Silver Winds

Chapter 35

Astra yelled out into the blizzard, crying out for the friend she had not had to leave behind. Guilt and sorrow sank into her chest as she thought about Hemming. She hadn't known him as well as she had wanted to. Always brushing him off because there were more important things to do . . . Nothing was as important as the people around her, she knew now. With that in mind, she decided that she wouldn't let one friend die, or the other's sacrifice go to waste.

"Jun!" she screamed, cupping her hands around her mouth. She had gone roughly five meters. If Hemming was correct, he would be here. White blinded and muffled her, but she hoped the sharp Kunese man would hear her.

She cried out again, and received an answer. A dark silhouette appeared not even a meter in front of her. Astra recognized the long strand of hair that swished around in the howling wind. She took a step forward, the blood pounding in her ears defeating the sound of the zephyr. His face came into focus as he forced his way toward her.

"Astor?" he called, his dark eyes widening.

"Jun!" Astra cried in relief, tromping up to him. She put her hands on her hips and tilted her head as she pursed her lips. "Lost again?"

He chuckled nervously, then pressed his lips together. "As always," he replied. "Aren't you lost, too?"

"Not really," Astra murmured. "Hemming showed me the way."

She grabbed his arm to make sure he'd keep up with her, then plowed her way back through the snow. Her hand shook and her teeth were gritted to keep herself from crying out in regret. Maybe she could have saved him somehow . . .

"Are you okay?" Jun asked, wrapping his hand around her wrist and pulling her to a stop. Astra refused to look at him, instead staring at the tracks she had made that were fading. Her jaw clenched.

"I'm fine," she growled, allowing her anger to rise to the surface instead of sadness. She yanked her arm forward, and Jun came with it. He did not speak again. He trailed behind her while she fumed, both at Hemming and herself.

The blood was dotted with white by the time they made it back to where Hemming had been drained of life. Jun opened his mouth, but said nothing as his eyes widened and he forced his teeth down onto his lip. Astra turned in the direction Hemming had taken, where drips of blood trailed into the distance. They were being blown over, little by little. Panic replaced anger, and Astra seized Jun's hand tighter than before. She yanked him behind her and she ran through the tracks Hemming had left for her.

"The blood is fading," she called to Jun in explanation. "We won't make it if we dawdle."

"Blood," Jun repeated, grasping her hand hard. She flinched at the pain that shot through her as the bones in her hand grated against one another. He didn't let go, and kept up with her. He stayed right on her heels as her eyes were glued to the large tracks in front of her.

They ran through the darkness that the blinding white brought. Astra's teeth chattered and the pain in her hand faded as it began to go numb.

"Do you think that we might get lost like this?" Jun yelled to her. "Wouldn't it be better if we just dug a hole and waited for morning?"

"We'll freeze to death," Astra called back. "You especially, Mr. I-won't-wear-a-shirt."

"It's hot during the summer," Jun protested, "and I can't afford to buy the cheap coats that are made here."

"You just insulted my country, didn't you know that?"

"I thought you were only half Illiquan!"

"I am! But that doesn't mean that I don't care about this place."