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The portal brought the chain on top of some mountain. Once they had stepped through it Time stood knee-deep in white glistening snow. He looked to where the others landed and made a quick headcount to make sure that everyone is present.
“Of course, it had to be some fucking snowy mountain” Time took a glance at Legend who continued muttering something under his breath.
“Anyone recognizes this place?” he asked into the round of heroes. Silent headshakes were all he got. Time took another look around. They were in some mountain terrain, everywhere he looked was snow and rocks. The sun already on her way down. “The sun will set in a bit. We should first look for some shelter.”
“Shouldn’t be difficult.” Warriors was pointing in the direction of a small lonely wooden hut. “Doesn’t look that far.”
Hyrule joined his side looking at their possible shelter. “If we have a direct way then yes. But if not…” He shook his head. “From what I see here it looks intact. But there is no smoke coming from the chimney. Either abandoned or …” he trailed off.
“I don’t care. Its will be far better than just staying here in the open. It’s freezing.” A grumpy Legend interrupted rubbing his arms.
“It’s our best bet. Everyone, equip yourself with everything that can keep you warm!” Time looked to Wild “Do you still have some spicy elixirs left?”
“No” Wild shook his head. “We used them all up last time in Twilights Hyrule.” Snowpeak hadn’t been warm either and there hadn’t been any time to restock.
“That’s not the only problem” Wind looked up into the sky hand shieling the eyes against the sun, slightly shivering from the cold. “The clouds over there” he pointed at a spot in the distance “those are storm clouds.”
Groaning and grumbling was heard. Everyone new that their Sailor was always right about such things.
“How long until we get caught in the blizzard.” Hyrule watched the yet tiny spots of clouds.
“We have about two hours unless the wind changes direction.”
“Then we should get going” Time was set on going in an instant. “Hopefully we get to the cabin before the storm hits us.”
“I go in the front. Maybe stomp a path for the rest.” stated Warriors and stepped forward
Indeed, Warriors and Time stood knee-deep in Snow, but it was much worse for their smaller companions especially Wind and Four. The smithy seemrd to already be greatly suffering from the cold biting at them.
Time put a hand on Warriors shoulder. “I go first, you right behind me” He turned around to the others. “We’ll see if we can make a path so it’s easier for you. Make sure to stay as close together as possible.” He looked at Twilight with a slight sting of worry. “Twilight goes last” he addressed the round again “in case anyone starts falling behind.”
Twilight gave a small nod.
Whit that said Time started marching, which was easier said than done. The snow made it harder to move forward and he had to tread carefully as to not slip on any hidden stones or ice beneath. After a little while he found a fitting rhythm and continued making his way to the hut. Closely following was Warriors and Legend. In the middle Four, Hyrule, Wind and Sky. Wild decided to travel next to Twilight a few steps behind the others.
Nothing much happened on their trip through the snowy terrain except that one time when Wind slipped on some rock that was hidden underneath and fell face first into the deep snow, almost getting buried in it. Sky, who was right next to him, was there only a second later and helped the Sailor up, preventing him from getting lost in a sea of crystalized water. The next few minutes the chain was accompanied by muttered curses until a quick stare and a raised eyebrow from Time returned silence.
They were just below the hut when the first heavy snowflakes fell and the sky was gradually darkening. The slope was neither long nor extremely steep and it would only take another couple of minutes to get up there and to the cabin.
“We’re almost there.” Time stopped and turned around. The chain was further spread out than he had expected but everyone was still visible and coming along, albeit shivering and some slower than the others. The cold was gnawing away at them and Time doubted that even Legends many rings could completely ward of the icy air. He hoped their shelter was not just some rundown sloppy hut but could provide adequate protection. He took a deep breath and started trudging up the slope. Only a little more before they could escape the unwelcoming weather.
By the time he finally reached the door of the cabin the heavy snowfall and the piercing wind made it hard to make out the others. Time could barely see Warriors and he was only a few steps behind him. Time had his hand on the door hinge when the sudden thought of a locked door slammed into him. Thankfully that was no concern as the door opened without protests and Time could glance inside. It took him two seconds to see that there was no one in there and that it appeared safe. He could make out some beds and other furniture in the dim light as well as a fireplace. Another second later he stepped into the room it was still fairly cold but compared to outside it was welcoming. He stepped aside holding the door open, letting Warriors in, who looked right at the fireplace and with an ”I’ll start… a fire” he traversed the dimly lit room.
Legend entered five seconds later, followed by Wind who stumbled over the threshold. Time quickly caught him before he could hit the floor and motioned him deeper inside. He saw the first sparks fly in the corner of his eye while he waited anxiously at the door for the others to arrive, worry starting to spread further with each second and each blast of wind passing.
Hyrule showed up only a moment later, nodding at Time and clearly relieved to be out of the now raging blizzard. Light came from the fireplace and a fire soon started crackling, Hyrule looking back to the door, just as worried about those still outside as Time was. Time saw how Warriors helped Wind starting to strip out of the heavy, wet, cold clothes when he heard steps and his head jerked back to the door. That moment Wild entered their view and with another step the cabin. He had a violently shivering Sky half hanging around his shoulder. Time narrowed his eye in concern but Sky had already let go of Wild and staggered towards the fire. Warriors was quickly on his feet catching him, preventing him from falling and helping him sit down by the fire.
Wild leaned against the wall next to the door closing his eyes, completely out of breath. Time watched him for a moment. It couldn’t have been easy climbing the slope in the worsening weather while helping out Sky by half carrying him.
“Where’s Twilight? … and Four?” Time looked at Wild, shot a quick glance to the others to make sure the rest was really there and then stared back outside the door again. He tensed up at the thought of them still being out.
“I thought he wasn’t that far behind me.” Wilds eyes grew wide and panic could be heard in his voice as he twisted around and stared into the blizzard. The light from the fire only illuminating a few steps outside.
Several more moments passed and Times mind was racing around trying to figure out what they should … could do if they didn’t show up. He knew both of them were capable people but this is a blizzard they were talking about. How were they to go back outside and look for Four without getting lost themselves. How were they going to find Twilight without risking missing him on the path and getting lost in snow and wind.
Time barely dared to breath while Wilds breathing but quickened with the passing moments. Furthermore, he could feel the concerns of the others in his back adding to the tension. He was still bracing the cold and snow blowing in but he didn’t dare to close the door even an inch.
After two agonizing minutes Time spotted a familiar shadow coming through the storm towards them. Twilight stepped through the door, his hair decorated with tiny ice crystals and his pelt gone from his shoulders. He was carrying a violently shivering bundle of wolf pelt they made out to be Four, who had his eyes screwed shut, teeth clattering, as he pressed himself at the taller hero. Twilight wasted no time marching straight towards the fire, hugging the small hero even tighter and Wild right at his side.
With a sight of relieve Time closed the door and followed Twilight and Wild to the welcoming heat of the fire. It was a bit difficult for him to strip out of his armor, his fingers barely moving properly due to the cold. Once he got out of his clammy robes, he helped Twilight out of his chainmail. After the wet clothes were taken of and laid out to dry everyone was starting to warm up again. The tension in the room lessened the warmer it became.
Soon enough Wild was rummaging through a corner of the room, procuring some cooking utensils. He then took to the fire and the cooking pot and filled the air with some delicious smell. At this sight the tension was completely gone and it started to became lively again. Time took a minute to properly look around.
He glanced towards Legend who was bundled up in several blankets sitting directly in front of the fire, with Wind sitting right next to him already talking full of energy again. To their right was Hyrule kneeling next to Sky and Four, concern showing on his face. Time viewed them carefully, but the faint smile on Skys face assured him that they would be fine. Movement drew his attention towards Wars who stood next to Wild helping with preparing dinner and having a conversation about which food is best for such frigid nights.
Time moved and sat closer to Twilight. With an observant eye he mustered his protégé, making sure he was alright. “What happened to Four?” he asked after a while.
“He lost his footing and started tumbling down the slope. I managed to catch him before he slid down the entire way.” He gave Time a brief look before turning his eyes to the smithy. “He really isn’t made for the cold.”
After that Wild announced dinner, some hearty soup that purged even the last bit of cold out of their bodies. Time saw how they started to become tired, movement slowing and voices quieting down a bit. He looked to the right side of the room and closed his eyes; he knew full well what was going to happen. There were only three beds for nine people. He opened his eye again and looked at his boys, with a small, wary smile. This was going to be slightly troublesome, he told himself. And definitively noisy.
He was proven right only twelve seconds later when the first argument was dropped about who would sleep in a bed and who would have to make do with the floor and a bedroll. Eight voices were going back and forth, Legend vs Warriors about seniority, Sky and Twilight vs Wild and Wind, Hyrule vs Four about who needs them most.
Time stood simply aside, on one hand relieved that the boys recovered enough to quarrel amongst themselves again, on the other hand annoyed at the fact that they were arguing. Time eyed the beds and then his boys. This had to be decided somehow.
Conveniently, and absolutely coincidentally, some paper was laying around and Time made use of it.
“That’s enough.” Times sharp command interrupted and paused any ongoing argument. The room became quiet, eight pairs of eyes turned towards him. “We’ll draw lots. Two per bed, three on the floor. No swapping after the draw, accept your lot.”
“Seriously? Just let fate decide?” Legends snappy remark was met by Times stern face. Time knew better than to answer to that. The vet opened his mouth as to say something but before he could get a sound Warrior stepped in.
“Why not? That seems fair enough and you can only blame yourself and your bad luck if you don’t get what you want.” Warriors was leaning in closer to Legends face.
“That’s fine by me.” Wind threw into the room and himself between Legend and Warriors. Earning him a few head nods.
“Fine” grumbled Legend, suspiciously eyeing Wind and adjusting the blanket still draped around his shoulder. “But those rules go for you to old man.”
Time had already prepared the lots and offered them into the round.
“Triangle means the first bed, square the second, dot gets the third. Blank sleeps on the floor.” His voice leaved no room arguments.
Legend was the first to pick. He made a face of utter disbelieve and annoyance. “I drew a fucking blank.” He pressed through his teeth, which lead to some snickering. “A fucking blank…” He turned around without another word and sat next to the fire again.
The rest of the lots were drawn without much comment. Time looked at the dot in his hand. He hadn’t really counted on getting a bed and he felt a tiny tingling sensation that could have been guilt, thinking one of the younger heroes could probably use it more, but he had to stick to his own rules. And the prospect of sleeping in a bed wasn’t that bad.
“So, you’re sharing the bed with me” a smirky Four appeared next to him. He looked a lot better now, with warmth and life back in his face.
“Looks like it”
“You should be glad you aren’t sharing a bed with Wars. The two of you wouldn’t have enough space.” At that Time allowed himself a small chuckle.
“Do we need to put up a watch?” came from Wind who was already sitting on a bed. Eyes were cast around the room. It looked secure enough and the blizzard was raging outside, so it was unlikely for any monsters to appear. But then again, they had no idea where they were or what could possibly lurk around outside.
Time nodded. Better safe than sorry. Just to make sure nothing could come creeping in.
“Yeah, we should. We don’t know what’s out there.” Warriors backed him up. “Any volunteers?”
“We can take the watch.” offered Sky, rolling out his bedroll next to the fire.
Legends head jerked around to Sky at the suggestion. “Are you…” he glared at Sky, the looked at the others facing him. He rubbed his face with one hand and seemingly resigned himself to it. “Fine, not like anything’s gonna happen, but I take first watch”
“That’s ok.” Sky shrugged, “I’ll go second if that’s alright with you.” The second part addressed to Wild, who shrugged in return and copied Sky, rolling out his own bedroll.
“Sure, allows me to prepare breakfast with plenty of time.”
With that they all started to settle in for the night.
Time woke up in an instant, laying on his back, eye to the ceiling as he listened intensively. All he heard was the rackling fire and the breathing of the others sleeping. He didn’t know what woke him up like that. It wasn’t dread that he felt, that would have had him jump out of bed. It wasn’t a nightmare either. But he couldn’t pinpoint what it was. Something was distinctly tugging at his instinct that something was not entirely right. It just felt like something was a bit off, not totally right but still not expressively wrong.
He felt something weighting down his right arm and saw how Four has wrapped himself around it, sleeping soundly. Time propped himself up with his left arm, careful to not disturb the small boy at his side, and scanned the room, searching for whatever could have woken him.
He saw Wild sleeping on the ground, frowning even in his sleep. Right next to him was a big pile of blankets. Legend was facing the fire and sleeping almost a little too close to it. Sky sat with his back to Time, working on something in his lap, seemingly undisturbed and unconcerned.
Huh.
Time trusted his instincts but he also trusted the others. If the watch didn’t notice anything, how could a sleeping person possibly do so. And yet… It was nagging at him.
He looked out of the windows and saw the light of the fire reflected in the dancing snowflakes. Although the storm has passed it was still snowing heavily. Now that he was awake the feeling was slowly fading.
Time turned his head a bit to look to the bed next to him. Twilight was sleeping soundly, almost entirely curled around a small Wind, who had balled up in Twilights embrace.
A bed further Time managed to make out Warriors, sprawled across the entire bed. Hyrule slept peacefully head, arms and even a leg on top of him.
The tugging feeling that held to Times instinct had lessened with every boy confirmed present. He laid back down, the feeling completely gone now, wondering what it could have been in the first place. Maybe he just needed to see everyone safe like usual, though that would have usually felt slightly different.
Nothing out of the ordinary, instinct no longer telling him to be on alert, Time listened to the others sleeping and let himself drift of as well.
Time woke up to a sound of what could only have been Wild preparing breakfast. Light from the morning sun shone through the window, the weather had cleared up. As he wanted to sit up, he realized that he probably shouldn’t. Four somehow decided in his sleep that Times right shoulder would make a nice pillow, effectively pinning Time down. He wasn’t getting up without waking the smithy.
At least he could still lift his head to look around as much as was possible. Legend sat on the table watching Wild prepare food and figured the bundle on the floor was a sleeping Sky. He moved his sight to the bed next to him a faint smile on his lips when he saw Twilight awake. They locked eyes for a moment and Time couldn’t help but to silently chuckle. Looked like Twilight was in the same situation as him. Wind clung tightly to the older boy in his sleep. If Twilight were to move now, he would undoubtedly wake him.
A loud thump had four heroes sit up immediately, while two others snapped their head around to look towards the noise.
Warriors was almost laying next to the bed, half hanging, one arm on it in an attempt to save him from falling off. His eyes were wide open upon the sudden awakening, and it took him a second to realize what had just happened. On the bed; Hyrule was laying almost sideways in bed, feet toward the side Warriors fell off. He held his head up, still half asleep, and blinked several times at Warrior, clearly wondering why he was woken up.
“That’s one way to wake up.” Came the remark from a smirking Legend. That earned him a laugh from everyone except Warriors who didn’t look all too happy and Sky who slept through the entire commotion.
“Oh at least I had a bed for the night.”
“Well, I had the entire heat of the fire to myself. And unlike you I didn’t wake up with bruises.” Legend fired right back.
Four made his way of bed and joined Wild near the fire.
“Time to get up as well” Time took in the scene fondly, but in the back of his mind he kept wondering about the strange feeling that had woken him up in the middle of the night.