Veil trudged forward, his body swaying under the weight of exhaustion and the relentless cold. Each step felt like a ton, every movement a monumental effort for a body on the verge of collapse.
The deep snow gave way beneath his feet, wrapping him in a biting cold that seemed intent on dragging him down. A sharp, throbbing pain pulsed in his right leg, each step reigniting the open wound that refused to relent.
"Find... shelter... just a place to rest... where I can treat this...," he murmured, frustrated.
His hoarse voice was laced with bitterness, betraying a simmering anger at his own body, which seemed ready to give out. But he knew that staying in motion was his only chance at survival.
"A hollow tree... a covered rock... something to block this wind... I just need to hold on... a bit farther," he said, determined.
His breathing grew shorter, each inhale a struggle against the icy air burning his lungs. His eyelids felt heavier, the world around him becoming blurry, as if the forest itself were fading under the weight of his exhaustion.
A groan escaped his lips as a wave of pain shot through his leg.
"My leg... it... burns... I can't... walk... anymore," he panted, desperate.
He gritted his teeth, a grimace of pain twisting his face as he forced his exhausted muscles to keep moving despite the agony. Each step grew more uncertain, more unsteady. His legs trembled violently, unable to bear his weight.
Suddenly, they gave out.
His shoulder slammed into the trunk of a tree, the dull thud echoing through the silent forest. Pain radiated through his body, drawing a muffled groan from his lips. He slid down the trunk before collapsing heavily into the snow.
Not now… not here… Get up, move, damn it! he thought, angry.
He tried to move, to push himself upright, but his arms refused to obey. Every muscle felt paralyzed by the cold, every nerve screaming in protest.
The cold, already overwhelming, seemed to grow even harsher. The snow began to engulf him slowly, each flake settling on him like an icy blanket, gradually erasing his silhouette.
"Not... here...," he whispered, broken.
His voice, weak and trembling, was nothing more than a whisper lost in the endless white. His eyelids closed against his will, the daylight fading into a blurry darkness.
In his muddled mind, one final thought crossed his consciousness before everything went black.
That's… it? That's how it ends…? he thought, incredulous.
Then, the void consumed him entirely.
A faint rustling echoed through the forest. The branch of a tree moved imperceptibly, and a silhouette descended with fluidity. Her movements were precise, almost graceful, marked by an absolute mastery of her surroundings.
The wolf-woman landed soundlessly on the snowy ground. Her ears, upright and alert, swiveled slightly, capturing even the faintest sound around her. Her tail moved slowly behind her, a subtle motion reflecting her focus.
She approached Veil, her piercing blue gaze fixed on his motionless body. Her steps were silent, leaving barely a trace in the snow. When she reached him, she knelt beside him, her eyes scanning every detail of his condition.
"Still alive... That's almost surprising. With an injury like that and this cold, he should've collapsed long ago," she whispered, observant.
She reached out a hand toward his neck, her slender yet firm fingers gently resting on his cold skin. She remained still for a moment, her eyes narrowing slightly as she assessed his condition.
"Stupid human. You should be dead already. Why keep going if it ends like this?" she said, annoyed.
She lifted her head, sweeping her piercing gaze across the forest. The wind blew harder, carrying fine swirls of snow that danced around them. The temperature seemed to drop even further, making the air crueler with every passing second.
"If he stays here, he won't last another hour. And I don't have time to waste," she said, analytical.
Her expression hardened slightly, and she let out a quiet sigh, a mix of frustration and resignation. She cast one last look at Veil, as if weighing her options, before finally deciding to act.
In one fluid motion, she bent down, sliding one arm under his shoulders and the other under his legs.
"Lighter than I expected. Almost fragile... but he made it this far. Maybe he has something more," she murmured, mocking.
With a faint grunt, she lifted him onto her back, adjusting her hold to keep him secure. Veil was unconscious, but his weight posed no real challenge for her.
"Don't make this harder for me, human," she whispered, slightly irritated.
Her voice was low, almost a whisper, but it carried a trace of irritation. Yet, despite her words, she moved carefully, taking care not to worsen his condition. Her ears swiveled one last time, listening to the sounds of the forest, before she began walking, her steps silent but purposeful in the snow.
Her feet sank slightly into the snow as she straightened, but she maintained her balance with natural ease. Her gaze briefly turned toward the horizon, as if gauging the distance to a specific destination.
Without another word, she began walking, disappearing gradually among the shadows of the trees. Her steps, quick yet silent, left almost no trace in the endless white.
Carrying Veil on her back, the wolf-woman moved with perfect mastery of her surroundings. Her feet avoided every hidden root and sidestepped the treacherous dips in the snow with precision. Even with the weight of the unconscious man, her balance remained impeccable, her movements fluid, almost instinctual.
"If he dies before we get there, all of this will have been pointless. Hurry up," she said, focused.
The wind whistled around her, stirring up swirls of icy snow, but she didn't slow down. Her ears twitched slightly, catching the sounds of the forest while remaining focused on her path. Each breath she took was measured, steady, her movements as methodical as a predator tracking its prey.
After several minutes of uninterrupted running, she slowed as she spotted a rocky outcropping partially hidden by bare, frost-covered bushes.
"This will do," she declared, satisfied.
With a precise kick, she pushed aside the bushes obstructing the entrance. A dark cave opened before her, its low ceiling and uneven walls offering modest but sufficient shelter against the biting cold outside.
She quickly slipped inside, moving with agility. The snow crunched softly beneath her feet as she advanced toward the back of the cave. She paused briefly, scanning the area with her piercing gaze to ensure there was no immediate threat.
"Empty. No recent tracks. We'll be safe here, for now," she said, cautious.
Gently, she set Veil down against the rocky wall, placing him in a semi-seated position. She adjusted his arms and legs slightly to keep his weight from pressing too heavily on his injury, all the while keeping an eye on his face, marked by exhaustion and cold.
She stepped back slightly, her piercing eyes scanning his face. His features looked drawn, almost pale, but his chest still rose and fell faintly.
"At least you're still breathing. Tenacity or just dumb luck?" she said, coldly.
She stood motionless for a moment, her gaze shifting between Veil and the entrance of the cave, before straightening. Her ears twitched slightly, catching the distant whispers of the wind.
"This cold won't take long to catch up to us. I need to hurry," she added.
Without hesitation, she began searching the cave for materials to start a fire, her movements precise and calculated.
Her white tail swayed slightly, moving slowly from side to side. Her actions were exact, marked by flawless efficiency. She placed a hand on the leather belt around her waist and detached a small flint stone, her expression focused.
She quickly found a few twigs and pieces of dry wood, likely brought in by animals or the wind. With practiced fluidity, she knelt and broke the wood into smaller pieces. Her hands, agile yet firm, worked with expert speed.
"Doesn't take much... but he needs warmth now. Otherwise, he won't make it," she said, pragmatic.
TCHAK! TCHAK!
She struck the flint against a hard stone, producing sparks that flickered in the darkness of the cave. The first attempts yielded a faint smoke. She narrowed her eyes slightly, her ears twitching as she gently blew on the kindling.
"Come on... catch fire... don't make this harder than it is," she murmured, focused.
TCHAK! TCHAK!
A spark caught the kindling, and it finally began to smoke before igniting. A faint orange glow rose, casting dancing shadows on the walls of the cave. The flames came to life, flickering weakly but steadily. Their warmth and light began to push back the cold, oppressive atmosphere of the cave.
She stayed crouched for a moment, carefully adjusting the pieces of wood to feed the nascent fire. Once satisfied, she stepped back slightly and sat near the flames, her arms crossed over her chest.
Her blue eyes fixed on Veil without blinking, an indecipherable intensity in her gaze.
"Stay alive, stranger. Few defy death the way you do... but why are you fighting so hard? Who are you?" she said, intrigued.
She studied him for a moment longer before turning her attention to the fire. The silence didn't bother her, but something about this man stirred a curiosity she didn't yet understand.
"What kind of human lasts this long?" she murmured, puzzled.
Her face remained impassive, but her slightly turned ears caught every sound from the forest outside. Her focus seemed divided between the distant howling wind and the irregular breathing of the man lying before her.
"If you fought so hard to survive... I'll at least give you a chance. But it's up to you to prove you're worth it," she murmured, resolute.
The fire crackled softly, breaking the oppressive silence. Its flickering flames illuminated the rugged walls of the cave, casting shifting shadows that seemed to dance around them.
Outside, the snow continued to fall, undisturbed. The wind howled, its distant murmur adding a background melody to the tense calm of the scene.