Land of Armonia

Chapter Twenty Two

Amante had woken up and felt like he had just been squashed by a rock. As he opened his eyes, the snow rained pelted him like tiny rocks, but as he drew his focus on a silhouette, he was able to suppress his annoyance. Herogi wept with joy and leaned herself against his head. It made him feel safer and secure. 

He willed his mind to relax, which was easier now with the threat of danger gone. Amante soon felt the bleak wrath of wind against his skin, the snow clinging to his tail, and the frost on his eyelashes. The girl before him looked like an emotional wreck, and he wasn't exactly sure what to do.

He acted upon instinct, pulling Herogi to his chest and wrapping his arms around her. A little offering of gratitude or all she had done for him. She never hugged him back, she was to still, other than her shaking from both cold and tears now frozen to her cheeks.

Feeling embarrassed, Amante pulled away. 

"I'm sorry." He mumbled, the wind taking his voice away.

"Where's April and Chili?" She asked, ignoring his apology. Or perhaps she hadn't heard it. Amante couldn't even think of the answer, or what to reply with. His mouth felt dry, his throat sore, and his brain clogged with snow. He took a deep breath.

"I-I think they're on the east side of the mountain. April created a dome shelter for them, they should be ok." He said stubbornly. Herogi scrunched up her face.

"Why did you leave them! You should have stayed!" She raised her voice. 

"They're ok! I promise!" Amante said back.

"How do you know! Something could have happened! We need to get everyone back together and LEAVE!" Herogi started to shout.

"Herogi, I-"

"What Amante?! You had me scared to death and because of YOU, I went supernatural! I didn't need that!" Herogi stood up abruptly, her hands curled into fists. "You can't do that! Now I lost Juntul, Misty and Chang are still gone, and you just added something else into the mix! I can't believe you!"

"Herogi I had to!" Amante finally spoke up. Herogi narrowed her eyes.

"You didn't! April is a little girl who may or may not be able to use her abilities, and Chilli can't be there always! He may be big, tough and strong, but if something were to come after them... THEY COULD HAVE DIED!" Herogi stormed. Amante stood up, looking down at her furious face that seemed so full of hatred. 

 "I couldn't let you die either!" He finally spat. Herogi froze, studying his face that masked his emotion. "You don't understand. You shouldn't have left with Juntul, Chang and Misty should have stayed, and none of this would be happening. I panicked ok?!" Amante turned his back towards her. "One of us needs to regather Juntul from the top, but it won't be both of us."

His words were like knives and he regretted saying such harsh things to her. But he couldn't do anything about it now. He could sense her cutting edge behind him, as she grumbled out loud to herself. 

"Yeah, go back and do what you were supposed to do." She snarled. He heard the snow crunching behind him as she transformed into her smaller, cheetah self, climbing up the hill in anguish.

Amante cursed at the bitter feeling in his chest. He hated himself for, just about anything. He never meant to cause harm, but he had to forget about her at the moment. He refocused his attention to heading back to Chilli and April. Everything he had just done seemed pointless, but he was tugged down the hill by his own two legs, to get to them. 

He had a feeling something had happened.