The Fall Of Snow: Guard Your Heart

33. Thirty-Three

Thirty-Three

Breakthrough

W ith only a few weeks to plan, I immediately began drawing a layout of the manor for the group to study. If we're going to do this, we need to be prepared. Requests to relocate were filled out by Huck and sent to the head of the camp. While waiting for approval, the warriors and I discussed strategy and travel. Riding with Huck will make it easy enough to travel along with the group without alarming the camp of an extra traveler when planning for the relocation. Seven horses for seven warriors. When the approval came in to head to the eastern border, I was able to breathe a little easier, knowing these warriors were coming with me to face my mother. We've been preparing for departure ever since.

Bear' s joke about their quick stop to the manor only taking a day at most has me hoping his humor is more truth than wishful thinking. Truly, the warriors only have so much wiggle room when it comes to sparing time to help me defeat my mother before the eastern camp becomes suspicious or worried about where their travelers may be. All has to go as planned if we want this to work. The warriors have to show up to their destination unscathed and on time. And without me .

Knowing that I'm leaving this cabin that gave me sanctuary in a desperate time hollows out my chest. This cabin—this camp became so much more than a home to me, and these warriors have become so much more than roommates. They reminded me what it was like to be seen and accepted for who I am. No falsities, no masks. They have shared parts of their souls with me as I have with them.

Before we left the cabin for the last time, I looked around the room with a heavy heart thinking of all the memories I'd made within these walls. When no one was around, I carved my name into the back wall of the linen closet with my dagger, marking my spot in this cabin forever, wanting to leave a piece of me before I left.

I wonder if the others ever feel this sense of longing before they leave a camp. Or maybe it's just so normal for them they don't get affected by it anymore. It makes me wonder if I am the only one who felt the connection to the cabin that I did. Maybe it was because I’d been deprived of having a home of my own. But something tells me they did. Something tells me that these warriors didn't linger in the doorway just to be sure they didn't forget anything. Something tells me that the sniffling coming from Whip was more than just her usual allergies. Out of the group, this was Whip’s first and only camp she’d known.

The warriors had one final meeting with the camp this morning before heading out on their steeds. I was instructed to wait in the woods for the group to pick me up along the way. They made a few stops in town as we traveled the forest, stocking up on food and supplies while Huck stayed back with me. To think that soon I won't have to hide in the shadows of my life any longer. I won't have to look over my shoulder in fear that someone will spot me. To think that this will all be over. One way or another, I will no longer have to make myself smaller.

Now I find myself pushed up against Huck as we ride through the forest towards home. The woods smell of spring and feel less sparse as we trot through it. Buds have grown to leaves, the ground is filling out and the animals have once again emerged.

"I haven't ridden like this since we trekked through Glass Valley on our way to the North Point camp." Terran comments while adjusting the reigns in his hands.

"At least we're headed towards warm spring weather instead of towards the coldest camp in the land," Archer shouts over his shoulder and something tells me that wasn't the most pleasant of trips. If I'm being honest, my body aches from riding this long on horseback. I don't want to imagine if I had to add frostbite to my list of issues.

"Man, that was awful. It's like those guys were made for the cold." Archer laughs to himself, remembering his time there. "Huck, you'd do well up at North Point."

"I'd do well in most places." Huck's words rumble against my body and I smile to myself. There's that unwavering arrogance that would have had me fuming months ago. Now I know what lies beneath the tough exterior and the comment does nothing to me but bring me amusement. Cocky bastard.

It's the worst when the arrogance actually has merit—when the person it's coming from can back it up. Because then you realize that the haughtiness is well earned, that the person has a right to their claims.

That confident smirk heats my insides as I eye him from the saddle. "Ever the humble warrior."

Huck chuckles into my neck, sending liquid fire down my spine as my body drinks him in.

"Archer, how much longer you think until we stop for water? I'm fresh out." Bear asks from the back of the group. "Not to mention I can barely feel my ass we've been riding so long." I can feel Huck chuckle as his chest shakes against me and I laugh too. Only Bear would be so blunt.

"Shouldn't be too much longer. I think we're all out of water by now. And the horses could use a drink too." Archer has been leading the pack, knowing the territory better than any of us. I might have traveled this way once before, but it was by accident that I found my way to the camp. I certainly don't remember how I got there.

A hollow crunch fills the air as I watch Whip's horse falter before righting itself on solid ground. My head snaps up as the horse stomps the ground in agitation. I watch in horror as bees begin to swarm. The horse rises to its hind legs, rolling Whip off its back and right onto the cracked-open hive below. As the horse runs ahead, I nearly lose my footing trying to dismount.

"Whip!" Before we even make our way to her, Whip's face has already begun to swell. Her eyes are two clam shells shut tight and her lips are purple. Huck and Bear grab her by the arms and haul her away from the swarm. I feel a sharp sting on my hand and curse under my breath, feeling a slight bit of terror for what Whip must be feeling in this moment. She must have been stung dozens of times, and she's slowly losing her senses. When they get her far enough away from the hive, Archer drops to his knees so hard, the ground nearly shakes.

"Whip, can you hear me?" Archer checks her eyes, her mouth, her pulse. A small moan escapes Whip's lips as she claws at her neck. She can't breathe. The swelling has taken over. Her skin is ashen pale and she convulses against the ground. Terror grips my every nerve watching this violent attack on her body.

Terran rushes over and immediately begins working his magic to clear her airways and stop the swelling. Frantic in his movements, he places his hands on her neck, her face, her chest. With his magic specializing in healing minor injuries and closing up lacerations, his magic doesn’t do much to help Whip. My heart sinks.

"Does anyone have any water left? Or food? Anything I can fuze?" My voice is laced with hysteria as I look at the others wide-eyed. Aspen and Bear run to the horses gathered near a tree and begin rummaging through the supplies, but I already know what they will find. Nothing. We had just finished our water knowing we would be refilling soon and our food was finished off last night, needing to make room for our supply stop today.

When her body slows to stillness I cry out in fear. This cannot be happening. I will not watch her die. Bile rises in my throat, but I push it down. Her face doesn’t even resemble her anymore.

"Here. There might be a few drops left," Bear hands me a water skin. I grab it from him hastily and channel my magic to awaken. I close my eyes in concentration and try to block out Terran calling out to Whip. I breathe deep as my magic begins to unfurl. My eyes ignite with power and I hone my concentration into the small drops of water within the bottle. Heat pulses through my veins and flows between my hands. I open my eyes, not wanting to waste another second and shove the water skin into Terran's chest. He takes it from me, tilting Whip's head and parting her lips with the bottle. I grab onto Whip's hand but can’t find it in myself to look at her in this state. The others watch and wait for the swelling to subside, for her to open her eyes. For any sign of change. But nothing happens. Whip's pulse slows while my heart races in panic.

"It's not enough. There wasn't enough water to effect change." I look around us for anything I can use as Terran begins to shake Whip. There's got to be something around here. Berries, herbs, grasses. Anything. But I know it won't make its way into her system. Her passageways are blocked off.

The group begins to spiral out of control, yelling suggestions and pacing the woods for a solution. Bear searches our packs again for anything useful and I sit beside Whip, helpless. I have power and I can't use it. I can't get it to her.

"Her pulse is slowing." Terran's voice is solemn and tears prick my eyes. No. This cannot be happening. She cannot die right here, right now. Not like this.

I grab Whip's face between my palms and close my eyes again, willing my power to transfer—willing my magic to bleed directly into her. A living breathing thing. Please, please, please work.

I exhale slowly and let my magic flow through my hands, through my fingers. I think of reversing the swelling in her system, of calming her nerves. I think of pushing past the barriers of her natural defenses, just as I tried with Aspen, and I'm met with resistance. The same resistance that has stopped me before. It's like a wall I cannot penetrate through, strong and unwavering.

My power roils within me, ready to unleash. It bashes and bangs against the wall searching for a way through and I push again, trying not to allow my frustration to hinder my concentration. I keep the flow of power steady as I try again, every second passing too quickly.

"Come on, Snow," Archer whispers in encouragement. I breathe deeply through my nose again, trying to push my magic past the barrier, when I detect that sweet scent of pine and leather. Of Huck. I can feel his presence behind me, encouraging me without a word. His hand heats through my cloak, burning my shoulder, and giving me the power I need to push through. The power to not give up, not now with Whip's life on the line. Huck has pushed me to my limits time and time again, forcing me to prove to myself that I am stronger than I ever gave myself credit for. Stronger than my mother ever wanted me to be.

Where my mother pushed me in all the wrong places, hoping I would crack and crumble under the pressure, Huck pushed me with a patience and a grace that my mother never had. He pushes me in all the right places as if he knows just what I need to thrive, to grow. To metamorphosize into something more—something new.

This time, I try something different. I let go of my power, just a little, and let the wild abandon take shape as it surges forward, hungry for purchase.

I lose control, just enough that I feel a warmth spread through my entire body, surging through every capillary and crevice. My body hums with an energy so intense, that I wonder if it could possibly even be the same energy I've always had in me. Without a second to spare, I pump more magic through my veins and into Whip, allowing instinct to take over. Letting my power just be , without fear of my mother’s repercussions.

The air around me suddenly feels charged but still, like time has stopped. Pollen, flies, dust in the air all stop still, frozen in time. It feels as though I am the only one unstuck as my magic continues to flow.

My magic bursts through the barrier and into Whip like shattered floodgates bursting open. Pieces of the dammed gate fly in every direction, and I can feel my magic settle into Whip, into every capillary and crevice. Power leaves my body, softening my muscles as it parts from me. Beneath my hands, Whip's swelling lessens under my fingertips and I open my watery eyes. Adrenaline courses through my veins as my power settles and Whip opens her eyes, taking a desperate breath before coughing.

"Holy shit. Snow, you did it," Aspen cries as he drops to his knees beside me.

"Man, your eyes are freaky." Bear's voice is shaky and I know it's from the fear of losing his friend rather than the shock of my glowing irises. A quiver of a laugh escapes me, releasing a bit of tension as I realize what I have just done. I did it. I finally did it. Tears swell my eyes with an elation I can't contain.

"You're amazing, my love." Huck plants a kiss on my neck before rising from the ground.

I look down at my hands as if something would be different in them now—as if this manifestation of my power would alter the very hands that transferred it. But it hasn't. When I glance down at my palms, they hold the same pale flesh and creased lines as they always had. Only now they are capable of so much more.