Chapter 9 - Plan of Action

I lay on my couch with a cold washcloth over my eyes as I listen to Cato, Father Time, and Ake discuss what exactly happened with the fox with Mortem and Vita. The two beings only just arrived shortly after the four of us did, but had to wait because I nearly passed out in the middle of my living room.
Okay, so maybe I was affected by the heat a little more than I thought I was. But I had honestly felt fine! I'm sure I was just a little dehydrated. All I had in my system were those sour blueberries, warm tea, and a chunk of an icicle that I found up north while spreading some flurries. It kinda tasted like syrup a little bit, coming from a pine tree. But I guess that just wasn't enough for my system to handle the sudden heat of the Void. And the lecture that Cato gave me while pressing the dripping ice-cold clothe to my face and neck could almost rival the one that they and Mother Nature gave me when I gave myself that concussion.
Huffing quietly to myself, I turn my head toward the speaking entities.
"And you are absolutely sure that the humans were not using this to specifically track Frost in anyway?" Vita questions, their voice light as bells but heavy all at the same time.
Fair question.
"There's just no plausible way that they would know that Frostbite would land there to pick those particular berries," Father Time argues, the chair creaking as he leans back. "I honestly believe that they were using the fox to track some animals, not the element of winter. The odds just weren't in their favor if Frost was their target."
"Besides," Ake says, jumping in. "Snowflake has such a large range that he has to cover, randomly choosing this small forest in the upper Midwest of North America just seems like a poor choice. Why not leave the fox up in the Arctic Circle? The probability of catching Snowflake on camera is much higher up there than it is down here."
I nod along.
It's true. I almost always make time to visit the Arctic Circle at least twice a month, no matter what time of year.
Another chair creaks as somebody else shifts.
"It all still seems a little too convenient for this to be mere coincidence," Mortem states. My lips quirk.
My chairs are made for normal-sized humans, so I can just imagine how every one of the beings sitting at my table are currently feeling, all squished and tucked in on a small chair. Honestly, I'm just surprised that they were able to locate more chairs. I offered to create some ice chairs for them but the stern look everyone sent my way instantly put a kibosh on that idea.
A cold caress brushes my face and my shoulders relax back against the sofa cushions. Wind has been hovering over me since the four of us stepped through the portal, already sensing that something was wrong by the way that they kept brushing and nudging at my face before my legs gave out. Since then, Wind has barely left my side, keeping their temperature cool and a little sharp, just to show that they are a little upset at me for not taking care of myself. I don't bother trying to explain myself, they wouldn't take my explanation anyway. All I can do is lift my hand and gently run it through Wind's currents as a form of an apology each time they come over to check on me. I swear that they are secretly working for Mother Nature on keeping tabs on me and how I'm fairing.
"Frost?" Vita calls out.
"Yeah?" I call back, clearing my throat as my voice cracks before dropping my hand back down to my side.
"Was the fox the only animal you found like this?"
I tilt my head toward the larger being's voice, frowning.
"Uh, yeah? I mean, there was a bird that was near the bush, but they were acting normal and even ate some of the berries I gave them. The fox was the only one that seemed out of place and acting strangely."
Vita hums, whether in thought or acknowledgment, I'm not quite sure. It's hard to get a read on Mortem or Vita when I can't see them. Their eyes are usually the most expressive part of them and will almost always tell you how the two beings are feeling. Or, at least, that is what I have seemed to have found while interacting with either one of those ancient beings. Which hasn't been often, seeing as I am merely a child in age compared to the two of them.
"And there were no humans around before you found the fox?" Mortem questions.
Dropping the washcloth, I slowly lift myself up. Wind frantically tries to push me back down again, but I wave them off so that I can look at the table. Resting my chin against the back of the sofa, I tiredly look at the five beings using my kitchen table.
"When I found the fox, it was right after I got done creating flurries up north, so I had been flying quite high in the sky. But when I came down, there were no humans to be seen. If I had noticed any humans at all, I wouldn't have landed where I did. After our meeting yesterday, I didn't want to chance a possible run-in with a human that might be searching for us right now. The risks are just too high. And the clearing that I found was far enough away from any roads that it would have been very hard press for any humans to locate the particular bush I found."
Mortem nods while Vita rubs their chin in thought. Their short yellow gold hair shifts with each movement, the small curls around their ears never out of place. Their black robe is very similar to the one Mortem is wearing except for the silver swirls decorating the fabric and that match the ear cuffs that Vita wears upon the shell of their ears. Their eyes, much like Mortem, are a single solid color, with no iris nor pupil to be seen. The color matches more with the Sleep Siblings' skin, a nebula housed in each eye that swirls and dances with the giver of life's emotions. The nebulas are currently swirling frantically with Vita so deep in thought that I can see them working overtime in an almost mesmerizing way.
"We will need to inform the others about this, of course," Vita finally states, dropping their hands back to their lap. "I just don't understand how their technology managed to locate Frost when the human eye can't."
My lips quirk as Cato quickly perks up.
"Well, humans have made many advancements in their technology nowadays. They have these cameras that can sense thermal readings. And since Frost has a thermal reading, it would make sense that a camera such as that could find him."
Cato's siblings stare at them, both of their heads tilting to the side as they process the younger's words. Mortem sighs, pinching the bridge of their nose.
"Why must humans constantly change? It's so hard to keep up."
Vita nods, sympathetically patting Mortem's back.
"It's what happens when one isn't immortal like we are. Now, Cato, you said that you looked at these wires and the footage. Were they using those 'thermal cameras' that you just referenced?"
Cato nods and I rest my cheek against my arm as they launch into a spiel about what exactly the footage showed. Wind nuzzles my cheek, nudging me back toward the washcloth. I wave a dismissive hand.
"I'm fine, Wind. Besides, it's all dried up." Wind tussles my hair and I roll my eyes at the argument. "Really. I've been laying here for 30 minutes, I'm feeling much better. If I start feeling warm again, I'll just go eat some snow from outside."
Wind spins around me before heading for the door, rattling it softly. Frost rises in my cheeks as Father Time and Ake look my way. Cato continues talking but I can see the glances the keeper is throwing my way. Sighing, I stand slowly, my knees still a little weak, bracing myself against the couch as I move.
"All right, if it will please you, I'll grab some now. Honestly, you're worse than Mother Nature with all this fussing."
My lips quirk at the whistle Wind blows my way as I sluggishly make my way over to the door. Honestly, I'm starting to think that there isn't anyone that I know who doesn't think that I can take care of myself. I glance over my shoulder at the other entities in my dining room. Ake and Father Time are shooting me looks but have yet to say anything. I shake my head. They'll be fine and I'm not really needed right now at the moment anyway, so why fret about it? Shrugging, I open the door enough to slip outside.
I drag in a deep breath as the cool air wraps around me, blanketing my skin in the coolness that I know and love. I don't mind the warmth of other places as long as I'm not there until I'm a sweating pile of goo that I will admit only to myself, almost turned into back in the Void.
Walking down my porch, I squat and drag my fingers along the top of the snow.
But, it also felt so nice to not be somewhere cold. To feel that warmth sinking into my skin, letting me feel like I was glowing alongside the heat. Everyone I know can travel into the warmer areas of the world and stay there for extended periods of time. With no fear of melting. It just felt so nice to be included in something similar. I know that Haru, Kaia, and Suvi all meet with one another in different parts of the world, in places I can't be for more than a few minutes at a time without having a similar reaction like I did back in the Void. And I know it's not their fault. Suvi has a very hard time in cold climates, being so accustomed to the warmth. While Haru and Kaia can stand the cold a little longer, they both still react badly when it starts dropping below forty degrees.
I don't blame them. It's just how we were made. There are humans like that too, accustom to one type of weather that anything different can make it unbearable. That doesn't mean it hurts any less when I hear the other seasonal beings talking about their latest get-together, knowing that I was purposely not invited because I can't be where the three can comfortably be happy. My fingers dig into the snow as a blossom of hurt tries to spread across my chest. The happiness of three outweighs the happiness of one.
Shaking my head, I scoop up some of the undisturbed snow. I pack it together tightly into a small snowball, one no bigger than my fist. One thing about living out in the wild is that I don't have to deal with all the rubbish that humans like to litter about during this time of year: salt, smog, slush. A shiver runs down my spine at the last one. I remember the first time I saw slush and had the brilliant idea to try and taste it, wondering why it looked so different than the white snow that I only experienced prior. Let's just say, I will never do something so foolish ever again in my life.
Feeling a little lighter, a chuckle escapes me as I bring the ball of frozen water to my lips.
SNAP!
My head snaps up as I scan the tree line surrounding my small clearing. Tilting my head, I strain my ears for the sound of any type of movement.
SNAP!
My eyes land on a space between two trees directly in front of the house. Cautiously, I stand and wave Wind off as they come outside to see what is taking me so long. As if understanding, I sense rather than see Wind re-enter the house through the kitchen window. My eyes narrow as I can just barely make out some movement, confirming that there is something currently circling my home like a predator. Wetting my lips, I glance down at my left hand before throwing caution to the wind and lobbing the snowball as hard as I can.
It sails through the air before landing somewhere within the forest. I hold my breath as I wait for anything to happen. After a beat, nothing does. Slumping, I exhale my breath and stoop to grab myself another snowball to snack on.
"Stupid, overly-paranoid, jumpy little—" I grumble to myself, embarrassment coiling in my gut. "Like anyone would be after—"
CRUNCH. CRUNCH. CRUNCH.
My head snaps up in time to watch as a tall, well-endowed buck steps out of the tree line. His ears are at high alert and his dark, nearly black eyes are watching me with such focus that the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. I've been almost impaled by a few bucks, getting too close to their territory or just making them angry with my presence. But never has one come into my territory looking for a fight. I wet my lips, tilting my head in confusion as the buck stops. Although, I don't think that this buck is here for a fight. I shoot a look behind me.