pulsefiring | IC inbox ➢ labyrinthum

[ Pulling her hood forward and tightening the knot of her scarf, Caitlyn is aware of the practical voice in her head reminding her that fighting against this wind for a vague lead is stupid and dangerous, but that voice isn't louder than the wind, or the other one demanding that she keep going because she can't leave the man out here.

Caitlyn doesn't mind the claws tearing through the fabric. Those were the spares after all, and if they're doing any good for Catra, that's worth the sacrifice as far as Caitlyn is concerned.

It's stubbornness that gets both of them to the shelter. As Caitlyn lays in the snow, she contemplates staying there out of frustration but she pushes herself up and quickly brushes herself off before the powdery snow has time to melt and start to permeate her clothing. ]

I knew we could do it.

[ Caitlyn sounds far more confident than she feels. But her thoughts on that drift off as she looks past the light at the curled figure just beyond it. ]

Oh. [ Startled into motion, Caitlyn untangles her scarf and moves to hand it over, insisting he take it. She turns back to Catra and then looks out, back the way they came. She's not thrilled with what she's about to say, frozen to the bone, but she says it anyway. ] We should leave as soon as we can. This storm is only getting worse and if we wait too long, our tracks will completely disappear and we'll all be lost out here.

[ It takes her a moment to regain her bearings, heaving breath and looking that especially grumpy she's so notoriously familiar with. Catra's eyes scan the half-frozen figure, briefly assessing, before stepping past Caitlyn. ]

Yeah, one second.

[ Wordless, she crouches down, holding a hand out to rest it over a particulary frosted arm. There's a hint of light, a strange glow while she concentrates, and the frost seems to retreat, healthy skin revealing as some of that damaging chill receeds from his features. A moment, two, he's about as healthy as he probably can be.

With that, Catra steps back. ]

You wanna carry him? If I do you're going first.

[ Yes, just ignore all that stuff before. Leaving's more important. ]

[ Though she feels similarly winded from the trek here, Caitlyn's expression isn't quite as sour, brightened by the success of finding the lost man even if the thought of having to brave that storm again sends a chill through her completely unrelated to the cold just past the overhang. Approaching the fire, Caitlyn tentatively holds a hand, now free of a glove, over the flames, attempting to make it burn just a little hotter, hoping it could help them.

It crackles slightly, but she's distracted by the healing magic, watching as the angry frostbite seems to retreat, and the fire returns to the struggling flickering. She's impressed, but she can save her questions for later. ]

Of course.

[ Moving forward, she checks with him that it's all right if she picks him up and then does so, grateful for her training with Ambessa that this isn't so much a strain on her as it could have been. ]

Lead the way? It would be helpful to know where I might lose my footing.

[ Lucky for her, Gelflings aren't terribly big. Three feet, skinny? ~~conveniently puppet sized~~, So Catra's got plenty of confidence in her. Her eyes roll, even earning a little laugh before bunching her winter clothes up by the fire again. ]

We should be going with the wind, this time.
Try not to lose me-

[ With that, she's off, a patch of fur and red to follow as she steps into the snow, hair whipping along like a flag in a gale. Crouched, steady, her ankles are starting to disappear in thicker snow, BUT... the cliffs are seemingly much less opposed to them leaving then journeying further up. ]

[ Adjusting the Gelfling, Caitlyn braced herself for the trek back down to the safety of the town. She inhales slowly and exhales, and frowns slightly at the eye roll but she smiles the next instant and shakes her head. ]

I hope you're right. [ Caitlyn chuckles. ] Try not to abandon us.

[ Not that she thinks Catra will.

Following right behind, Caitlyn sucks in another breath and presses on, all the way back to where they came from. Once the Gelfling is safely transported to somewhere he can get proper medical evaluation, Caitlyn holds her hand out to Catra. ]

Job well done, I think. He's safe and I think I still have all ten fingers and all ten toes.

[ The climb down is about as fraught as the climb up. The wind, now pushing with instead of against them, only makes each step less steady, encouraging them to fall forward or overstep at the wrong time. But at least the only thing slowing them down now is their own caution. Catra's arms end up wrapped around her, holding her coat tighter and glancing back to ensure she hasn't gone too far forward.

Slow and steady, right? It gets them there, and by the time everyone's been healed up and the gelfling's been sent off, she lets out a sigh of tension that must have been there for hours. ]

Finally...

[ Catra turns, looking over Caitlyn's hand as if confused by the expression for a moment. Then she takes it, squeezing lightly. ]

Yeah. It was a lot easier with two. Guess I owe you some thanks there-

[ Just a little bratty, but she means it. ]

[ Caitlyn had anticipated the descent being as much of a trial as the climb, doubly so now that Caitlyn's attention is split three ways instead of two. Though Catra seems surefooted, Caitlyn watches anyway, in between moments of staring down at her own feet and glancing over at the Gelfling to make sure he's still conscious.

Getting down preoccupies Caitlyn enough that she doesn't notice the ache in every single muscle she has until it's all over. If she'd been alone, Caitlyn might have leaned up against a wall to slide down it and just sit, but she isn't so she remains upright. It's just as well because she's positive that if she sat down right now, she'd never get back up.

Caitlyn chuckles and rolls her eyes as she shakes Catra's hand, releasing it and rest both of hers on her hips. ]

I'll take some thanks over none. And because I'm feeling generous, I appreciate your work up there. It got us all back here safely.

Yeah, well, Don't mention it. I needed to do some work this month anyway.

[ Perhaps the worst performance of trying to deflect being embarrassed ever. Her tail's still swishing...

Catra turns with a sudden shift, finally stretching her arms out and twisting her head back to Caitlyn, calling out in a teasing tone. ]

See you around~

[ Before starting to walk. Not that fast yet. ]

If you insist.

[ Caitlyn doesn't push her, though she does smile inwardly when Catra whips around. ]

Of course. If you need to do more work, [ because Caitlyn can tease right back, ] let me know. There are a few others on that list I have my eye on.

[ Her pace slows. ]

Yeah. I'll let you know.
Or just come to bug you.

[ And with that, one hand waves herself off before she departs. ]

IC inbox ➢ labyrinthum

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Slow fade? Or any drama you wanna put in? :)

slow fade works! they've been through it LOL

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Fin!