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@irishcelticredflowercrown

your idea is great! My mind is already on a helter skelter from all the possibilities that could ensue

Thanks! I love a bit of drama now and then XD LOL @this-is-not-an-alien do you remember when we did that dramatic sacrifice and almost-death scene with all the characters??? XD I destinctly remember almost crying XD That was chaos XD

Aydin

I glanced up as the armored man spoke. I instantly reassesed my earlier decision that Lorcan was the most dangerous person here. It was a close tie so I decided to stay far out of everyone’s way.

I scowled in generalized irritation. I hated being cold, and I was colder than I had ever been now. I’d survive. I’d be fine. I just had to shut up and take it. As usual.

Yila was glaring at me as though she wanted to rip out my throat. I flatly ignored her. I was good at that and it seemed to annoy her.

She turned her glare to her brother instead, but he seemed used to it.

“You as well,” Niarok said, somewhere between sarcasm and sincerity.

Niarok pulled a blanket from his pack and tossed it to me. I didn’t react, but shot him a questioning look. Why was he giving it to me?

“If you don’t want it, I’m sure someone else can use it,” he said, leaving me the option to take it or leave it and taking the pressure off the decision.

I frowned, torn between the fact that I was freezing and guilt because someone else could use it, probably more than me.

I glanced at the entrance of the cave. Flakes of snow were driving in hard and fast. I hadn’t seen snow since I was a child, when we had once visited one of the higher mountains. I did remember how it made everything cold and silent. It was one of my few memories that wasn’t unpleasant.

I hesitated another moment, then took it. He’d decided that I needed it. He wouldn’t have given it to me if someone else needed it more.

“Thanks, I appreciate it. If someone else needs it more, I’ll be fine without it,” I said, making sure he knew I meant it.

He nodded and his sister glared at me. It was honestly impressive that she hated me that much without knowing anything about me. Usually it took at least one conversation or some background knowledge but she’d managed it already.

Basil was ranting and I blocked it out. I was fairly good at blocking out noises and his annoying voice was worth it. I had no idea what he was talking about but I knew it was petty.

What odd things he cared about. Or perhaps I was the odd one. I didn’t care about much of anything. There was nothing left to care about. If I died, I died, that was that. There was nobody left to worry about. Nobody would miss me, nobody would mourn for me.

(Author’s note: Stop being so morbid, edgelord.)

Suddenly Basil was crying and Misu was trying to comfort him. Sudden guilt and sympathy took the place of annoyance. Of course he was upset, all of this was terrible. I was thoroughly upset myself and I was used to everything turning upside down at a moment’s notice.

It was all horribly upsetting and none of us had been making it easier on him. He probably wasn’t used to much and I probably would have been crying too in his place.

“I want to go home.  Why can’t I go home?” Basil asked, his voice caught in tears.

“I don’t know,” Misu whispered.

“It’ll be alright, we’ll make it out of here,” I lied. I was always surprised how easy it was to lie. I had done it so often. We’ll be alright. It’s okay. You’ll be fine. None of them true, but the alternative was worse.

Basil still seemed upset and there was nothing I could do to make it better except not to stare at him.

I absently stared at the snow swirling in. A thin layer had already gathered against me and against Niarok’s back. It was getting thicker fast. I pulled the blanket closer around my shoulders, silently grateful that Niarok had offered it.

The black figure swirled in the doorway, vague and uncertain, but there and threatening. I stiffened, watching it as the sky darkened behind it.

Was it a threat? Was it just me? I kept staring at it, trying not to show my apprehension.

“Do you notice anything odd?” I asked Niarok, tentatively.

He looked over his shoulder, following my gaze, then glanced back at me, puzzled.

“No… what do you see?”

“Oh, nothing, I just thought I did,” I said, dismissively. I didn’t want to tell anyone about it, it was a weakness and I wasn’t in the habit of telling people about my weaknesses.

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Okayyyy, I didn’t expect him to react to Basil like that. I didn’t quite realize that he’s actually an extremely empathetic person, but it makes sense. Huh, interesting!