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Your lungs felt tight as you breathed, frozen air biting at your cracked lips. Crunching footsteps inched closer and you felt the phantom weapons along your skin. Despite running as fast as you could, your body was too stiff to push more. You winced, tight skin pulling at your dry eyes. Daring to glance behind was a mistake as you saw the crackling of the giant electro hammer swing and nearly catch your leg. As it was, you felt your calf tingle under the skin, the prickling just a tad shy of pain. Your stomach clenched and you tried to keep from heaving.
The skirmishers had been trailing you for a while and didn’t seem to be letting you get out of their sights. Their camp had been expertly hidden and you honestly hadn’t meant to stumble upon it, but you had gotten sidetracked off your normal Dragonspine path. You had seen a sign in the distance and wanted to make sure you hadn’t missed any treasures buried when you slipped and slid right into their tent circle. Despite your hurried attempts to explain, they grabbed their weapons and sprinted after you when you bolted away from them.
Your foot hit a frozen branch and you tumbled. Quick thinking had you covering your head, but you could have sworn that you heard your name on the wind as you fell. You struggled to stand as your feet kept sliding on the icy snow top. Snapped branches sounded like thunder as the largest skirmisher swung toward you. All you could do from your position on the ground was slide backwards, eyes closed, hoping to get a bit further away.
Back against a tree, your braced for the impact, hoped he would miss. Heat bloomed on your skin, the sudden temperature change stinging more than the cold. You opened your eyes to see a flame shield around you and a signature red jacket. His polearm caught the hammer and the elemental reaction sparked against nearby icicles. The red and purple energies lit through the branches, only reinforcing the deadly force you narrowly escaped. Glancing quickly over his shoulder, you couldn’t believe the audacity Thoma had to give you a wink before he threw off the skirmisher and drew both men away.
The warmth left as he moved out of sight and a shudder ran through you as your sodden clothes started to refreeze. Now that you were able to take a moment, you leaned on the tree behind you. Your adrenaline dissipated, the hot panic dagger travelled down your arms, fizzling out your fingertips, and you shivered at its loss. Without that fueling you, you were just exhausted. Your chest hurt. You weren’t able to feel your toes. The only thing you wanted was a warm drink and multi-blanket wrapped nap.
Resting your eyes, mind racing, you didn’t know how Thoma was able to find you. You could have sworn you hadn’t told anyone that you would be up here today. Despite your stiff muscles, your brows furrowed in confusion. Light footsteps approached and you looked up to see Thoma, his ever-present grin made you want to mirror it; you bit down on your cheek to stop yourself.
“That was dangerous.” He shrugged, his grin moving to a soft smile. “Were you stalking me?”
“Never, I just had a feeling you may be up here today.” He explained, hand waving. You caught sight of the rips in his clothes, a new burn on his cheek, and your eyes narrowed.
“W-why?” You couldn’t help the stutter in your voice as you shook.
He chuckled and pulled you in, one arm wrapped tightly around your shoulders, “I thought you would have noticed by now, sweetheart. There’s nothing I won’t do for you.” You hid your wet face in his warm chest and if he asked, you would just say that it was melting snow.