Uru landed in front of me and I crawled to the warmth of her flaming body. Her wings wrapped around me; while they were hot, they didn't burn my flesh.
"You found me, Uru. But what are we going to do now?" I asked her worriedly. I was already feeling the draining effects of her being in this form, and if she continued being a phoenix I'd have no magic left soon.
As if she heard my thoughts, she screeched and her body was immersed in white light. I lifted my head up to see her wolf form. She closed the distance between us by brushing her still warm body against me. I wrapped my arms around her and hugged her.
"Arigato, Uru," I thanked her with all my heart. She traveled into the depths of this blizzard to save me and I couldn't feel more grateful and loved to have her in my life.
"Woof." She snuggled against me and we huddled together in the cold.
Time passed, and I felt Uru lick my face before she began to bark over and over again. I didn't want to open my eyes. It was so cold and being asleep meant I didn't need to feel it anymore.
Uru began to howl and the sadness that resonated in the sound urged me to open my eyes.
"Uru, stop howling. I'm cold," I complained as my heavy eyelids began to close once more. Her nose poked at my cheek over and over again until I opened my eyes again to stare at her.
"WOOF!"
"But I'm tired," I confessed. My mind was still hazy from sleep and my body began to tremble uncontrollably thanks to my drenched clothes.
"WOOF! WOOF!" Uru stomped on the ground and began to whimper. Her eyes looked like she was on the verge of tears and that triggered something in me.
I stared into those watery pink eyes and the world seemed to change. I was no longer on the snowy ground at the bottom of the cliff, but in the courtyard staring into Uru's sad pink eyes as they looked down at me. The dying me... Storm Yuna.
It was like a lock had been broken and the door to her memories opened and hit me all at once. The good ones with the guys and the joyful bliss we shared together, as well as the sad ones.
The death of her parents who were murdered, the heartache she felt when she watched from behind the window as all the children her age played with one another outside while she was cooped up at a desk learning magic spells and incantations. The numerous meetings and travels she and the guys had to make and the sad encounters each guy went through before meeting Storm.
Now she was staring at the black sky and Uru was the last to see her alive. Those haunting pink eyes filled with desperation were the same ones that looked at me now in the stormy night.
I couldn't do this to her. If I died, she'd have no one else. She'd be a stray and even if the boys took care of her, she too would slowly die because I was gone. We were connected and if I died today, she'd eventually fade away. She didn't deserve such a fate.
She traveled all the way out here to ensure I didn't die like Storm. The least I could do was fight to live, rather than give up. My surroundings returned to reality and I reached out to give Uru a hug.
She whimpered into my neck and I held back tears as I listened to her little sobs.
"I won't die. See, I'm here. I'm sorry. I won't let James win. We have to avenge Storm together, okay?" I comforted, rubbing her wet fur.
She stared at me until she knew I wasn't going to fall back asleep before she looked up and began to howl.
"Is anyone coming?" I asked her.
She lowered her head and nodded quickly, but I felt her worry. We wouldn't last long out here and the temperature was dropping with every minute that passed. Akihiro's image came to my mind.
"Is it Aki?" I wondered aloud. It would make sense because he knew these parts the best. If the blizzard had doubled in size, the others would have a harder time navigating.
"Woof!" she replied in confirmation, but sat back impatiently.
"Uru."
She looked at me with worry. "He's gonna have a harder time finding me. You have to go get him," I declared.
She shook her head in disagreement and walked into my lap.
I sighed, giving her another hug, enjoying the warmth of her body, even with her drenched fur.
"I get you don't want to leave me, but Aki won't know we're down here. Listen," I began, pulling away to hold her head in my hands and stare directly into her pink eyes.
"Change into your owl form, fly up to the top and switch back to wolf form. You'll be able to smell Aki and find him faster. Than you can bring him here. Please. I'll try my best to get up this cliff. At least that way, it doesn't risk Aki falling. Can you do that for me?"
She quietly stared at me, waiting to see if I was just acting tough for her. After a moment, she lowered her head in agreement and I pressed my forehead against hers.
"I'll live. I promise," I whispered to her.
"Woof," she replied, then her body was consumed by white light.
I lifted my head to see her owl form as she began to move upward, fighting the strong winds. She looked back at me and I waved.
I'll be okay.
"HOOT!" She soared upward and disappeared from my sight.
I sighed, staring down at my hands that I could barely feel. How am I gonna stay warm?
Aki's voice rang through my mind.
"There's a spell you can do that will stabilize your internal heat. Even if by chance you get stuck for hours in the snow, you wouldn't' die.
"Spell... What was the spell?" I whispered aloud as I wrapped my arms around myself. My leather jacket was the worst choice for this weather, but I guess I didn't expect to be at the bottom of a cliff during a snowstorm.
I closed my eyes in concentration and the words began to form. "Allow thy heat to spread within. Let the cold be nothing that can diminish the fire that reigns inside me."
I opened my eyes and saw three magic circles materialize beneath me; my body grew warm. I sighed and slowly rose to my feet. It felt like I'd run a marathon and was forced to walk home with cuts and bruises.
I looked at my wet blue jeans that had a few large tears and some areas were stained with my blood. My top clung to my body with rips and tears. My jacket was the only thing still intact.
I opened it up and patted the hidden pocket, sighing in relief when I felt the little box that I knew contained the blue crystal.
I have to protect it and locate the others. I took a steady breath and glanced up at the cliff before me. I reached out my hands and felt my swords appear.
"I guess I have to sword dance my way up," I said out loud, glancing at the blades. It was going to be a long shot and I didn't know if my magic would hold out, but it was better than just standing here.
I backed up, allowing myself to focus. I'd only been successful with this technique twice and that was nothing compared to what I now faced. The risk was high, and I could either lose my stamina or my magic could run out halfway, leaving me helpless as I fell back to the ground.
I swallowed and doubt began to sink in. I quickly shook my head and took a calming breath before charging forward. The longer I waited, the higher chance of me giving up became. I needed to do this now, once and for all.
My Kitsune prepared to assist me if needed and I could feel a hint of Storm's magic still within me. I increased my speed and jumped off the ground. My foot landed on the wall, but I pushed off in a second, twirling my body to create a swirl of wind that would assist me in moving higher up.
Push. Twirl. Land. Push. Twirl. Land.
Higher and higher I soared, until the ledge of the cliff was in sight. I pushed off once more, but didn't twirl, using my swords instead to pierce the wall. I dangled there and fought to catch my breath.
"Just a little more," I told myself, using my core strength to lift my legs and place them on the uneven surface of the wall. I took a peek below and immediately regretted it. One wrong move and I'd be squashed flat like Eric and his partner. I gulped, looking back up and lifting one of my swords out from its solid hold, reaching up to stab it at a higher point.
I kept the sequence going till I reached the edge and pulled myself over it. I sighed and laid down to catch my breath. Now, I’ll just wait here and—
CRACK