Thaw Fickle Buskin

Oncoming Snowstorm

Garrett ripped open the tent doors. Kanoa jumped out of my arms and started adjusting her clothes awkwardly. I bit my lip and smoothed down my hair. Garrett's eyes flicked between us knowingly. Thankfully, he didn't ask any questions. That was one thing I liked about him was that he wasn't nosy.

"Guys, we have to go. Now," Garrett said hurriedly. Kanoa's eyes widened and she grabbed the poem from the table, sticking it in the pocket with the map. He ushered us out of the tent just in time for us to see purple clouds completely covering the sky.

I shared a look with Kanoa. Her face fell with concern. "I don't understand. That's not me doing that."

My mouth gaped open, but before I could question her we heard a rustle from the bushes. Out came a tall figure, shadowed by a long cloak. Their face was hidden behind a thick mask. One of their hands was outstretched towards us. Out of the palm came a long streak of lightning, pointed directly towards Kanoa. It whizzed passed her and struck a pine tree behind her.

At the sight of them, my headache returned. This time it felt like there were needles inside my head, digging their way up.

You shouldn't have come here--

She's dangerous--

Kill her before she kills you--

I grabbed Kanoa's arm and started running away. Garrett followed close behind, his short legs having a hard time keeping up with us. We dodged through the trees and pushed off of rocks sticking from the ground. The person yelled after us with a thick, gravelly voice, and I almost vomited when I realized his voice matched the one in my head.

Come back--

You stole something from me--

I WILL DESTROY HER. MARK MY WORDS--

We darted through the rocks, still drumming steadily. The pain in my temples were blurring my vision, making every step another challenge. Kanoa was the only thing keeping me from falling to the ground unconscious. I followed her confident strides all the way through the opening to the other side.

I looked back just in time to see Garrett be struck by a large rock directly in the back of the head. He stumbled and came to the ground, shouting in pain. Without thinking, I trailed back and grabbed his arms, lifting him up and dragging him to the other side. He was whispering something about leaving him, but I didn't have enough energy to listen.

Another lightning bolt shot past me with a deafening boom. The sides of the boulders thundered with new debris, pounding hard on the ground. One struck me on the forearm. I kept my gaze on Kanoa, who was beginning to come back for help. She took one of Garrett's arms and I kept my grip on his other.

Once we got to the right side of the trail, the boulders immediately stopped. The world was unnaturally quiet. All the animals living in the forest were absolutely silent, afraid to come out to face the beast. All three of us were stone-faced, shocked into quietude. There was no sign that there was anyone following us anymore.

Garrett got to his feet and rubbed his sore spot on his head. "Ugh...T-thanks for helping me, guys."

Kanoa nodded, out of breath. "No problem. We're in this together now."

"I've never had anyone that would go back to save me. Especially with a maniac chasing us. I didn't think I'd be alive long enough to have friends like this." Garrett said.

Without further explanation, Garrett tramped down the Sol Trail quickly. The purple clouds in the sky were now dispersing into a light rain. The small droplets fell onto my shoulders and soaked my shirt. Kanoa's skirt swayed against her legs in the cold breeze beginning to pick up.

"How are you?" she asked.

My head was raging with pain. It staggered my breath and made me feel weak in the knees. I felt extremely nauseous. The world around me was swinging back and forth. Kanoa was doing circles in my vision.

"You know, I'm doing great," I said.

Kanoa reached out and took my hand. "Well, I'd rather be safe than sorry."

My sickness immediately blew away like a dandelion in the wind. It was replaced by something soft and mellow. I knew then that I was protected from anything trying to get at me. "I guess so," I murmured.

                                                             -----------------

The atmosphere of the small restaurant was a pleasant distraction from the cold world outside. Snow was beginning to fall as the day got older. The orange leaves scattered across the sidewalk were now stained white. People passing by the window breathed heavily and sent fog into the chilling air.

A waitress asked us what we'd like to drink. Garrett stated that he would like a Fanta while Kanoa ordered a hot chocolate with whipped cream. I reluctantly said that I wanted a green tea. The waitress left hurriedly, leaving us alone in the quiet pub.

Kanoa had unfolded the poem and read it over and over again. It seemed like each time she read over it, her face would cloud with confusion. Then she would use her finger to trace the words carefully. When the waitress returned with our drinks, she would take a sip without taking her eyes off the paper.

Garrett sipped on his soda, watching her. I winced as the stale hot tea met my mouth. The hot sting made me ache for the feeling of Kanoa's lips. I wondered if she felt the same as she grabbed the hot chocolate in her hands and smiled every-so-lightly. Her eyes flicked up at me as she took a sip from the steaming cup.

"So," she said, laying the poem flat on the table. "We have this now. But I still don't get what I'm supposed to do with it."

Garrett scanned it over. "Well, the fourth verse is a pretty simple concept. A tear of betrayal from a love you can't leave. You need to betray someone you love."

Kanoa glanced at me for a split-second before returning to her hot cocoa. "That one's going to be hard. I-I don't love anyone."

I could feel the blood rise to my face. I tried to hide behind the white cup of my green tea, watching the leaves stir to the bottom of the cup. I knew Kanoa was looking at me, which just made my embarrassment worse. What did that mean for me, then? I wasn't exactly hurt that she didn't love me--I wasn't sure if I even loved her--but was there less between us than I thought?

Kanoa cleared her throat. "I guess I'll have to find someone to love, then."

Garrett moved on from the topic. "Oh, here's something cool. The last line refers back to the introduction--a gift from the one in the second verse. It's talking about you. You have to give yourself something. That should be pretty simple, right?"

Kanoa rubbed her temples. "No, Garrett, no. It's not going to be simple. It doesn't give me the slightest idea to what I'm supposed to do."

Garrett sunk back in his chair, playing with the straw of his Fanta. "...Sorry. Just trying to help."

Kanoa sighed. "I know that, Garrett. I'm sorry too. I was just so excited to finally have answers. Finally, after all these years, I believed I could get rid of this. And now I'm basically back to square one with this stupid-ass poem."

She pushed out of her chair and took a final sip of her hot chocolate. She started towards the door, posture slouched. When she opened the door, she winced at the cold temperature biting at her exposed skin.

"Kanoa!" I called. She didn't even look back as she entered the cold outside.

Garrett stood up and pulled out my chair quickly. "Go after her, tiger!"

Heart racing, I abandoned my atrocious tea and sprinted out the door, trying to catch up to Kanoa before she disappeared in the thick afternoon fog.