Chapter 3 Part 2

As the sun breaks through the trees, the band of newbie adventurers plus Relov climb the cold, snowy Mt. Mininan. Just as the snow starts to stick on the ground, Heather finds a new plant for her collection and preserves it. It's an ice rose. A transparent blue rose that causes hypothermia on moderate exposure to skin.

"You never know what plant may be useful!" Heather says. Placing the jar in the bag and handing it back to Christopher to put away.

"I've never met anyone who likes plants this much. Even people with similar affinities." Relov says. His chest, tail, and hands glow like hot metal.

"Hey Relov, I've been meaning to ask. Why are you glowing?" Haider asks.

"Oh, I'm a red Dragon Newt. Which means I can heat my body with my blood. It's not a significant thing but we can also ignite our intestinal gases and therefore breathe fire. We don't like doing that though, it makes everything taste like a fart." Relov says.

"Hah, and I was gonna ask you to show us but never mind." Christopher says.

"Its fucking freezing up here." Heather shivers.

"Really? I feel fine." Haider says, dressed in his usual attire of open shirt and shorts.

(Narrator) I must say, it's mighty impressive that he can experience this cold with no effects.

Christopher approaches Heather and gives her a bundle of sticky rice in cheese cloth with a fire rune on it. "Here, I learned that these can keep you warm. It should stay heated for a few hours but in this cold I'm not too sure."

"T-Thank you Christopher." Heather takes the homemade heat pad and places it on the back of her neck. "That feels so much better already." She lets out a deep sigh as the warming air around the pad travels down her back.

As their steps crunch the snow beneath their feet, a few rocks roll from the hill to their right, catching their attention for a moment. A little further up, the drop somehow suddenly turned from something minor to full on a cliff.

"When the fuck did that happen?" Haider asks, cautiously looking down at the seemingly endless drop.

"We aint that far up yet about a third id say, but it's definitely a fatal drop. It would be safer to stay clear of the edge if you can help it." Relov warns.

"I've got a funny feeling guys." Christopher says. Everyone stops to discuss this.

"What do you mean?" Heather asks.

"It might have something to do with those dark clouds coming this way." Christopher points ahead.

"I'd say that's about an hour away. We should take shelter somewhere before then." Relov says calmly.

"We should be pretty high up by then right? Why not head straight to the top and brave the weather?" Haider says.

"Even you can't survive a snowstorm, even if you're resistant to the cold. If the snow from the top of the mountain causes an avalanche, the resulting impact could kill you, if not, it can cause you to fly off the edge of the cliff which is guaranteed death." Relov clearly affirms.

"Ok, do you know anywhere we could take shelter?" Haider asks.

"I don't climb this mountain often but I got a tip from that store owner that there is a cave entrance not too far from here, maybe a thirty minute trek if we hurry." Relov says.

"That will have to do. Our heat packs should be enough for that. Let's get moving." Christopher says.

They continue the walk up the mountain before the storm hits them earlier than anticipated, and at an inconvenient time. The four were travelling across an ice wall where the surface of a waterfall had frozen. There was no bridge or ladder across the empty section of their route. So they had to brave the climb, except Relov, he ignorantly flew over the gap, forgetting he was the only one who could fly.

As Relov waits on the other end of the ice wall, Heather, Haider, and Christopher brave the climb. The ice gives way to the sharp razor-like metal, making a clinking sound. As if alive, the ice clings onto the pickaxe, not letting them go without a little effort.

"If this snow storm wasn't getting worse, this would be quite fun. Stabbing this ice is so tantalising." Haider says with a...Lustful? Maddening? Maybe torturous smile? His sibling looks at him horrified before Haider fixes his expression and apologises for his sudden change.

(Narrator) This is very curious. Could it have something to do with his affinities? God, I shiver at the thought.

They make it to the other side without any complications. The storm has been getting increasingly dangerous with each passing minute.

"We need to get to that cave! It's not far! Cmon!" Relov says, shouting over the wind.

The storm is so thick that you could only see about two metres ahead. It takes a few minutes but Relov finds the cave and drags everyone in, except Haider. "That wind was terrible." He brushes off the snow and sits on the ground next to heather and notices a hollow thud but doesnt give it much thought, helping his sister to warm as much as possible.

"How long do you think it will take for the storm to pass?" Christopher asks, trying to warm himself a little with some movement.

"It's impossible to tell." Relov says.

"There's still a little hope, we've got a while before the deadline." Heather says, her teeth clattering slightly.

"That's true, we could have a few hours to collect the plant for the client." Haider says.

Relov takes a seat next to Christopher and they commune a large thunderous sound rumbles the ground they sit on and Haider identifies it as an avelaunch. The huge river of snow crashes outside the cave and trapping them inside, not a moment later the entrance collapses with no hope of escape.

"Why don't we blast our way out? Haider says.

"And risk a total collapse? No thanks!" Christopher yells.

"Everyone calm down." Heather reassures.

"You're right, you can easily teleport us out, no need to panic." Relov says.

"That's obvious, we can't risk that, especially if we encounter something dangerous." Christopher says.

Haider notices another dull and hollow thud as he slams his fist to the ground. As everyone talks about solutions, Haider puts his ear to the ground and taps the floor. He tells everyone to shush and knocks on the floor once again. "We need to get out of here." Just as he says this the floor starts to develop cracks.

"The floor is about to collapse. Christopher! Can you open a portal?" Relov collects himself and controls the mood.

"With the snow storm outside there is no chance I can get us to somewhere guaranteed safe." Christopher takes out his staff and creates a dome of spatial protection. It's his usual spatial attack spell but altered for defence. It's not perfect however, once a part of the shield is hit it can not be repaired. Luckily whatever hits a spatial attack will be completely obliterated. Heather and Haider were too far away to be included in the confines of the shell.

"One of you better shield you both! We can't risk getting hurt in a cave in." Christopher yells.

Haider nods and grabs his staff fastened to his waist. He makes a Heavy, thick dome that, once made, slams on the ground, causing the cave floor to disappear beneath them, the resulting drop splits in two, separating Haider and Heather from Relov and Christopher.

(Narrator)*sigh* Looks like I'm gonna need to split myself in two for this one.

After much effort the Narrator splits himself into two.

(Narrators) I really like narrating myself. Makes me giggle haha.

The two identical Narrators separate, one going to Heather and Haider, and the other sticking with Relov and Christopher.

(Narrator) I'm never not doing that again. When I split myself, we act individually, our memories don't come into focus until we join together once again. We will start with Christopher.

The majority of the rubble that fell into the barrier got completely Annihilated, a few large boulders slipped through but Relov made quick work of it.

After the dust settles and the fear of getting crushed subsides, we see Christopher on his knees, his staff cast aside. Relov walks up to him and helps him stand. With his arms free, Christopher holds his arm in pain.

"Are you ok cub?" Relov distressingly asks.

"I'm ok, I was just careless. You have the same nickname for a kid as my father." Christopher answers. He looks around, getting increasingly stressed by the second.

"Not gonna lie, I'm kinda flattered...What are you looking for?" Relov asks, looking wherever the frantic Christopher does.

"Where are Haider and Heather!" Christopher's eyes dart up to Relov like Daggers. The sheer panic in his eyes, the shakiness in his voice, the anxious spasms of his muscles.

Relov is alarmed slightly, not suited to dealing with this type of problem. "It's ok Christopher, We just got separated!" Relov gets on Christophers eye level.

"What *gasp* am I going to do *huff* if we find them *hick* dead in the rubble? What if we, I, I n-n-n-never find them *hick* at all? They're s-s-s-supposed to be my buffer, I know this. W-w-w-w-without them, will *gasp* go insane? Will *gasp* find someone to trust ag-g-gain?" Christopher's thoughts run wild, his brain is moving at such speed that his mouth has no time to catch up, his words coming out muddled.

Relov can't catch the boy's attention, his sight has retreated far back, only seeing flashbacks. Relov relies on his instincts, his warm hands and arms wrap around Christopher's head, his wings smother the rest of the room, his heavy scales weigh down like a heavy blanket. The Dragon Newt tightens his embrace and increases his body temperature, consequently slowing Christopher's mind, preventing it from making another thought. To fully solidify and silence the boy's mind, Relov vibrates his wings, a sound similar to white noise is made.

"persvek n'teaz'ra tairaisic, vram for wer qumadosfan. svadrav wer shore jutoshic wux, wux re n'teaz'ric emelh mojka. svadrav wer shores rannox, origato wer pacoreic ifpesp boga wer inik." Relov says.

(Narrator) The pesky language of the Dragons. I'm not translating that.

"Heh, now say it so I can understand you." Christopher still shakes, but the laugh shows fast improvement.

"It's a saying my mother used to say to me. In troubled times, listen for the ocean. When the shore escapes you, your troubles melt away. When the shores return, let the waves calm across the sand." Relov lightly brushes a hand atop the boy's head.

Christopher utters a single word. "Poetic." and rests in Relov's lap, eyes closed for a while.