Calaveras Peak Pt 2

The rest of Foxglove was ready to continue their hellish ascent. Most of them had looked up in concern as Violet re-entered the cave while being coddled by Alex. Kieren was back to his cold indifference. "Let's go, the storm is only getting worse." Violet noted that several eyes were still glued to her, she turned to them. "I am thrilled so many of you were concerned with the snake's safety, I am pleased to announce it's been relocated to a homier cave."

Mile ten arrived several hours later, and foxglove was struggling. Those in good shape were being used to help drag those stumbling along, as temperatures dipped rapidly below zero. A sudden shout echoed eerily in the air, they looked around unsure of its source. Violet shouted over the storm, "It's Nightshade, and Henbane they're right below us, I think one of their members just fell off a ledge."

A different noise suddenly filled the air, one that chilled Violet's blood like few others had before. Henbane, Nightshade, and Foxglove all froze, members unsure of what It could be whilst understanding it was not a good sign. A crack resounded violently followed by a rattling that threatened to throw them off their feet. Understanding dawned on different face and a chorus of screams shouted,

"IT'S AN AVALANCHE!"

It no longer matter which group you were in, instructions, screams, and pleas for help were lost in the wake of the monstrous avalanche. Violet's eyes scanned the area desperately, looking for a form of shelter, but there was not enough time. A sudden wave of ice, snow, and rock crashed into Violet throwing her jarringly off her feet and into the mercy of the mountain. Violet thought of her dagger, no way in hell was she dying here. A sudden pair of arms grabbed her and pulled her in, Violet emerged drenched, coughing wet snow out in chunks. Kieren stroked her back soothingly, she looked up. They were still in the thick of the avalanche, but Alex was keeping them alive. She stood in the center of a circle, feet planted, hands outstretched, a wall of air circulating around them keeping the many tons of snow and debris away. Violet met faces she recognized and faces she didn't, it seemed a temporary truce had been set. Ted and Tom were not in their group and as if reading her mind Kieren crouched still rubbing her back, "They'll have set fortresses of their own, working together they make a rather impressive cocoon, it'll save plenty of people." Violet nodded leaning unconsciously into his arm. There was a bloody stain on his left leg, a deep cut bled freely, she moved her hand toward it only to meet resistance. He had parried her move, "There will be others more grievously injured, save your strength." Violet huffed and shoved his hand out of the way, "I've got plenty."

Astonished gazes from those not in their group reminded Violet that good healers were rare. A mousy haired girl approached her hobbling on a horribly broken leg, parts of it seemed to have set in wrong. "Please, please, I.I...." Violet nodded, "lay down."

She rolled up the girls pants inspecting the most twisted area, grey eyes found blue and a knowing glint passed between them.

Kieren approached the girl, charming smile in place, "What's your name?"

She was immediately smitten, a blush forming on her face she replied breathlessly. "Umm Em, Emily, Nightshade, I... Aaaackkkk!!" As she has began speaking Violet had gripped her leg and stomped on it breaking it cleanly once more. A sob tore through the air and she gripped onto Violet eyes wide with pain, Violet closed her eyes and healed it quickly. She stood back and let Emily recover on the floor, eyes closed, wiping tears from her face, "thank you."

Violet nodded and turned back to Kieren.

"It's done." Alex cut out before she had a chance to speak.

She was right, as quickly as it had arrived it stopped, not that it made their situation any better, they had six miles left to go and piles of fresh rock and snow now completely covered the trail.

Forty minutes later most of the members of Foxglove, Nightshade, and Henbane reconvened. Members emerging from cracks in the floor or makeshift shelters formed of ice, wind, or rock. Shou of Henbane approached Kieren and Violet followed by a girl Violet recognized as the acting leader of Nightshade.

The girl introduced herself as Carissa, she was wounded, a chunk of her arm missing and wrapped badly with a thin shirt. Shou winked at Violet, "Always in the thick of things aren't you Miss Zaraa?" Kieren moved unnoticeably closer to Violet, dislike etched on his face. Violet nodded, "Not that it pertains to you." Shou chuckled before turning his attention to Kieren. "We three teams are in the clear, we do not have the transponder, a continuation of this nature caused truce would benefit us all." Zen, Tom, Ted, and Alex had approached as Shou began speaking. Carissa chimed in, "we can work together to clear the path ahead, if we do not have to waste energy in fighting we will make it up safely. I've also heard rumor you have a astonishing healer, we have many in dire need of attention. Our healer was struck down by Caladium early on."

Kieren did not answer immediately, he motioned for his squad to follow him and pulled Violet along, away from Shou. "I'm inclined to tell them to fuck off, reasons why I should not?" The rest took turns speaking as Violet zoned out, this conversation had nothing to do with her. Kieren suddenly called her to attention, eyes narrowed, "Do we really want to heal Henbane?" Violet looked into blue calmly, "Who said anything about healing any of them fully? I find it handy to carry insurance for the chance of betrayal." Kieren was pleased and Alex threw herself at Violet with a giggle, "it's like you were made for our group."

The temporary truce was extended, members of Henbane and Nightshade alike stared in awe as Violet worked 'healing' as many as she could without expending all of her energy. Shortly thereafter they set off again, it was cold and snowing still, but having fire and water wielders working in rotations melting snow and clearing paths made the journey feasible. There was a mile left to go when a scout called out Caladium approaching from the east. Tension spiked through the air, and if not for Kieren's frosty, "What are you waiting for?" The truce might have deteriorated there. Violet was following the proceedings from a short watch away, as part of Foxgloves insurance she would remain separated. If a hint of betrayal emerged a quick smoke bomb to the air would signal for Kieren too attack.

Caladium did attack, with Rachel in the front, they launched a full out assault. Carissa and Shou, Violet noted, started drawing back. She laughed, surely they didn't think leaving Foxglove in front, Kieren specifically, and pulling out their groups to flee would work. The bomb lit off in the air stopping everybody but Foxglove in confusion. A ring of fire encircled Kieren, he began flicking fireballs from the never-ending ring almost lazily towards Caladium. Zen, a runstone scythe in hand stared down Carissa and Shou eyes gleaming in rage. "You'd do well to remember, nobody attacks our captain." Ted and Tom appeared just as suddenly from the ground, rock hard dirt turning into swamps and back into dirt with bodies encased inside. It was pandemonium, for everybody but Foxglove. The bomb had served two purposes, all those not directly given a job by Kieren had been instructed to break free and run to the top with completely disregard for all else. This ensured that as Caladium, Henbane, and Nightshade fought on the only approachable targets for tagging from Foxglove, were those of powers unreachable. Violet too served a different purpose, Zen had produced a bow and arrows asking if she could shoot. She stood atop of a tree, targeting 'almost healed' orifices with as much zeal and as elbows and knees. A sudden glitter haze screen from Alex signaled the escape route for the six remaining Foxglove members. Violet covered their exit from her tree unable to hide a smirk as Kieren, once again, strutted past enemies with a bored yawn. Once he had made coverage Violet too disappeared towards the peak.

All the remaining members of Foxglove waited on the peak, the droning sound of choppers approaching signaled for many relief. I'm a comedic twist of events Caladium had managed to pass the transponder along to a Nightshade member who sat crying on the floor receiving glares from their fellow members. Violet took a peach from her pack, handed one to Kieren, who was sitting next to her, -a little too closely actually- and smirked toward Alex, "You know Kuznet's going to make us wish we were still on this peak right?" Alex sighed dramatically leaning into Zen who was still glaring at Shou, "yeah, no matter what, we're still fucked."