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The ever-present chill in the air told Hallows Bane very quickly that a cold front was coming in. The whispers of the wind indicated that not only was it coming in, but it was coming fast. Roiling blankets of clouds danced across the sky like a tidal wave coming to breach upon the sandy shores of the western ocean. The darkening sky cast shadow across the lands he called home. He had been in a snowstorm or two in his lifetime. But this? This was different. This was much worse, something he hadn’t anticipated, and something quite dangerous. The whispering winds very quickly becoming much closer to shrieking whistles as it passed through the foliage.

“We must move quickly!” he sounded the alarm as he ushered his son Desiderius further into the cave as snow quickly began to fall, “into the back where it is warmer and away from the cave mouth!”

Nudging his child to move quicker, probably a bit quicker than was anticipated, and hearing a short annoyed squawk as his son accidentally stumbled, Hallows frowned.

“You’ll be fine. It’s better than freezing.”

As Hallows mane and fur began to fill with snowflakes and batter at his body, Hallows took another look out into the ever-quickening snowstorm, scanning to find Leeki as fast as he could. Where was she?! Leeki was never far from his side, his ever-present companion and voice in his ear. If she wasn’t nearby, it could only mean that she was caught out there in harm's way. As a growl rumbled through his chest he called back to Desiderius.

“Don’t leave this cave. I must find Leeki before something happens to her.”

Without even a second passing Hallows took off into the storm despite his field of vision severely lacking. Leeki would stand out against the stark whiteness of the snow. He was sure of it. He had to find her fast. Inches upon inches of snow tried to bar his way forward, in some places already as deep up to his knees, but he did not let up. He couldn’t. He wouldn’t. He. Would. Find. Her.

“Spirits do not forsake me,” he growled out into the storm as his eyes narrowed, “you’ve done it twice already in my lifetime so maybe it shouldn’t surprise me if you do it again.”

And realistically Hallows Bane wasn’t wrong in that sense. The spirits took his family from him. They took his mate and other child from him. But those dark thoughts were for another time. For now, Hallows was on a mission, and he was going to see it through no matter the cost. Leeki was the one consistent in his life and he wasn’t going to let her down.

Word Count: 455

Deep into the snowstorm now, Hallows vision did not get any better. In fact, it was getting much colder, much more windy, and much more dangerous. If he didn’t find Leeki quickly, only pain and terrible things were on the horizon. Forging ahead against the cruel wind, the stallion pushed forward looking for any sign of the black and green bat. She couldn’t have gone far, she never did. And if it was going to be further than normal she would have told him. The fact that she did not spoke volumes, and Hallows did not want to expect the worst due to that.

'She left you just like that mare,' the shadowy part of his mind hissed, 'You were always meant to be alone.'

“Leeki!,” he called out into the white wall, doing everything he could to ignore the creeping darkness of his mind, “where are you?!”

In response came nothing but the howl of the wind and more snow pelting his hide and entering his mouth. The snowy squall doing everything in its power to keep them apart, to keep them in its cold clutches. It began to slowly seep into his fur and to his bones, chilling and dark. As if it wanted to match the internal monologue he was pointedly ignoring. Step by step he continued onwards in his search, desperate in his silent pleas to find her.

‘Damn it, not like this,’ his mind growled back, ‘not again. Not like Nymph.’

"If you can hear me follow my voice!"

He knew it was a long shot. But he had to try regardless. He wouldn't let this storm, both literally and figuratively, win. That just wasn't in the cards.

Word Count: 282

Hallows shook the remaining melting snow off his pelt as he was bombarded by a very wet furball that was Leeki clinging to his face and mane in a desperate attempt at what she considered a hug, claws, and all.

“Okay, okay. You’re completely drenched. I know you’re cold. Go further into the cave and get dry. And don’t wake up my son.”

An attempt to slow his quickly beating heart as his panic began subsiding. The inner voice from before sulking back into the shadows from where it came from. He won another battle, a hard-fought victory he had to admit. In the meantime he looked over at the pink mare he found with Leeki. She was also drenched and looked rather worse for wear. But she was alive and with his partner. No doubt without her Leeki would have had a far worse fate.

“Thank you for helping Leeki,” he spoke, “I am in your debt for that. You may stay here and wait out the storm if you wish before moving onward in your journey.”

Blue eyes met his in surprise which he wasn’t quite sure why, “I mean, you’re welcome to go back into that snowstorm if you want. I just can’t guarantee you’ll make it out in one piece.”

Palila shook her head, “oh, no. You just surprised me. After being out in the storm my hearing is just now really coming back. Thank you for letting me stay.”

With a nod of his head Hallows beckoned Palila further into his and Desiderius’ little home and away from the weather outside. Connected to the mouth of the cave, through a rather large tunnel, a deep cavern came into view. A pool of fresh water made its home nearby, not frozen because of its location and warm consistent climate, with a sleeping foal on a pile of leaves in a comfortable alcove. Leeki had already made her home on a nearby rock, having shaken her body to rid herself of the snow, her fur puffing out in quite a comical fashion.

“I appreciate you saving me,” Leeki smiled brightly, “I’d be lost and frozen to death if it weren’t for you.”

“You’re most welcome little one,” Palila replied with a smile back.

“Oh! My name’s Leeki. That’s my partner Hallows Bane. And that tiny little sleeping one and the bane of my existence, pardon the pun, is Desiderius.”

“Nice to meet you, Leeki. I’m Palila. Although I can’t help but ask why you were so far from your partner with a storm rolling by.”

“I thought I could get back from scouting before the storm hit,” came the sheepish reply, “I was looking for someone.”

“Next time er on the side of caution,” Hallows answered before Palila could, “and you don’t need to risk your safety and health on my account.”

‘See, it’s your fault you almost got your partner hurt,’ the voice returned, ‘you’re not worthy to protect anyone.’

With another shake of his head, Hallows gazed upon Palila looking at him curiously and with concern, “I’m looking for his mother,” he nodded towards his son.

“She left?” he could see her concern grow, “But-“

Hallows cut her off, “It’s okay. You don’t need to worry yourself with this. I’ll find her.”

Word Count: 547