Onyx

[ CH 9 ] - Frozen

( 7 / 3 / 24 : More typo fixes )

Shia knew that the little warm feeling she got from Jon's words wouldn't be enough for them to cleanly escape their situation. They were outnumbered, and by significant amounts.

She dreaded the thought of them all attacking together. It'd be a miracle to even make it out of that situation with minor injuries- assuming you didn't count her own- even with Jon there. The thought of him being around did give her some reassurance.

Though, it wasn't enough to stop the shaking in her arms, or the heavy puffs of foggy breath escaping her lips. She swore she could hear the sound of Erwyin's coy laughs in the back of her mind, causing her to clench her teeth with a slight glare forward.

She just needed to clear a path. It sounded simple enough in her head. There were what, ten or so wolves? All she needed to do was take out three, and a hole for them to escape through would be exposed-

"Hey." Jon called gently pressing his back against hers with a tap at her side. The red gleam in his eyes sparked with energy as he looked at her from over his shoulder. "Relax a little. I get you're working overdrive mentally, but you're going to pass out breathing like that. Slow down." She blinked a few times, following his suggestion.

Had... she been hyperventilating this whole time?

"Just follow what Richard taught you okay? I'll watch your back, and you can watch mine." Jon offered as the wolves continued to circle around them, searching for their opening.

"...You can trust me with that?" She blinked, trying to turn back before he scoffed and flicked her forehead. "Ow... What was that for?!" She winced, holding her head.

"Don't be dumb." Jon smiled. "I'll always trust you and Kory. No matter what."

She widened her eyes at that, before gasping. "Behind you!"

Swiftly whipping his body back around, he made it just in time to poise an arm up, feeling a sharp erupting pain. A wolf's gnawing teeth ripped into the free arm, while the animal's icy horn on its head shone brightly.

"I'll trust you... so trust me, okay?" Jon smiled, the gleam in his eyes pulsing before he coldly dug his kitchen knife into the wolf's chest. It squeaked like a toy, before going limp and falling to the ground as the remaining enemies all took a step back with growls in their throats.

"Aha... I thought you didn't want to be a leader, Jon." Shia took a deep breath, her hands growing steady. Snow drifted to the ground all around them, sticking to their clothes like glue. "You're already acting like one."

"You're saying that like you two gave me a choice." Jon scoffed, as Shia laughed brightly, a newfound shine growing in her golden eyes. "Wanna race?"

"You already got one of them- unfair!"

"It doesn't matter. Why, you chicken?"

"No, I'm a fox, I'll have you know." Shia giggled as the wolves snarled, before rushing towards the two children. "Fine! I'll win anyways, just you see! First one to five, loser pays for food at the Winter Solstice!"

"You're on!" Jon grinned, laughing as the two of them rushed towards their groups of enemies.

His wounded arm protested against the strain, matching with Shia's own various injuries. Yet, they still marched on, wide smiles on their faces. The pain was covered, almost as if it were missing entirely. Instead, there was that lingering feeling of warmth enveloping them from within, fighting against the biting cold of the winter nights while Shia made first contact.

A one-handed slice upwards and a leaping wolf dropped to the ground in front of the girl. Incoming steps came from her side, her fox ears twitching as she grabbed her sword with both hands.