Love chasers

Taking her home

*Zac*

The girl’s body feels impossibly small beneath my hands. I press down, my palms sinking into her chest, desperate to coax life back into her fragile form and also scared I could hurt her. Each push is a battle against despair; I refuse to let her go. “Come on, little one,” I murmur, my voice steady and firm, even as panic churns in my gut. “Just breathe.”

I can hear Lena’s frantic calls for help, so show it seems distant even though She is almost beside me, still the urgency of her voice is cutting through the chaos surrounding us. The mother’s cries pierce the air, a haunting sound that fuels the fire in my chest. I can’t let her down. Not now, not when hope flickers like a candle in the wind.

And then, after what feels like an eternity, the moment I’ve been praying for arrives. The girl’s body convulses, a small cough escaping her lips, followed by a shuddering gasp as her chest rises. Relief floods through me, almost overwhelming in its intensity. “Yes! Yes!” I shout, hope igniting anew.

Just then, the wail of ambulance sirens cuts through the air, a sound that should bring comfort but only adds to the chaos. I step back, letting the paramedics take over, their practiced movements swift and sure. They rush in, assessing her condition, their faces a mix of urgency and professionalism.

The mother leaps to her feet, tears streaming down her cheeks as she watches them work. “Thank you, thank you so much!” she cries, pulling me into a fierce embrace. The warmth of her gratitude fills me, but I shake my head, stepping back to give her space. “There’s no need to thank me,” I reply, my voice steady. “I just did what anyone would do.”

As the mother and two kids are loaded into the ambulance my eyes are drawn back to Lena, still kneeling in the snow, her face pale and drawn. I approach her, concern gnawing at my insides. “Are you okay?” I ask, searching her expression for any sign of assurance.

She nods, but it’s hesitant. “I’m just a bit shaken,” she admits, her voice barely above a whisper. “And cold.”

I glance down at her, noticing how her lips are tinged with blue and her body trembles, shivering from the cold and the adrenaline. “You’re soaked, Lena,” I say, concern lacing my words. “Here.” I pull off my jacket, wrapping it around her shoulders, the fabric still warm from my body. “You need to get warm. My cabin is closer; let’s head there.”

She opens her mouth to protest, brows furrowing in defiance. “But I can go back to my cabin…”

“No arguments,” I insist gently, cutting her off. “You’ll freeze before you get there. Just come with me.” I can’t help but feel protective of her, especially after everything we’ve just faced together.

With a reluctant sigh, she relents, and I take her hand, leading her toward a narrow path that winds through the trees. My cabin is right through a small patch of trees and around the bend. I glance back at the commotion, more paramedics have arrived and is now carefully loading anyone needing a check in the hospital inside.

As we are about to turn down the path, I spot one of the staff from the nearby hotel watching the chaos. “Hey! Can you grab our gear and deliver it to the Threwlove cabin?” I ask him, handing him a hundred and explaining which things it is. He nods, moving quickly to fulfill the request.

Lena glances up at me, her eyes wide with gratitude, and I can’t help but smile despite the lingering tension in my chest. “Thanks for not arguing,” I say, trying to lighten the mood. “I promise my cabin is much warmer than the snow…. And my friends won’t bite.”

She chuckles softly, the sound a gentle balm on the chaos of the day. “You’re right about that,” she replies, her voice steadier now. “I can’t believe we actually found her. I thought… I thought…” Her voice trails off, and I can see the weight of everything is still weighing her down.

“We did,” I assure her, squeezing her hand gently. “We fought for her, and she’s alive. That’s what matters.”

“Yeah,” She nods. “You really are like a real like hero, always in the right spot and always knowing what to do.”

I swallow as memories flood me. “Believe me, not always.” I can see She is about to ask, so I quickly change the subject. “Back at the cabin first order is a hot bath, and some dry warm clothes. Then we will get a hot drink and maybe a bite to eat, how does that sound?”

“Amazing,” She says with a small sigh.

“Here we go,” I say as we come around the bend. “Almost there.”

She stop, and lets out a rather weird sound, “Is that your cabin.”

“Belongs to my family, but yeah,” I admit.

“Wow, this is… Wow,” She mumbles. “This is amazing.”

I chuckle. “This old thing? Well I guess it has it’s perks.”

As we reach the cabin, I push open the door and usher her inside, the warmth wrapping around us like a comforting embrace. “Hello, is anyone home?”

There is no answer, and I suspect they might be out for lunch, or they heard about the avalanche and went to see if they could help. “Okey lets go get a shower.”