Chapter Text
There was no way she could teleport with Fischl now.
Before her, in ankle deep snow, there laid Fischl, silent and unconscious. Her cheeks and ears, as well as her nose were red from the cold. Mona immediately fell to her knees, with her hands waving aimlessly in the air and in the snow below them. This wasn’t part of her plan. She wanted to protect her. She came along to protect her. Scanning the surrounding area, Mona wanted to at least make sure there weren’t any enemies hiding behind dark trees and their hanging beaches, heavy with snow. Her agitated breaths were clouding the sight in front of her.
This didn’t go as planned at all. And now? The very reason she came with Fischl became the cause of her being hurt.
Mona looked downwards again, trying to find a way to lift the archer. Just a few moments ago her partner was happily running towards her. Muttering between curses she spotted red dots in the white snow. Panic got the better of the witch, and she turned Fischl on her back, still on the white rug under them. Her curses became more vulgar, especially towards herself once she saw a thin trail of blood running from Fischl’s temple, framing her face on one side.
There was no time to waste. There was no merit in pondering now, of all times. What was needed was immediate action and to get the electro user to safety. Mona snaked her arms under Fischl’s neck and shoulder area, hoping not to shake her too much. No movement would’ve been better but the merciless terrain of Dragonspine didn’t allow that. Slowly raising her, the hydro user ducked and slid herself under Fischl’s torso. Her arms hung lifelessly over Mona’s shoulders, while the witch herself upheld Fischl under her buttocks. Mona tried not to think about the way the archer was weighing down on her back.
Mona’s Fingers were buzzing, and her feet were swimming in a thin layer of thawed snow. Oh, how she wished to be able to open her portal and find themselves in front of Mondstadts cathedral. But using her portal was not an option now. What if she had internal bleedings or the like? Her medical knowledge was slim and Mona wasn’t about to elevate any risk.
Now, they just needed to reach the next camp at the feet of Dragonspine. There, they could find help. Fischl needed at least first aid. There had to be someone with healing abilities. There had to be.
Because right now, there was no way she could teleport Fischl.
-
Finally, finally she saw it. The camp. Mona’s arms have gotten weary a long time ago, even though she tried to take some breaks. Short ones. As short as possible.
She really needed to get back to exercise. The exhaustion creeped up on her, now that her adrenaline started to drop. She didn’t feel her hands, nor her fingers anymore and her feet felt like they’ve been slipping and sliding in her shoes instead of being secure in them. The smell of burned wood from the campfire reached Mona's nose and lit up a fire of hope in her.
Suddenly her eyes spotted a familiar shade of brown and purple-
Were those Amber and…Rosaria..?
With all of her remaining might, the astrologist used her strength to bring up her summon. It was close enough to the camp and extinguished the flames of the bonfire. This time, it didn’t seem to mock Fortuna but the summons’ owner. But it helped to get the attention of the outrider and the nun.
Spotting the unusual duo, Amber and Rosaria rushed towards them. Mona’s form was shaking under the weight and the exhaustion of the constant carry. They were lucky to have found shelter not too far from Dragonspine’s main road or else Mona wouldn’t have been able to carry the archer.
Rosaria reached them first and immediately took Fischl on her own back while Amber checked on Mona. Brown and sorrowful eyes were trying to get Mona to talk and inquired her about what happened, while Rosaria's sharp ones scanned Mona’s body for outer injuries. There seemed to be only one patient.
“Let’s get you to safety.” The nun said while already heading fast-paced towards one of the camp's tents.
-
Gently, the archer was placed on a makeshift bed, closest to the campfire. Rosaria was testing Fischl’s reflexes. A lighter had other uses beside lighting cigarettes or people on fire. Her right pupil was constricting properly. Good. Now the other eye. The nun was about to lift the dark eyepatch over the covered eye, when she suddenly felt a sharp gaze on her back.
There was someone else who was able to shoot daggers, hm?
Ah.
Who knew there was such a predator in Mondstadt? Living on the low and attacking when one least
expects it. What do they say? Calm waters are usually the deepest. Rosaria had to admit, it was actually very nice to have gotten a warning shot, especially in these circumstances.
“…Megistus.”
A low hum was all the tall woman was getting as a reaction.
“Now that I think of it, why am I doing all the work? I’m not getting paid nearly enough to be as
charitable as our deaconess.”
She tossed her lighter to a slightly startled astrologist.
“You do the other eye. 50/50, fair and square.”
Swiftly the nun got up and strode past Amber and Mona.
“Let’s go outrider, time for a break. Can’t have our human water bottle get too exhausted.”
Ambers’ protest was blocked before it could even be voiced, “Right, fine by me...” , she mumbled.
Kneeling down, the witch didn’t seem to care much about the seemingly insignificant change of plans. The cryo and the pyro user were exiting the tent silently. Amber was considerate enough to bite her tongue and not argue over such decisions. Fischls' well-being had the highest priority now. As much as she felt the need to skip every break until she saw her fellow archer gain consciousness again, she knew that she couldn’t drop of exhaustion, herself.
And she had a feeling that Mona would do a good job. They seemed really close after all.