The Otori Prophecy

XXXVI - Withering

Winter hadn't quite reached its peak but the days drew to a close much quicker. Suns hidden behind greying clouds until it turned into an almost pitch black, concealing everything in sight. Snow fell throughout the days we travelled, blanketing the ground, muffling out footsteps. So much so we had to slow, causing our journey to lengthen.

"We should be nearer to the mountains now," Mathias called out from behind me. He insisted that I could be a couple of paces ahead of him, having more energy than he did. We reached a steep hill that seemed to stretch higher than anything I've seen before, and our boots struggled to find a patch of ground to catch traction.

"Just push a bit longer," I called out behind me, gritting my teeth. Cold air cast from the mountainside, through the endless valleys, biting at any who dared to walk outside. It whipped my hair and cloak out from my body, threatening to steal the little warmth I had. We'd have to seek shelter soon.

Nature had long since cast the warmer seasons into hibernation bringing forth the winter, harsh and unrelenting. My breath came out in pants, each breath in, my throat constricted from the cold, each breath out felt like it stole more and more of my internal warmth.

I reckoned that if we kept going North in this weather, the snow would turn into a blizzard, our bodies freezing within moments. Then we'd be buried underneath the continuous snowfall, hidden from all help until it came to spring, then it would be too late.

"Nearly there," I huffed. It was beginning to be a struggle to lift up my legs, snow clinging to my trousers in clumps. Every step felt like I was dragging a ton weight. Just a little bit more and we'd be at the top of this hill. Just a little bit more and we'd find a town.

Just a little bit more and we'd find a warm in to shed this numbing cold.

I celebrated when the last step brought me to the top of the hill. Turning to face Mathias, to cheer him on, my grin faltered. It wasn't the cold that froze the blood in my veins. It wasn't the winter that made my heart clench. He was staggering with each step, his towering frame tilting side to side. He collapsed to his knees. Hands barely catching him.

I threw off my bag, sliding down the hill to his side, wrapping one of my arms under his shoulder. I tried lifting him slightly. "Come on, you've got this!" I urged. I could his his breaths, struggling with each mouthful of air. Fighting his own body for air. His chest rattled, face half covered by his hood. Was it the cold? Did it seep through the fibers of his clothes, making his bones creak with the cold? Did it caress his heart into faltering, freezing the blood flowing through his body?

We struggled, another twenty steps, his weight on me increasing. More and more he became sluggish. I took his bag from him, dragging it with my other hand. Crawling, we made it to the top of the hill. He stayed there, kneeling, unbreathing for a few fleeting moments.

"Mathias..." I urged, noticing his lungs weren't expanding with air. I heard no sound come from him. I lowered myself to the ground, trying to peer under his hood. "Mathias, look at me!" I cried, becoming alarmed.

He raised his head, weakly, the hood slipping from his head. His eyes were wide, panic stricken as he gasped for breath in a choking inhale. Even against the snow, his skin looked deathly white. He couldn't breathe.

Throwing his bag to the trees, I turned to him. It took one hand out towards him, too slow, and he collapsed face first into the snow. Hurriedly, I put all my effort into pushing him up. It didn't work he was too heavy. Pulling off the all but useless glove, I dug the snow from around his face, holding my hand under his nose. Puffs of air, faster than anything I've felt hit my skin. Relief caught the air in my lungs, he was alive at least.