Springs

My hand shoots to the blaster in Elias coat pocket, my already frigid body going completely cold. Through the flurries of white and biting wind, a creature that looks like a large, furry lizard takes a step forward, a serpent-like tongue flicking the air.I want to believe it's friendly, but as more appear from behind it, their orange pupils narrowing into slits as they stalk forward, I know they're definitely not. The creature is strange-looking, like a crocodile and tiger had a baby, then mixed in platypus DNA, which was a shame, because I loved platypuses, and would probably never see one the same way again.Other than the wind blowing in my ears, the clearing is completely silent. The fuzzy lizards take tentative steps towards me, like they think I'll bolt at any moment. With the snow-depth quickly reaching to knee-length, it was likely any bolting would result in a face plant into the snow.There's only three, each one likely three-quarters or more of my weight. I point my gun at the middle one, and force my finger to move. It doesn't, and my lungs rattle as pain shoots up my index finger. Frost has formed around my eyelashes, tingeing the world a bright white.The fuzzy lizard on my left tenses, and in the next second, it pounces, mouth open wide to reveal rows of sharp teeth. I twist to the side, and my shin is caught in a layer of snow, sending me toppling to the ground. Before the lizard can jump on top of me, I fire the blaster and the creature's head explodes, sending chunks of flesh and bone across the pristine snow.My boot gets caught in the snow as I stumble to my feet, and I kick off the other one. The ice burns my bare skin, but it's much easier to move without the added weight. From behind, sharp claws dig into my shoulders and back, and I jump back before it can rake its claws downward. The butt of my blaster finds the lizard's nose, and it falls back, just before the second one, unimaginably fast, opens its mouth, and clamps down onto my ankle.The blaster goes off several more times, and I keep shooting, until all three lizards are utterly still. Puffs of air escape my mouth in heavy clouds, and drop the gun, holding my hands close to my torso. I can't tell if the thundering in my ears is from my chattering teeth, or the pounding of my heart.I need to find shelter. With that thought in mind, I move an inch forward. Every piece of snow brushing against my bare skin feels like sharp knives. I want to sit for just a couple minutes and give my legs a chance to rest. But the ground is colder than ice, and I'm sure any more time in the ice would result in frostbite.I should put on my boots, but the thought of pulling my hands back out into the cold to lace the complicated boot-lace back up is too painful. So I leave them behind, it's easier to move in the snow without them anyway. There's lizard gore splattered across my legs, but I don't bother to wipe it off.Move, goddamn it. My limbs stay frozen though, too cold to even move an inch in the snow. I hug Elia's coat closer to my body, but it does nothing. Another low growl reaches my ears, and I curse, knowing I'm dead if I don't run. Move, Mirabelle. You have to move. As if being out in the wilderness alone isn't bad enough, I'm now stuck with the corpses of delicious meals, waiting to be consumed. I'll be meal number four, if I don't get my limbs to start moving.But it's too late, the blood, noise, and smell of a fresh kill has attracted a much larger creature, one I'm not delusional enough to think I can fight off. I don't see the creature, but I can hear its heavy footfalls, and its laboring breath as it nears.I turn my head, just as fear forces my legs to unlock. I stagger forward, the couple steps I do take, unsteady, nearly tripping over the thick snow. I lift my blaster again, a simple movement that takes way more energy than it ought to. Pulling the trigger should be simple, yet the miniscule movement of a single finger feels like agony at the moment.My eyes burn, and it feels as if the moisture within my eyes are freezing. Through the ice in my lashes, I can't see the animal, only a hairy, large, and hulking form that casts a shadow across my vision. I'm going to pull the trigger, tell myself, trying to stop my chattering teeth and shaking arms."What a mess."I don't need to turn my head to know immediately who it is, and I want to cry from both frustration and relief."I don't need you to come s-save me," I chatter, still too proud to ask him for help on anything. I pull the trigger, and the recoil sends pain down my shoulder. The animal roars, and Elias grabs me by the waist in the next second, pulling me out of the creature's way. He sets me against a tree, and I hiss out a breath when more snow comes in contact with my skin."Of course you don't need saving," Elias says, and faintly I can see him stalking towards the animal, which I can now see more clearly. It looks like a wooly mammoth. "Just because you don't need saving, doesn't mean I won't come running each time."Has the ice somehow gotten into my head? I reach up to cup my temples and groan, closing my eyes. What's Elias talking about? Come running to save me? The person who stabbed and shot him in both legs? Did Elias think he was some ikemen protagonist, come to shout a romantic line before saving the heroine? Just thinking about it makes me want to die.Elias is done with the mammoth far too quickly, and he hops back to my direction, dragging behind him the head of the creature, by one curled horn."You never answered my message," he shouts over the wind. "Are you hungry, or are you not?"Messages?Sent 31 minutes ago:Elias: Have you eaten yet? I've made us dinner ^_^.Elias: Also that coat you took was really expensive. Usually I'd make a fuss over it, but considering how much you've already taken, I'll just give it to you.Elias: Mira. Where are you.I close my eyes, and the messages flicker out of my vision. Curse this fucking bluetooth, and this stupid ice planet."I made us stew back at the fort," Elias continues, scooping me into my arms like nothings amiss. "I thought you'd come back after an hour, but you're more stubborn than I thought. I had to leave the stew behind, of course."I hadn't thought Elias would take my complaints of hunger so literally. Whatever angry retort I have loaded up, dies in my throat when my skin touches the warmth of his chest. His skin isn't even warm, but compared to my skin, he feels scorching.Elias freezes over me, and his hand brushes over my lips, curses falling out his mouth as he gets a proper look at my face. He brushes a finger over my lips, which no doubt are completely blue.His pace picks up, and soon we're sprinting through the snow. And I'm confused, unsure if I've gone completely delusional. He holds me tightly against his chest, careful not to jostle me, as if I'm a treasure to be protected. It makes no sense, Elias makes no sense."Tell me about your hobbies."Hobbies? Elias wants to talk about hobbies right now? I open my mouth to reply, but nothing comes out. What even are my hobbies?"I p-program," I finally say. Elias just rolls his eyes, as if to say no duh, of course you do. I also watch shitty rom-coms and read whatever romance novels I can find online, but I'm not about to divulge that knowledge to Elias."When we get back I'll introduce you to my cats," he says, and I don't understand why he's still talking. I want him to shut up, so I close my eyes and sleep in peace. "Lychee is a warm bundle of sunshine, she almost reminds me of you."By the time we reach wherever Elias is taking us, he's told me about all four of his cats, their favorite foods, habits, and even what color toys they preferred."... that's why freeze-dried is the best option. Most days when I have time, I serve them fresh food though. Nothing beats- Mira, are you listening?"The snow and wind has stopped, and Elias has taken us to a cave of some sorts. The air in here is warm, but not nearly warm enough. Elias pulls back, and I let out a noise of protest, holding onto his arm. It's still too cold, and his chest is so warm. He ignores my protests though, and sets me onto the stone floor. Surprisingly, the stone beneath me is warm, or maybe it's room temperature and I'm just freezing.When he begins pulling off my clothing, I can't even find it within me to protest. All I know is that I need the wet, icy layers off my body. To his credit, Elias has his eyes averted as he pulls his coat, and my dress off. Then, he slings something else off his shoulder, a bag I hadn't even realized he was carrying. He pulls out a blanket, and another jacket, wrapping them around my body. Then he stands, removing his own shirt before using that to cover my body as well."If I'm correct, there's a hot spring in this cave," Elia's voice is slower now, that we're no longer out in the cold, and he has a scowl on his face. "But I need you warm before I put you into the water. Is there anywhere you're hurt?" He pulls me back into his arms, hands closing around my face as he checks it for bruises. "Don't go to sleep, Mira. I'm still talking to you."I close my eyes and fall deeper into his embrace, too tired to care that I'm supposed to hate him right now."Five minutes... ow, the fuck-?" Elias pinches my cheek, and I yelp."Answer my question, those lizard things didn't get you anywhere, did they?""You're damn lucky I can't pinch you back right now," I grumble, glaring daggers at him.At my jab, Elias relaxes slightly, letting his back hit the cave wall. He doesn't loosen his grip on me.