Valkyrie 104

Chapter 3

I was going to die. It wasn’t a fleeting worry for the future or a moment of depression, it was a fact.

“Pickles?!” I called, searching for the missing dust bunny. I still didn’t know why she ran off, but it didn’t matter. I needed to find her again, end of story.

If only it wasn’t so cold... If the snow relented, then I’d be able to retrace my footsteps but the wind just kept blowing them away. There was no way to know where I’d come from or where I was going. The only direction I knew, was forward.

Damn it. If I had listened to that human girl and stayed in the cabin, I wouldn’t have gotten lost in the snowstorm. I’d be safe and sound around a fire, happily shielded from the elements. But then... What about Pickles?

As much as I loved that damn bunny, I was angry at her. If she’d just stayed put, I wouldn’t have had any reason to tread the dangerous weather and traitorous Deep Mountain. I could’ve already returned to the bunker to rescue my friends and save us from this nightmare.

The cold wind howled, blasting snow and hail against my body. Even if I was a Wind Child and made to be resistant against the cold, this was an entirely different level. I’d never experienced this kind of freezing circumstances and the extreme cold was getting to me.

“Pickles?” I shouted, my voice lost in the storm. “Piiiickles?”

“Awrooo!” Hyde howled, whimpering as he pushed through the snow with me.

My poor dusk wolf. My stupid decision to leave the safety of the cabin wasn’t just going to cost my life, it would also claim my familiar’s.

“Pickles! Come here, you daft bunny!”

No matter how hard I tried, there was no way I could find a small ball of fluff in this storm. Everything was freezing too, I could feel it creeping into my bones.

The temptation to lie down and take a nap in the snow was overwhelming. Maybe if I just had a little nap, the cold would disappear and I’d find myself waking up to a clear sky.

Yes, that was a good idea. Sleeping would recharge my energy.

No, it wouldn’t. Lying down in the snow was a death sentence.

But I was so cold...

I’d die.

I wanted to nap.

The only option was turning back.

No, I had to keep going.

A war waged in my head, but the world around me paid no mind to my inner conflict. The snow just kept coming and coming, turning the landscape around me into a white wasteland with no end and no beginning.

“Awroo!” Hyde barked, charging through my legs and jumping into a small hole. He dug through the layer of snow, seemingly having found something.

“What is it?” I shouted, pushing against the wind to follow my familiar. “Pickles?”

A flicker of hope welled up in me, but it quickly died out. No dust bunny, just a wolf in a hole. And he seemed quite happy with it too.

“What are you doing!?”

Was there something in there?

I crouched down to get a better look, but as I shifted my weight, the snow gave way underneath me. With a shriek, I crashed down next to Hyde. Pain shot through my body, clouding my mind from any rational decisions. I forgot why I shouldn’t stay still in a snowstorm or why sleep wasn’t my friend. I just wanted to rest and this hole wasn’t too bad. I was hurting, I was tired. If I was going to wait out the storm, this was as good a place as any. Somewhat protected from the elements, a natural shelter. It wasn’t as comfortable as my bed, but if I fluffed up some of the snow... It wasn’t too bad.

“Awrroo?” Hyde tugged on my arm, seeming confused.

“We’re resting for a moment,” I said, pulling him into me. He was growing rapidly, but he still fit on my lap. His dark fur was covered in snow and he looked adorable all fluffed up.

Hugging him should help both of us warm up.

Maybe sleeping wasn’t a good idea, but right now, I just couldn’t keep on. Wherever that little dust bunny was, I hoped she was safe, I hoped she was alright.

“Pickles... I’m coming for you,” I mumbled, already half-asleep. The wind kept howling as the snow covered me in its cold embrace. My last thoughts were with Pickles, hoping she was okay. I really wanted to find her. If only I had the strength to go on...