Game On

Chapter Forty: Snowy Course

Rushing into the woods, Mark drew his great sword and quickly cleared the way of any NPC animals that tried to take him on. Mark was even able to cover his tracks with his progressing hunting skills. While taking to the air, Sean lingered slightly behind him and scouted behind them to make sure they weren't being followed. They could hear magic spells activating and muffled yelling from the group. All of it made Sean feel tense and vulnerable. He didn't like being hunted. They didn't stop for what felt like hours and only stopped because they hadn't eaten, and it was causing their health to drain now. Landing from lack of stamina, Sean panted out to Mark in the dark forest. "What are going to do? We can't just keep running..." Dropping his sword from a lack of stamina to lift it, Mark dropped to his knee and panted out. "I don't know. But we're on our own now." Gesturing back, Sean blurted out quietly. "But the others... We can't just..." Raising a hand to stop him, Mark grimly told him. "They'll be watching them now. Waiting for us. They'll be safer away from us."

Biting his lower lip nervously, Sean asked him anxiously. "What if they hurt them to lure us back?" Mark swallowed, telling him without looking at him. "We just have to trust that they'll be ok. No one get into the house without permission. They'll be safe there." Shrugging, Sean retorted icily. "Then why didn't WE stay there!" Rummaging through his back, Mark removed some bread as he told him seriously. "Because Glade might be able to hack his way into the house. We'd be trapped in there. This way... this way keeps them safe. That's all we can do for them." Mark handed him half of the bread, telling him seriously. "Eat. We've got a long way yet to go." Accepting the bread with a heavy heart, Sean mumbled out. "But we don't know where to go..." Taking a swig from a waterskin that didn't contain water, Mark pointed toward the snow mountains in the far distance and answered coolly. "I wanna reach there before nightfall. By then... hopefully I'll have thought of something."

Nibbling on the bread, Sean scanned the area around them like a frightened deer. Every rustle of leaves was a potential threat. Gaining his bars back, Mark stood up and retrieved his sword. Sean tried to hide how scared he was by pretending to still be on the lookout, but Mark saw right through him. Moving up behind him, Mark wrapped a strong arm around his shoulders and pulled him close to his chest. For a long moment they just stood like that, until Mark whispered to him. "We have to keep moving. Come on." Reluctantly, Sean turned and followed him on foot this time. The closer they got to the mountains, the more a misty creepily extended out into the forest. The mist was cold and made them feel damp. It was so thick in some places that Sean almost walked into trees that were just out of arms reach. Behind him, Mark used his sword to part the mist at his feet to keep himself from tripping on roots and tree stumps. Before long the grass beneath them turned to frost that crunched under their every step.

Covering his mouth with his hands, Sean tried to warm his fingers with his breath, before stammering out to Mark. "A-a-are we close? I'm losing f-f-feeling in my limbs..." Mark's hand touched a spot between his wings, causing Sean to gasp. Mark felt so fucking warm still and he was wearing less then him! Draping a warm arm over Sean's shoulder, Mark told him sweetly. "Almost. I'll find us a covered spot when we get closer." Inhaling deeply, Sean forced himself to trudge on. His wings twitching uncontrollably as the cold made them heavy with a thin coating of frost. Mark eventually pulled away to scout ahead since Sean was slowing as the snow rose to his knees. His every step a struggle as his body trembled. Finally, he stopped completely and called out over the cold breeze. "Mark... I can't... I can't move..." Farther ahead, Mark told him with encouragement. "There is a nice spot just up here. Come on. You can make it." Shaking his head, Sean startled to huddle himself up. He was terrified to move. He could barely feet his legs and his wings were no longer twitching.

Stomping back through the snow, Mark plucked him up into his arms like he weighed nothing. Hugging him against his warm chest, he whispered to him lovingly. "I've got you, Jackaboy. Just hang on." Carrying him quickly through the snow, Mark moved under a large stone ledge that was nestled in the mountainside. Underneath it, there was no snow and the mountain protected it on both sides from the chilly wind. Kicking frosted dirt away from a spot deep inside, Mark sat down with him still huddled in his arms. It felt good to be out of the cold snow and wind. Giving the illusion that it was warmer under the ledge. Holding him close, Mark whispered to him softly. "I guess, Aesir undead are immune to the cold." Snuggling his face into the warm nook of Mark's body, he muffled out. "Why are you still so warm?" Mark's hand pressed to Sean's cold ear, telling him with a shrug. "Maybe it's the blood I've been drinking. Keeps me warm." Sean moaned, then pleaded with him. "I can't go any farther, Mark. Please... can we stop."