on the snow and ice around us, but I couldn't hear anything…
"Big sister…"
"Keep your voice down…"
"W-what are-"
"Sh! Quiet down!" I brought my pointer finger to my lips. We need to be as quiet as possible. "It'll be okay, your dad is stronger than he seems."
I kneeled in the best way I can. Since Shen was missing, I had to be careful with my foot now; that was in spite of it being numb from pain.
"We'll be okay, just be strong you two…" I sat my hands on their heads, giving the best smile I could. My heart was pounding against my chest, plus my ears were buzzing. This is horrible.
We need to move, but I know the kids are too scared… Even for me, I was ready to fall to my knees, I was not ready to be alone with two kids.
"It's going to be okay, you two…" I can't fall to my knees. We're alone, no one else is around us; no one is buried underneath the snow and ice around us. And I acknowledge the fact, I could've saved more…
Out of pure preservation to save myself, and these two I used wall of flames. Furthering its heat to the point, it almost turned blue, plus it was near enough to set us on fire. If I pushed it more, we would've suffered an intense death of being in flames.
We're stranded, in this dried circle. The flame was strong enough to evaporate the massive amount of snow, and ice. I don't know if there was much else, I felt some stuff hit my back hard as I used my body to protect these two.
I'm going to be in agony…I didn't need to see my back to know the damage. That wasn't the priority. If I did and ended up panicking.. these two will only get worse.
I need to find everyone, if they're alive… Although… it looks like a miracle is needed…
"Big…"
"It'll be okay…" I reassured them, rubbing their heads. Shit… I noticed a small oozing on the back of my hand.
I was bleeding a lot. Due to this, I tried to hide my hand. These two adorable kids tried to see, but I took off my cloak and wrapped it up.
"Big sister Yukina, did you get hurt?!"
"No, I'm just tired of that touching my ears." I said before tightening the cloak. I'll be okay, I've been through worse…
Cauterize… I'll use that… well… when these… use it… don't need to add something worse on top of this. I gritted my teeth as I activated cauterize on my hand.
"Let's get away from here- here you two…" I stuttered, inside, I could feel my heart jolt. Shen's spell is a miracle… I was expecting my hand to turn into a raging inferno, yet I only felt a small warmth taking over my hand.
These kids silently clung to me, at their age… they barely know what happened. Conversely, they could immediately tell this was dangerous, especially without the adults. They knew what to do when faced with something dangerous and that's to look for an adult. Well done, Verd.
As we… made our way through this mountain of snow and ice. Although, I used my wall of flames to make our way… I kept my ears wide open for everyone, even the slightest bit of breathing. Even if they're alive under this, I wanted to save them.
If they aren't… I felt my heart tremble, it was a thought that didn't belong in my head.
As we traveled, I shut off cauterize, it was turning into a black hole, and I could feel mana exhaustion take over. The snow was never ending, it was not leaving; we had hundreds of meters, thousands to wade through.
Unfortunately… the kids were too small, the snow was up to my hips. I did grow in this past week, I was a hair taller than Melinda, Allisa and Shen. These kids were up to my legs, they can't crawl through this.
For this dilemma, I needed to push myself; so, I carried them in my arms. It wasn't the greatest decision, in fact, it was the dumbest by far.
Verd… if he's alive… he'll have to pay me a baby sitter fee… I internally complained as I began making distance. The snow crunched under foot, frigid air wafted inside of my snow pants.
I choked on the saltiness of my sweat, my arms were slowly getting sore; as did my feet, although it never hurt.
One… two… three…. To distract my mind from the muscle fatigue in my body, I clocked the time in my mind. Ever heard that anything is possible with your mind? Let's put that test to its limits!
If I can make it to the next cave— which I can see is just a couple hundred meters, that theory will turn out to be true! Then, I'll reward myself once I find everyone, or I'll ask Shen if she can permanently fix my foot; moreso, those glasses she had promised me, I'll make sure she pays!
Just keep pushing yourself, ignore the tiredness! My arms were beginning to shake, they were becoming lead. The cave was coming close, and the two kids in my arms were hugging my neck tightly.
Closer, closer… my legs began to wobble, and I was beginning to gasp for air. The entrance was a few steps away. I need to do this.
The crunching lessened in sound, the thick layer of snow was becoming smaller; but it wasn't enough, this cave was the best option. As the sun was ready to set, I took a heavy step inside this now temporary home.
It was empty, the inside was large; it could fit our entire group, and more… you could fit at most sixty people in here, and have enough to cook food. Huh, not that small now like I described it at first..
"Big- sister…?"
I nearly collapsed, however, I held still as I let these two down.
"A-are you okay?"
"Yeah… yeah… I'm fine… I'm okay." In response to their worries I gave a smile. No, I'm not okay, it's pretty obvious!Ugh…
If these kids were older, they could see I'm putting on a facade. This smile I flashed, it was the opposite of how I feel right now. Everything was pulled out from under us.
They were gone, I don't know where they all went. My heart was sprinting, I wanted to find them, I wanted to see if they were okay…
"You're breathing hard…"
"It's fine you two… Here.." I lowered my head, they could touch my ears to calm themselves down. "Go ahead and touch my ears."
Before they could, I sat down on the floor. My legs were crossed and I faced the mouth of the cave. Like Melinda… they liked to grab them… And grab them pretty hard! Yup, they're Verd's kids alright.
Stuffed animals were not a thing in this world… I wished they did, otherwise I wouldn't be one myself.
Everyone was coated in a thick, white layer. My focus was elsewhere, but the mouth of the cave had gigantic crystals that could pierce the thickest of metals.
I felt their grubby little hands do what I offered, plus… I kept my head empty, I needed to be calm for these two.
Soon, it turned into them resting their heads into my lap. I could hear them sniffling, and wanting their parents.
Did my luck transfer to everyone…? I put my hands on their heads, they're so young and do not need this. Their sniffling turned into calmed breaths as I heard them fall asleep.
What the fuck am I supposed to do…? Seriously…?
I let the situation come into my mind; my heart was beginning to rumble, before I knew it… my body was shaking, my hands were not stopping.
"Why the hell did- did this happen…?"
"Are- are we going to live…? Are we…?"
"Are… we?"
"I hope they're alive…Please… please be alive…. Please…" I'm trying hard to keep my voice down, I can't… My mind's going, it won't stop, it's pressing hard on the gas.
I'm pressing, I'm stomping my foot down on the gas, but I can't stop. James had his mouth full of blood, staring at the sky- Melinda was broken, beaten, her body crushed in the snow. Shaun fell-
They're… they're dead aren't they…? They're dead? A-
For some reason, I felt my head derail; all thoughts becoming a muddle of worries. Something pulled my body to the ground. Lastly, the world spun in an odd manner, and then blackened.
I don't know what happened… I found myself in another void. My mind was erased from those… pictures…
Why do I keep finding myself here…
*******
Shit… well shit! God! Fuck! I kept my teeth gritted, my back was on flames. It felt like I was being stabbed all over, constantly, endlessly. I subconsciously squirmed, I didn't even get a chance to wake up properly.
"Big-"
"Sh! Sh! Go back- back to sleep!" I tried my best, but my voice came out a little harsh.
"You-"
"I'm fine! Don't worry, okay kiddo?"
"Mmm…"
As the girl went to lay her head down, I sat up from my tormented sleep. My back was in so much pain, it wasn't just the bruising, I forgot to take this damn bra off.
Once the kids were asleep again, I took off my jacket, then my shirt. To counteract the cold, I used a fireball that stayed in place. It floated in front of me.
How bad is the damage?
I used a giant icicle at the mouth of the cave to check my back.
That's… what I expected. From what was visible, there was a huge blotch of black on my middle back that went to my lower spine. In addition, I had a crap ton of scratches, they only hit the surface.
Half a dozen of the scratches had scabbing. Ugh…
"That's great…" I muttered as I hung my head. I'm going to have such fun, aren't I… "and my jacket's shredded…"
What are we even going to do?Nevermind… What the heck is the use of mulling this over?!
Once I stood up from my position, I sucked in my breath. Like always! Push through the pain you moron!
I wore my shirt— a black long sleeved one, paired with an odd spikey blue symbol on the right breast area. Screw the bra, I chucked it outside. My back'll heal, but during that, I don't want something pressing on the bruising.
Unfortunately, my favorite jacket was ruined, I'll have to mourn it later. I'll have to keep my hopes up for everyone, it's possible they did survive.
(Blank1) and (blank2) were sound asleep. That's when I turned to the mouth of the cave, yep… Still dark. Very dark at that.
I'll try to sleep… I let out a bellow, and wandered close to the mouth of the cave
I need to protect these kids, if possible Verd and Sage are alive, I'll keep these two kicking…
Tomorrow I'll get this pathway cleared. I'll be able to do it… with proper breaks. Secondly… I'll have…
I'll I will… have to…