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This was supposed to be an easy trip.
No problems, no obstacles, no nothing.
It started going downhill when Bennett realized they got completely lost, while hiking just above the Starglow Cavern—the subregion placed the farthest away from any green land.
Callus knew it was a bad idea. He just knew.
He had always hated Dragonspine. He could go anywhere but there. But he just couldn't refuse those... puppy eyes of Bennett.
And so they went on this godforsaken trip.
Time stretched excruciatingly as they were trying to find their way back. Of course, nothing worked.
The two boys decided to find a spot in a place where the wind didn't blow as strongly. They found wood near their camping place and they tried their hardest to lit up a fire.
It was all in vain.
Callus exerted himself by striking his wrench against a rock to form any ignition but even that didn't work. All the sparks were immediately extinguished by the blowing wind.
He tried. And tried. And tried again, tears forming in his eyes out of frustration.
„I don't think it's gonna work—” Bennett started, before Callus snapped at him.
„Yes, thanks for noticing!” he raised his voice, before he noticed the expression on his friend's face. Callus sighed and rubbed his hands over his face. „Sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you...”
They spent the next few hours, trying to light up the campfire—for all of it to turn out futile.
The purple-eyed boy didn't back down, though. He still tried to set ablaze the dewy wood.
Callus felt they weren't getting out of here alive.
No one knew they were here. No one except for Wagner and Bennett's dads.
But what were they supposed to do? They all knew that Callus was the responsible one, he wouldn't let them freeze out here, right?
Wrong.
Callus covered his face with his hands in frustration, hiding the sobs that were threatening to echo in the empty, snowy place.
They were forlorn. No one would save them now.
Meanwhile, Bennett was sitting upright, his back pressed against the nearby stone wall. He was shaking. His lips had already turned pale purple, as well as his whole complexion became almost white.
„C-Callus...” he started, his voice weak. „We... We're not g-getting out of h-here...”
The older boy gritted his teeth, his eyes closing. He didn't believe this either. But he couldn't let his friend—always full of energy—just let go of his hope.
„Y-Yes, we are!” he raised his voice, as he grabbed onto the blonde's freezing hand. „We c-can make th-this. S-Someone will f-find us.”
The next few hours passed and Callus was at his last string of sanity. The goddamn fire wouldn't lit up, it was getting dark and Bennett almost blacked out from all the cold.
The older boy had to give him everything warm he himself owned. That included his gloves, sleeves and even the sweater he brought just in case.
He could freeze to death here. Bennett couldn't.
His wrench already had scratches from all the tries to inflame the wood with a rock. He cursed under his breath, as he finally dropped it in the snow and scooted closer to his companion.
„S-Someone will f-find us...” he whispered. „D-Don't worry...”
Bennett was shaking violently. Not even the warm clothes helped him heat up. His lips had already turned deep purple, clear sign of heavy hypothermia.
"H-Hug m-me..." he managed, his voice barely above a whisper through his dry, cracked lips. „I-I-I h-heard it... i-it helps m-maintain th-the w-warmth...”
Callus was hesitant at that point. He knew if he hugged the younger boy in that moment, he wouldn't be able to control his feelings. But what he didn't want more was for Bennett to die in such a pathetic way.
So, he exhaled and scooted even closer, wrapping his arms around the teenager's body.
„W-We'll be f-fine... p-please, hang o-on...” he whispered, as he tightened his hold on his friend.
Several minutes passed and Bennett was growing weaker with each one. Callus held him with shaky arms, trying to keep as much warmth as possible.
He kept his teeth gritted, not letting his tears and vulnerable side come out. But it was so hard.
He was forced to see the boy he loved die. In excruciating pain caused by frostbite.
„C-C-Callus...” he began, as he slowly looked up at the taller man. „I-I...”
He couldn't even finish, as he felt cold lips against his own, even colder ones.
Bennett's eyes widened, as he saw his best friend gently... kissing him.
The older boy slowly leaned back and looked down at his comrade—tears forming in his eyes.
„I-I was... t-too late t-t-to... co-confess...” he admitted, his voice shaky. „P-Please... f-forgive me f-for... n-not k-k-keeping y-you safe...”
The smaller boy smiled at him weakly. He pressed the side of his head against Callus' chest, which earned a small gasp from the purple-eyed boy.
„I-I... I f-f-forgive y-you...” he replied quietly, his voice slowly getting drowned out by the wind picking up on its speed. „A-At l-l-least... w-we're n-not... s-s-separated...”
The taller boy swallowed down a sob, when he noticed Bennett stopped moving after his last words. He tried shaking him awake, even shouting at him but nothing seemed to work.
Callus has completely lost his sanity.
He cradled the boy to his chest, his lips pressed against his forehead in a longing kiss.
„H-How d-d-dare you d-die b-before m-m-me...” he whispered against Bennett's frozen skin.
He swallowed again, before he closed his eyes as well.
„I-I-I... l-love y-you...” he whispered, his voice muffled by the howling wind. „L-Let's... l-l-let's m-meet on th-the o-other... other s-side...”
And... that's when he took his last breath.