oh cruel fate

He was securing the sled, their supplies for the day held on top of the well-worn wood and pulled by the handle. Felix joked all the time that when Everest grew up she’d pull it how he’d seen the dogs do it. He found that particular line of thinking to be hilarious. 

He had the handle of the wood sled in one gloved hand ready to pull and be on their way when he felt the impact. He’d had enough warning, of course. Piccy’s voice was clear and bright across the snow but Felix had a way of focusing on one thing at a time that blocked out everything else, particularly her. He let out an “oof”, taking one step forward as if he’d been struck. She was light atop him but he pretended to buckle underneath her. “Help..!” He wheezed, signing out to Rain, “She’s crushing me!” Rapid fire signing as he slowly pretended to fall, the snow shifting with each movement and only at the last moment did he right himself, popping Piccy up to sit more comfortably on his back. “What’d you say about my muscles?” Felix tried to shake her hands off and then, as a last resort he began to spin with her on his back. 

*

"Hey!” Harumi yelped, signing quickly before wrapped her arms around his neck. “If I get motion sickness and get sick, you can’t complain.” There were a lot of days where the earth seemed hell bent on destroying every living soul left. Days where snow piled up, obscuring their view to the outside. Weeks- months even, when they weren’t sure if they would get through. Harumi, always trying to look on the bright side of things, always managed to talk herself into believing they’d be okay. She’d try to do the same for the others, but it definitely worked better for some. These type of days, however, she found herself truly happy. Temporarily free from the worry of possible impending death. It was nice. 

Rain laughed, adjusting the straps on his bag. “We can’t go too far,” he started. “I’m thinking we go to that original place we found a while back. The one with the really pretty view.” Harumi remembered it. It was a cliff that overlooked what used to be a small lake, and then a trail that led to the community they lived in. 

 It was a warmer day- about as warm as it could be given the state of the world. For that reason the decision had been made that the three of them, Eiko was busy, would venture outside the community. Snow blanketed the ground, the air around them so cold you still felt it with all of the layers they had on. Still, it was nice enough to take a trip out. Rain was cradling Everest in the palm of his hand, the tiny button of a creature wearing it’s own equally tiny coat. “It’s too cold for him, we’ll keep him in the warming basket.” Rain had discovered Everest one day, the tiny kitten was motherless and near death. He’d brought the cat back, smuggled it in, and together the three had made sure it survived. Against all odds, he had. Rain gave him to her as a birthday gift, remembering the years she’d gone on and on about having a cat. 

Rain set him gently back in his bed, a nest of blankets and water bottles they would periodically warm. Then they’d close the lid, and there he'd sleep. Harumi layered herself top to bottom, wrapping a scarf around her face so that everything up to her nose was covered. “I’m ready,” she called out to Felix. With her bag hitched up on her shoulders, and her triple coats zipped, she walked from the back room to their front one. The boys were ready so out they headed, closing the door to their tiny little house. Over the years, as best they could, they’d tried to fix it up. The kitchen was small, and it really had no bedrooms but it was something. Typically they all slept in the back room, shutting the door and locking it at night. Her and Eiko had their corner and the boys had theirs. The kitchen was tiny, and the front door seemed to always be breaking- but it was home. She couldn’t ask for more.

“Let’s go!” After making sure the door to the back room was secured, they headed out. Despite having grown up in the never ending winter, she found her breath taken away every time she stepped out in it. It was hard not to. That type of cold bit at you. “Feefee!” She called out, signing at the same time. “Catch!” 

She jumped onto his back, laughing. Rain turned and watched, shaking his head. “I was waiting for you to do that,” he joked. 

“I’m honestly doing him a favor. His muscles are wasting away.” Harumi briefly covered his eyes with her hands playfully.