Warnings: Little bit of blood, nothing big though.

      ~Jerome's P.O.V.~

     It's been a bit over a day now. After waking up from the Enderman attack Mitch and I wasted no time in starting back towards the mountain. Oh, and the ravine ended. We tried to scout for Vikk and Lachlan but they most likely sheltered back in the trees so we simply continued through the snowy path. By nightfall the lane of open area had closed and and we slept within the forest. So now, a couple hours past sunrise, we're trekking through the forest on a quest to arrive at the mountain.

     "Hey Jerome I'm getting a bit hungry. Well very hungry actually. Do you think we can stop and hunt for food? Like maybe a rabbit or bird..."
      I glance over my shoulder at Mitch and he does indeed look hungry. But he also looks cold so I nod, "Sure thing. I'll see if I can get a fire going so we can cook anything you catch and so you can warm up."
     "I'll just keep heading West and I won't go far. If I catch anything I'll bring it back for us."
     "Good luck!"
     "I'll be back before nightfall!" Mitch calls, waving a goodbye as he disappears behind a bush.

     I glance around the surrounding area, looking for any sort of dry material. How on earth am I going to make fire in the middle of winter? Everything is soaked... I scan the area, my eyes resting on a small patch of saplings. Well it's a start. I silently think to myself, picking up my axe.

I wonder... Instead of using my one arm to chop down the sapling I try using both arms to swing. Which I regret as the vibrations cause my wound to burn with fresh pain. I hiss and reel back in swiftly, glaring at my arm. Sighing I awkwardly try and use my left arm to chop down the saplings, saying 'chop' each time the axe broke down a fresh sapling. Finally with an armful of dryish wood I behind the peel the bark away, exposing the crisp wood underneath.

Setting them up in a teepee pattern I then begin to feel around under exposed tree roots in search of dry leaves and wood scraps to make a tinder bundle. Then setting up my little bonfire I scavenge under snow for a sharp rock and a price of flint. A rock isn't too hard to find and I soon pick one out, stuffing it in my jacket pocket. Now for flint it's a bit of a challenge and it takes me a good hour before I finally spot a small section of gravel, a piece of flint catching the suns rays and glinting. Wincing in pain I'm forced to use both arms to uncover the fairly large piece of flint. And when it finally pops out of the ground I just hope I have enough materials to start even a small fire.

I stroll back to my set up and pick up the sharp stone and flint, striking them multiple times over the small ball of tinder. Although a few sparks fly from between the rocks it's not nearly enough to start a fire. I growl in frustration, using all my strength to strike the flint one last time before a large spark settles into the dry materials, more tiny orange flecks emitting from it.

In a panic I drop the stone and flint from my hands and gingerly scoop up the bundle, gently puffing air into it until the spark increases in size and the bundle is set alight. Hurriedly placing it under the small teepee to avoid my fur catching on fire I watch as the flame slowly increases eventually engulfing the wood in a blazing fire. Confident that it would keep itself going for another hour or so I search the area for more saplings, dragging twelve more back before I'm finally satisfied with my work.

I sit down on a small rock jutting from the snow and gaze into the fire, lost in its blazing inferno. That's when a rustle sounds to my left and I quietly draw my axe, keeping it ready for whatever emerges from the bush. But I'm relieved when I notice it's only Mitch, stepping through a bush with his bow slung on his back. I lower my axe and he grins at me, holding up two white rabbits. Blood is staining the fur around where he shot them, both around their shoulder area.

"Good job Mitch! That should get a decent amount of meat in us." I congratulate him, licking my lips.
"Ditto, you managed to get a fire started which I think is much more impressive."
"Here pass me the rabbits, I'll gut em for us."

Mitch nods, giving me the small mammals and watching contently as I skin them, throwing out inedible parts. By the time we've both eaten and I've cleared my axe of blood the sun is high in the sky, a little bit past halfway. Now with full stomachs and warmth radiating in us I snuff out the fire, collecting some of the coals for later use. And with that we're on our way again.

A few hours later and we arrive at the edge of a decent sized river, stretching off into the distance both ways. The sky is clear and the icy surface of the frozen water is reflecting many rays of light in the area, illuminating the surrounding trees. The peak is a lot closer now, only a days trip away and the only visible thing between us and the mountain is this river.

"Well what are we waiting for? Let's go!" Mitch exclaims, confidently stepping onto the thick ice.

Or is it really that thick? I think warily, examining the small puddles here and there on the ice. Suddenly I freeze, my eyes wide as I look back and fourth between the sun and the ice.

"Mitch, wait! This ice has been sitting in the sun all day! I don't think it's thick enough to-"

Too late. And harsh crack sounds, the ice underneath Mitch splitting. He jerks backwards, freezing up in fear. Crack. He takes a step back. Crrrrack.

"Mitch stop moving!"

His eyes lock with mine, filled with fear and confusion. But even though he plants his feet in that spot the ice continues to crack. Crack.... Crack crack....

Splash.

"MITCH!" I shriek, running forwards and ignoring the splitting ice beneath me.

He surfaces sputtering, and desperately trying to grip onto the side of the ice but it shatters under his hand, sending him back under. This time.... He doesn't surface. He went into shock from the cold...

With no regards to my own safety I practically tear off my jacket and shirt, throwing them to the side. I don't even bother to wrap up my wound again, instead taking a deep breath and pencil diving in the water. The freezing cold temperature hits me like a brick wall but thankfully because of my thick winter fur I shake it off. Forcing open my eyes I whip in all directions, trying to spot Mitch in the murkiness. And then out of the corner of my eye I see a small flash and I dive a bit further down to see the flash was from sunlight catching on Mitch's necklace.

With my breath rapidly depleting I struggle to swim farther down. Mitch's eyes are half closed and he's obviously unconscious. Wincing I use my injured arm to hook around his torso, beginning the journey to the top. I glance upwards searching for the hole in the ice before breaking the surface of the water. I breach the surface, panting heavily and treading for a second to catch by breath. Then smashing some of the ice so I can pull Mitch's head above the water. I then claw away at the thin ice until I can no longer break it, signalling it's thick enough to support us. Kicking upwards I dig my claws into the ice and use them to hoist Mitch halfway up. Before he can slip back down I dive under his legs, pushing at his feet until he's sprawled out limp on the ice. After I drag myself out of the water I pull Mitch further away from the edge and place my ear to his chest.

... Ba-Dump.

I cry out in relief, hearing the distant thump of his heart. Then his whole body twitches and I slide away from him as he starts sputtering and coughing, spitting out water. The sunlight has faded and now with the chilling temperature he's left there shivering violently once he finishes his coughing fit. He takes one look at me before instantly breaking down, sobbing and quivering on his spot on the ice.

"Mitch it's okay, you're okay..." I say, trying to sooth him but he only cries harder.

I scoot over to him and wrap my arms around him, brining him into a hug which he gladly accepts. He calms down slightly but is still whimpering into my shoulder for minutes on end. I rub small circles on his back until finally he's stopped crying. He pulls away shyly, eyes puffy and red from bawling.

     "Are you okay?" I ask gently, receiving a small nod as he wipes some tears from his face.
     "T-thank you..." He stutters weakly.

      I then take the time to look at his drenched clothing, then back at my forgotten jacket and shirt that are still laying a few meters away from where I had tossed them. I silently crawl over to them and retrieve them, bringing them back to Mitch and holding them out.

     "Put these on, you're going to catch hypothermia if you keep your wet clothing on."

      Mitch glances at my dry clothing then at his own, drenched and actually starting to freeze. He hesitantly takes my jacket and shirt.

      "But won't you get cold?" He mumbles, looking at me with worry.
      "Well Mitch in case you haven't noticed I sorta have fur covering my entire body so I think I'll be just as warm as you, even without a shirt." I chuckle, motioning to my upper body.

      Mitch nods, beginning to slip of his dripping clothing and I turn away, instead beginning to re wrap my arm. The wound is still red and irritated but most of the pain has gone now. By the time I'm done Mitch has changed into my clothing which fits him surprisingly well. I stoop down and pick up my axe, standing up carefully on the slippery river.

      "Let's get going before the sun sets but be careful." I state inching forward on the ice along with Mitch.

        Eventually the sun sets and just in time as we once again dive into the tree line, creating a small burrow in the snow to sleep. With the distant grown of zombies and hisses of spiders I curl up on the snowy ground now far more cold. But knowing Mitch is at much more of a risk to freeze I push away the uncomfortableness. I glance down at my still damp fur, noticing the tips have frozen. I frown shutting my eyes and drifting off into a dreamless sleep.

~~~