Dawn of Adventure {Book One of The Paths We've Traveled}

Chapter Twenty-Three: One Foot in Front of the Other

Lucy had forgotten how nice it was to breathe clearly and deeply. The frigid air still hurt her throat and lungs, but she couldn't stop taking it in. The strength in her body filled her with such elation, the magic that was almost at her fingertips beginning to course through her veins with vigor she had missed. Loki's key burned in her hand with the heat of the stars, familiar warmth bringing her comfort as she staggered forward on aching, trembling legs.

She could almost hear the words he had been trying to say for the past several hours. Minutes? Maybe only an hour? She shook herself, attempting to bring life back into her limbs. It was a useless waste of energy however. All sense of feeling in her feet and hands was practically gone, leaving her with a vague awareness of a pressure against her frozen skin whenever she touched something.

She had never been this cold before. Not even when that jerk froze everyone during the war. She was so cold that she barely even felt it anymore. She was never going to complain about Natsu's fire again, not if it could keep this bone-chilling snow and frost from touching her. She really should have brought him with her.

Loki kept urging her on, pushing her to keep moving whenever she stumbled or warning her when she began to walk in a wrong direction. They were close now, she was sure of it. It was no longer an iron wall that separated her from her spirit, but a sheet of water distorting his voice. And each step she took forward acted like a bucket pulling more of the water away. That was her only motivation. She wanted to hear Loki's voice again. She had to. She missed him so much.

She was lucky that she was holding onto a tree branch when she took her next step. Her foot cracked through the thin ice, frigid water rushing into her boot as it plunged in deep. Lucy gasped, awareness sweeping through her body in a tidal wave. She heaved herself up with the branch, freeing her foot from the creek with a splash. Water dripped from the leather before freezing almost instantly, caking her boot in a layer of sheer ice.

Lucy continued to heave for breath, clutching the branch as she trembled. Her pulse hammered in her chest, blood beginning to pump painfully through her veins once more. Her limbs started to tingle before bolts of fire shot through her body, leaving her gasping even harder. Both the necklace frozen to her skin and the key warming her hand seemed to beat rapidly in time to her heart, filling with ethernano and magic like they hadn't in months.

Lucy.

Her head shot up, scanning the clearing before landing with a strained smile on the key in her hand. "Loki," she croaked, hugging the key tight against her chest. His bemusement crossed their bond, and new tears threatened to spill from her eyes. "Oh Loki."

Lucy, there's not much time. As soon as you take that herb, there won't be enough ethernano in the air for us to keep talking. So listen to me now, okay?

"But, that, that means this forest will die, doesn't it?" Her teeth began to chatter violently, her body starting to remember just how freezing this blizzard was.

It won't die, it just won't be as strong as it was before. Now just listen, okay? She wished she had the energy to laugh. He sounded just like Aquarius, short and to the point. Although he lacked the temper often behind every word the mermaid yelled.

"Talk to me," she rasped, starting to edge her toe out toward the river again, searching for the opposite bank. Her foot continued to crunch through fragile ice, increasing her worry that she wouldn't be able to cross the creek.

Quit wasting energy. The herb's on this side of the river, so just keep following the bank. Remember the willow Evia told you about?

Lucy nodded, the strength to talk fading away. She began to walk forward, treading carefully in case of a bend in the creek. Her fingers still held Loki's key, using his presence as a source of comfort and help.