@kikker-oma @theecholegend
I really loved the comic Theecholegend did, so here is the first entry of FanJoyJuly2026! A fic based on that comic! Hope you all enjoy :)
The cold was the kind of sharp that bit through the thick fur of Twilight's pelt like keese teeth, needle-like, but more annoying then anything.
The blizzard howls angrily in his sensitive ears, and that paired with the thick noise eating snow, makes it so he is often turning about to check on his much smaller companion just to make sure the other boy is still trudging along behind him.
Twilight did so again now, getting a grumpy huff from the veteran as he made eye contact with Legend's sharp amethyst stare.
"For the thousandth time Twi, I'm fine you don't have to keep checking on me like I'm some sort of pup.
Twilight huffed back, and turned back around shaking another layer of snow from his pelt as he did so. The snow had started at only their ankles, but now it was halfway up their legs and climbing, the snow falling in inches at a time. This meant that while he might be just fine traversing the treacherous terrain in his wolf form, Legend had started to slow and struggle over the last hour or so.
For all that Legend denied it, he wasn't exactly one of the taller members of the chain, and in moments like this it showed. The snow was already nearing his cold, shaking, red-nipped knee-caps, and with every passing moment the thickening snow slowed the Vet down step, by agonizing step.
Twilight had transformed about thirty minutes ago, to try and suggest that they dig a hole in the rapidly rising snow, and build a temporary shelter against one of the sparse trees, or against the craggy mountain side. But, Legend had pointed out that the longer they waited the deeper their shelter would be buried, and the harder it would be to find the others.
Twi had reluctantly agreed to move on when Legend insisted it was better to just keep moving. Still the blizzard had just gotten worse with every passing minute, and Twilight was growing more and more tempted to just dig a hole and tackle Legend into it.
Kid was not dressed for this weather no matter how many magic spells he had that supposedly helped keep him warm. Which, by the way, Twi didn't believe for a second, Legend had switched out his items last time they'd been in his era, and distinctly he remembered absolutely no cold resistant pieces being added to Legend's collection of bits and bobs.
He also knew for a fact that the Vet's magic was running low after their last fight right before they had been portal napped, separated from the rest of the chain, and dropped in this stupid blizzard. So any actual spells the vet might have been able to cast, weren't exactly an option at the moment.
He huffed once more to himself and glanced back again, just to meet the same baleful purple gaze. Fine. Another hour he decided. Just one more, then if they hadn't found the others he was going to tackle Legend and be done with it.
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The next hour made the wind strong enough that Twi had to hunch low over his forelegs, this meant that he unfortunately couldn't turn and check on the vet as often as he wanted. Which proved to be a grave mistake. Thirty minutes since he last checked he thought he heard a low thump, but when nothing immediately appeared in his vision ahead of him he trudged forward once more after a brief hesitation, for about five more feet, before he realized that the sound had come from behind him.
Turning with great difficulty against the thrashing wind, he found that he could no longer see Legend in the whirling white, he couldn't even see a foot away from his snout. A low panic began to rise in chest, and he lifted his head to sniff the air.
Nothing but the cold of the winter wind met his snout and, after a long moment he let out a howl long and loud hoping to call out to Legend. The winds shrieking was his only response. Twi began to retrace his rapidly fading paw prints, the panic in his chest now rising to a dull roar.
Soon his paw prints had vanished entirely and he found himself standing only three feet from his last location, with no Legend in sight. He howled again, more frantic now, a high pitched cry of worry. Then he sat and waited, for a moment he despaired thinking he truly had lost his brother to the howling storm, but then a faint sound reached his ears. It was quiet and weak, but a faint call of--
Bounding frantically in the direction of the sound Twi howled again, a searching call. He paused again listening.
It came again, even softer this time, despite the sound being closer.
He charged toward the sound, and very nearly ran over a dark lump in the cold white expanse, just barely skidding to a halt in a spray of snow, and narrowly avoiding running the Vet right over.
Legend was face down shoulders limp, rapidly fading drag marks behind him, that told a story of collapse, and then stubbornness as the vet had crawled forward anyway, only to finally succumb to exhaustion a few feet away from the original fall.
Twi transformed in a blur of black diamonds, and fell to his knees beside the smaller boy, praying with all his heart, that Legend was still breathing. He quickly pulled the younger boy close, hissing at the burn of cold that seized his skin when he touched Legend. Legend was beyond freezing. He was so cold and stiff he may as well have been ice itself. Twilight yanked a glove off and pressed a shaking hand to Legend far to pale throat.
For a long moment he felt nothing, a cold that had nothing to do with the blizzard spreading inside him, then he felt it, a slow, sluggish, THUMP. Another long moment then THUMP. Twi heaved a broken sigh of relief, at the feeling of Legend's shaky heartbeat beneath his fingers. Legend was fading quickly, but he was still alive which meant he could still save him.
Twilight, darted toward where he last saw the mountain side, the wind finally giving them a brief reprieve once the mountain got in the way. The Twi bit his lip and considered the limp boy in his arms. Even with just a few minutes in his hylian form, he could tell that the cold was rapidly going to become too much, but Legend was far too wet right now to even consider stopping moving.
Wet. He had to take care of that first. Mentally apologizing to his brother, he quickly erected his tent haphazardly, and dragged them both inside. Quickly, he changed Legend into a set of his own clothes from his bag, wrapping the boy in as many layers of fabric and fur as he could after drying him off with a spare tunic. Legend still looked far to cold for his taste, but at least now the wet couldn't make it worse. Biting his lip he considered the blue tint to Legends nose, lips, eyelids, fingers, and toes.
Making up his mind, he quickly released one of their few fairies offering her the bottle and sugar water once she'd finished her magic over his brother when she hesitated at the door of the tent and the swirling storm beyond. She hesitated then settled back in the bottle with a reluctant chime, and he tucked her away again, before considering her work.
The blue tint had faded away to an angry red, and his breathing was coming easier, but he still wasn't shivering, which Twi knew for a fact was a bad sign. His earlier thought came again. They couldn't afford to stop moving. He didn't have nearly enough warm items to keep Legend and himself from freezing, and he knew from Yeta and Yeto, that moving was the only real way to keep the blood pumping and warm in this kind of cold.
But Legend was in no condition to move on his own. Twilight bit his lip again, considering the dilemma. Finally he got an idea, a desperate one, but an idea non-the-less. Wrapping Legend up tight with the boys fire rod inside the blankets to hopefully slowly warm him up, he tucked one of Wild's breathable desert scarfs over Legends face, removed his own wolf pelt and pulled out his dads tunic.
Twi folded Legend's knees and tucked him into the gaping opening this fathers much to large tunic left against this chest, and then used one of the many scarfs Legend had gotten from Ravio around him like a baby sling. He layered the scarfs until he was sure Legend was secure, and then added a belt over the whole thing just in case.
After wrapping his wolfs pelt back over his shoulder and layering a few of his gloves, Twilight considered the lump on his chest cautiously. Legends face was just visible beneath the gauzy desert scarf hopefully enough to breathe, and Twi could feel how difficult it was going to be to move like this.
Glancing once more into the swirl of white, Twi wrapped one of his own scarfs around his face, ears and head, leaving only just enough room to see out of. Then he stepped back into the cold, the wind hit even despite the mountain, and Twi staggered very nearly toppling both of them into the snow. Clumsily packing up the tent was a challenge as encumbered as he was, but then at last all that was left was to continue. Staring out into the wall of white, Twilight squared his shoulders wrapped one arm around his brother to help support him, and to give Twilight better balance, and with one last shaky breath trudged into the blizzard.
As he made his way into the endless storm he could only hope, that either the storm stopped long enough for them to make camp, or that he found the others...before it was too late...
