Snow awoke the night before the family was going to visit, his skin tingling with fear as a confused mess of images faded. He lay in the dark and tried to catch his breath, but he couldn’t stop gasping. The world began closing in on him, and he let out a loud cry and bolted out of bed. The island heaved as several volcanos erupted, and he staggered outside and sprinted across the barrier, the only thought in his mind to check that his brother was okay.
“Snow, sir?!” Cinder called from behind him, but he didn’t stop even as the snow burned his bare feet.
He tore open the doors and bolted for the guest room, passing a very startled Glacier and Flake. They split off and ran for Cinder and Flurry while Snow shoved open the door and dove for his brother. Heat yowled as he was violently awoken, and a burst of frost erupted from him as a defense. Snow shrieked but held on.
“Snow?” Heat gasped. “Snow, what are you doing?”
Snow stared at him, rubbing his hands over his cheeks as he gasped for breath. When he finally realized Heat was okay, he pressed his face into his brother’s chest and began to scream. “Mother’s going to kill me!” he howled. “She’s disappointed, I just know it! And when she comes, I’ll just disappoint her more! But I can’t smile anymore, Heat! I can’t be happy because I’m not happy!” Then he began to weep uncontrollably, clutching at Heat for dear life.
Flurry stopped in the doorway and took in the scene. Heat embraced his brother and stared in bewilderment at the servant. “Start the fire, now,” he ordered. “Get a hot drink and something to steady his nerves.”
Flurry whistled and began commanding the ice servants around like a general, and they scattered to do as he said. Cinder came in wrapped in a thick coat. Even so, he was still shivering a little.
“Can I help?” he asked.
“Stay with me?” Flurry replied, looking a bit stressed.
Cinder nodded and took his hand briefly before they turned to observe their sires. Heat was holding Snow tightly, rocking him back and forth as he tried to soothe him.
“Come on, Snow, breathe for me. It’s okay. Mother’s not here. Nothing’s happened yet. Now come on. You’re going to catch a cold again if you don’t warm up.”
Heat took him into the parlor and scooted the chair right over to the fireplace before helping his brother to sit. Slush came in with a pile of blankets, and they wrapped Snow in layers. The task was made more difficult because he didn’t want to let go of Heat. Heat finally got him wrapped up then had a chair brought for himself. Cinder stoked up the fire, and Flurry sealed all the windows so that the breeze was cut off. The room slowly began to warm up.
Snow huddled in his blankets, staring at the flames in a tired daze while Heat kept him company. Tundra eventually came in with hot cocoa and some apple wine. Heat took the tray and he reached over and shook his brother.
“Drink this. It’s hot.”
Snow took the mug of cocoa and swallowed several mouthfuls. He sighed in satisfaction as the warmth settled in his stomach.
“Good. Now warm yourself up. Focus on your core,” Heat encouraged.
Snow obeyed and he warmed quickly, much to Heat’s relief. It was only then that Snow noticed that his feet were on fire. He winced.
“Ah, fractals,” he muttered, reaching down to rub his feet.
“You’re barefoot?!” Heat demanded. “Cinder, go get his shoes. And is there anything you can make for him?”
“I’ll put Ash to work at once.”
Flurry gazed after Cinder as he took several steps toward the door, and Snow noticed. “Go with him, Flurry. It would be something useful to know.”
