Swapping elements

Loyal to a Fault

Heat expected their mother to come by as soon as she realized that her sons weren’t coming back, but several days passed without even a letter. That was a good thing because Snow needed time to rest and recover from the whole experience, and he slept harder than he had in years. But after four days without a word from the whole family, Heat realized that Mother Nature must have seen the servants coming to get their things. Considering what they had just seen, there was no doubt in his mind that Flurry or Cinder must have said something to her. He finally asked them about it while Snow was soaking in the magma chamber.

Flurry looked rather embarrassed and he went very quiet. Cinder smiled a little and slung an arm around him.

“When we got there, it was very clear that they knew you were gone,” he said. “There was evidence of a rather violent eruption from the volcano on her island.”

Heat grimaced. “Blast. Snow’s not going to like hearing that.” He thought for a moment then looked at them again. “What happened?”

“Your mother was frantic to know where you were and what was happening. She was rather hysterical about Snow being in trouble, but we didn’t answer any questions. As we came out, Mother Nature tried to stop us. We tried to get through but she was insistent we take her to you. And Flurry…”

“I lost my temper,” Flurry mumbled, his cheeks flushing blue.

“And said?” Heat prodded gently.

Flurry squirmed and plucked at his jacket sleeve. “I told her that she didn’t deserve to be there for him now when she was the cause of it.”

Heat nodded, but Cinder shook Flurry. “And?”

“And… I said nothing she could do or say would take away that she’d forced Snow to be happy when he wasn’t.”

Heat nodded again, but Cinder shook him again. “And?”

“And… I might have mentioned in a rather condescending tone that because she didn’t want to deal with teaching Snow a constructive outlet for his anger, now she has a much worse problem on her hands.”

Heat took a chance. “And?”

Flurry covered his face with his hands. “I told all of them to stay away from us because Snow will recover better without their poison.”

Heat snorted. “Boy, when you icicles blow your top, you’re cutting.”

Cinder grinned. “What else can you expect when ice explodes?”

Flurry groaned low in his throat. “I don’t know how to tell Snow. He’s going to kill me.”

Heat patted his shoulder. “Well, the longer you put it off, the worse it will be.”

“I know,” Flurry said thickly. “But I don’t want to see him break again.”

“Go and get a couple smoothies, whatever’s his favorite, and I’ll get him back in his room. Have Tundra bring lunch. Cinder, you’ll need to make sure he’s comfortable. Come on. I bet he’s fallen asleep again.”

Snow was dozing, but he did stagger out of the pool and got dressed when Heat suggested a bit of food. Once Snow had cooled a little, Heat guided him back to bed and made him comfortable. Flurry came in with Tundra, who served a veritable feast for Snow.