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The thick snow of the Winter Moon crunched softly beneath the even-stepped padding of the stalking Jollemonster. The powdery chill coated the vast pasture that was once a warm, sunny paradise of grass and earth.
Cinder puffed out a small flame in an attempt to warm himself from the bitter cold, his tail skittering and rattling as the growing ice crystals began to slowly impede his metallic joints.
His amber eyes surveyed the land, drinking in the subtle glimmer of the full moon's light reflecting off the undisturbed blanket of frigged misery. He tilted his left arm in a motion to shake the wet cold from the fur that hung from his paws as well as adjust the stolen stocking of food and necessities situated on his back.
He was almost startled by the soft, familiar jingling of curious enjoyment behind him. Almost. Instead, his pointed ear flicked as he turned to face the source of the disturbance in the overpowering silence.
"Little one," Cinder's flame-deepened voice rumbled in what should have resembled a threat to anyone listening. "We must continue forward. Come along."
From beneath a small pile of recently disturbed snow, he could just make out the faint puff of pink, glittery smoke pluming through a melted hole.
He couldn't bring himself to feign surprise as his Jolleraptor companion burst from the powdery fluff.
"BOO!" Cotton Bell chirped as he landed back into the frost beneath him. He stabled himself on the snow whilst stifling a giggle at the sight of his handiwork.
Cinder rumbled with a repressed snarl as the snow that was slung onto his face began to melt into a bone-chilling slush that seeped into the fur around his horns and nostrils. He stared down at the younger Jolle, his burning glare doing nothing to break the bundle's giggle fit.
"Cotton Bell." Cinder huffed out.
"Cinder." Cotton Bell chirped back without a hint of irony nor sarcasm.
With a heavy sigh that melted the snow beneath him into a small puddle, Cinder padded towards his responsibility, ignoring the bite of the chill against his feet. He tilted to the side to deposit his makeshift rucksack onto the snow before leaning his head down to grip the smaller Jolle by the tail, careful to not sink his bone plates into the soft, squishy, liquid filled tissue. With a gentle tug and a raise of his torso, he pulled his companion off the snow and into the air.
"Aww, you're no fun." Cotton Bell whined as he hung upside down from his guardian's maw. He knew to hold his breath as the larger monster slung him around, landing him squarely on the other's large shoulders and back.
"Fun is for the warm season." Cinder chuffed, rolling his shoulders to adjust the new load on his back before taking the knot of his supply sock into his mouth and slinging it behind him to join his companion.
Cotton Bell grumbled as he helped to situate the sock on his guardian's back before choosing to use the sock as a makeshift pillow. The billowy cloud around his neck puffed out in a gentle mist. Cinder huffed a small flame through his nose to burn out the usually calming scent of his companion's mist.
"Come, we haven't much time." Cinder grunted out as he continued forward on their original path, checking the scenery before him to ensure nothing was waiting for them in the moonlit darkness.
"Why do we-"
"Shh." Cinder bit out, his ears twitching as he took in the sounds of the night. The eerie stillness of the deep winter evening providing no comfort to his frayed nerves.
Once he was satisfied with the silence before him, he began quietly padding forward into the open field. The bright moonlight illuminated his every move like a searchlight for hungry predators.
"Where are-"
"Shht!" Cinder snipped, swinging his head back to pop the nose of the Jolle on his back with his horn. "Quiet."
He raised his head to survey the area again, checking for any sight, sound, scent, or sign of danger.
Cotton Bell huffed out a cloud of glittery smoke as he rubbed his nose. Just as quickly as his guardian had stopped, he continued forward.
The open clearing of the pasture was aglow with moonlit snow, the Jolle's combined shadow stretching out far beside them as the glimmer of their fur danced in the pale silver light. Each step filled the still air with the gentle crush of the snow beneath them, the soft powder melting into small, slushy track marks.
Cinder nearly swallowed a frightened burst of fire as a sneeze startled his heavy concentration.
"Sorry..." Cotton Bell whimpered as Cinder coughed and sputtered, spitting embers and interrupted smoke into the night sky.
"I-" A hacking cough interrupted him. "It-it's okay little one. You're okay." He whispered through his now hoarse voice. "Just please keep quiet."
Cotton Bell covered his mouth, doing his best to stifle a sniffle.
Cinder found no comfort in the newfound silence. With a shake to adjust himself, he continued forward at an urgent pace.
"Cinder..." Cotton Bell hummed, nuzzling into the warm fur of his guardian's haunches.
"Hm?" Cinder, having given up attempting to keep his companion quiet, did his best to acknowledge the little one's question.
"Can-" Cotton Bell had to swallow and puff out a cough of smoke to clear his suddenly tightening throat. "Can I have a raisin? Please?"
Cinder did his best to conceal his annoyance at Cotton Bell's childish impatience. With a deep, centering breath, he spoke.
"You may have one when we reach the edge of the pasture. We must not stop here." He huffed out, his steps remaining steady and half-rushed.
"Aw, not even just one now?" Cotton Bell whined.
"No. Now be quiet, please". Cinder barked in a harsh whisper, his mechanical tail rattling with a false threat.
Cotton Bell only sighed and shoved his face into the thick, black fur of his guardian.
Cinder sighed as he picked up the pace, doing his best to balance his heavy cargo whilst avoiding slipping and falling into the powder beneath him. His companion's slowly weakening voice and motions only gave a mortifying foreshadow as to what was to come if he did not find sufficient shelter soon.
The two Jolles had reached the far end of the pasture in the deafening silence, Cinder's ears trained to the silence and the gentle puff of Cotton Bell's breathing. He did his best to bury his anxiety at the thought of losing his companion to the cold void of the heartless winter.
With just a few more steps, the blinding light of snow and silver moonlight disappeared into the sheltered darkness of the forest beyond the pasture. Cinder let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, glancing behind him to check on the status of his cargo.
Cotton Bell was breathing soundly, his sleeping little face buried into the glittery charcoal fur. Cinder allowed himself to smile at the sight before treading forward into the darkness of the forest, careful to avoid the fragile twigs littering the snow scattered underbrush.
He caught a lucky break when, to his relief, he spotted an abandoned nest in the hole of a tree.
Unfortunately, said nest was half way up a tree very well towering over his form.
Cinder sighed before leaning over, depositing his cargo onto the ground. He nuzzled his nose against Cotton Bell's head between his little horns before working on untying the knot keeping his supply sock closed.
Cotton Bell groaned in exhausted annoyance as he was gently lifted from the underbrush and placed into the sock.
Grabbing the now open end of the sock with his maw, Cinder dragged his cargo to the base of the tree and began carefully scaling his way up the barky trunk. He grunted in exertion as he gripped the sock as tight as possible while digging fingers and tail into the tree bark.
He groaned in relief as he finally drudged his body up into the hole in the tree, landing with the sock and Cotton Bell into the soft, warm brush of the abandoned nest. He pulled the sock into the furthest end of the opening before nudging the sock open, finding his companion snoozing inside.
"Little one, wake up." Cinder rumbled softly, pulling Cotton Bell from the bag and into the warm nesting material.
"Mhhmm..." Cotton Bell grunted before nuzzling into the nest, curling up on himself for warmth as gentle plumes of pink, glittery smoke escaped his nostrils.
"Hmm..." Cinder hummed, dipping his face into the sock and pulling out a stored raisin before gently placing the snack beside his companion's face.
"Nhh..." Cotton Bell whined and turned away from the morsel.
"Little one? I thought you were hungry." Cinder's anxiety began ramping up in his guts. Was he too late in seeking shelter? Was his companion succumbing to the cold void, following the siren song of Eidrot?
Before Cinder could work himself up into a complete grief fueled rampage, Cotton Bell piped up.
"I uh... I maybe sorta ate too many raisins..." He whimpered, a little paw resting over his slightly bulged belly.
Cinder, stunned by his own train of thought, stuck his head back into the sock. As suspected by his companion's confession, found an appalling lack of raisins that he had definitely stored before their journey through the snowy pasture.
"Little one..." Cinder sighed, his demeanor deflating as fast as it had ramped up.
"'M sorry..." Cotton Bell mumbled behind a hiccup.
Cinder smiled and shook his head fondly, settling himself beside his companion in the brush.
"You'll need the energy. Rest now, little one." He rumbled softly, nuzzling Cotton Bell's snout before gently licking the space between his little horns.
The combined, gentle breathing of the sleeping Jolles was drowned out by the deafening silence of the winter moon night.