It's Called Love, Right?

Chapter 18 - Warmth

Coldness engulfed her senses as Iris sank into the depth of snow. With her death grip still on Ash, she scrambled out of the snow, pushing back its paralyzing sensation that brushed against her skin.

"Brrrrrr." She shivered. Now standing beside her, Ash was eyeing her with an accusing look.

"What?" Iris looked at him, oblivious of the fact that she had pulled Ash down with her during the fall.

He rubbed his wrist, which was being squeezed to death by Iris a minute ago. "Thanks for dragging me down with you."

It took her a second suddenly understood what he meant. Iris smiled sheepishly.

"Why would there even be a hole at the top of a mountain?" She wondered out loud as she observed her surroundings, changing the topic. The hole was covered by ice, and in a small corner, there was a frozen nest assembled by thin ice branches in a complexed web-like structure.

"What's that?" She thought.

As if Ash read her mind, he suddenly spoke up. "Looks like the nest of the dragon we saw earlier. It probably attacked us because we were in its territory."

Iris shuddered from his statement. She was getting really nervous. What if it came back and saw them its enemy?

"It won't come back," Ash said again, ignoring her shocked expression. "Look."

Pointing at the nest, Ash's finger drifted downwards. Iris followed his gesture and noticed the empty eggshells on the inside.

"Baby dragons...?"

"Yeah." The raven haired boy walked past her and picked up a piece of the shell. "The eggs already hatched, yet the dragons are nowhere to be seen. The adult dragon probably came back to transport the rest of its children to the new nest."

Hearing that made Iris wipe her forehead in relieve.

Ash sighed and lifted his head towards the sky. "We're pretty far from the surface."

Iris nodded, wondering if it was possible for them to climb up. As if Ash read her mind yet again, he shook his head.

"Forget about it, there's no way we can climb up there." He rested his hands behind his head. "If it was just me, I would have gone up easily using my Lightning Shadow Technique..."

Suddenly, Iris feel herself starting to get cold again. Subconsciously, she scooted over to Ash and linked her hands in his. The warmth of his hand sent a numbing sensation throughout her body. A smile was tugging at her lips, because it seemed that Ash didn't mind either.

At that moment, the raven haired boy jerked up abruptly and stared at Iris with serious eyes. The latter quickly pulled her hand away from his.

"W-what?" Iris stammered, her cheeks heating up.

"Iris." His tone was grave as Iris subconsciously gulped, anticipating his next words. "Would you mind if I ditch you and go up by myself?"

And with that, Iris slapped him.

Hard.

———

The two sat across each other, with Iris crossing her arms and Ash rubbing his swelling cheek.

"You slap too hard..." Ash sighed.

Iris just smiled innocently. "That's what you get. You selfish, arrogant jerk."

Ash rolled his eyes. It was true that he had contemplated returning to the surface by himself, but he didn't expect her to overreact like that.

Guess he was being too honest.