So Warm (Part One)

"Save her without killing anyone because you don't want to hurt anyone else anymore… but you can do this… can't you?"

Heila's simple, pleading words fell on Ignatious with the weight of an avalanche, knocking aside his defenses and excuses until the only thing he could accept was the truth he'd been avoiding. 

"I've hurt innocents before," he said, reaching out hesitantly with his charred, blackened hands. Each movement caused new cracks in his burned flesh to form and a small rain of ash fell to the white snow beneath him with each movement until he very gently brushed the surface of Heila's hands. "How can you trust me now?"