Useless Sign

Several dozen minutes had passed with the loathsome wind hounding down on figures in the snow. Their visibility sure to be as useless as all their other senses in the desolate white splashed hellscape.

By now, the snow would have gotten up to their upper torsos. However, thanks to the crude snow shoes that Yuna had made for the three, they were still able to walk through, albeit at a snails pace.

The shoes barely working, but helping nonetheless.

From the gameplan that Naren heard, they were not too far from the tower they were trying to get to. It was a watchtower of sorts, better fortified than the other buildings it seemed. Could've been a central point for this city, not that anybody could tell at this point.

Naren grew more and more gleeful as he imagined the warm inside of the tower, the fire crackling while he slept soundly under a blanket of wool.

"H-hey...How much...further..."

Naren's jittery breath left with a wisp of white mist. And floated in the darkness with no response.

They must've not heard him. Even his hearing was muffled from the scarf around his ears and the wind continuously howling.

"Hey-"

Just then, Naren's foot went to take another step, but instead of finding the soft cushy feeling of snow, it felt nothing, but thin air.

Naren quickly scrambled in place as his body toppled over. His arm grabbing for anything as he fell into darkness, barely able to grab an exposed root through the snow.

Looking down, Naren watched as blocks of snow fell down below into the black void, grimacing as he watched what could've been his fate.

But concentrating, he could scarcely make out the crashing of waves just underneath him. Had he wandered to the edge of the island again?

Hoisting himself over the edge, Naren sprawled out in the snow. His chest breathing heavy as laid there for a second. Sinking down slowly.

Then the red-haired boy flipped to his left, in an effort to push himself up, instead making contact with something in the snow. A ringing bluntness carried through his bones.

"Ow!"

Naren grabbed whatever it was he made contact with, using it as a handle to pull himself up, over the snow.

Finally at his feet, he saw what it was. A looming wooden pole.

'Who put this here?'

It was a miracle that it hadn't come crashing down by now. The snow must've created a strong enough base for the pole to continue to stay erect.

Naren inspected the pole, noticing a sign shaped like an arrow attached to it. It had writing on it that Naren couldn't quite decipher, but he could've guessed it's purpose.

It was for directions.

Yet here it was sitting in the snow pointing nowhere.

Naren followed the arrow straight into the obsidian black sea. There was no land that it pointed it, just the sea. Was that what the writing on it signified. The sea?

'Well I coulda told you there was a sea here. What a useless sign.'

Naren dusted his hand off from the wet snow that had stuck on, stretching his back as he yawned.

As of now, it was obvious he got separated from the other two in the storm, so now he had to find his way back.

With a sniffle, Naren sneezed. His nose running.

He had to find his way back fast.

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Near the tower, Yuna felt helpless. She hated being ill more than anything.

She was a doctor after all, how would she be able to care for herself when she was sick. It felt dehumanizing. Having to surrender yourself to those around you. Being vulnerable and at risk of anything.

For Yuna, being ill was a matter of pity for her. Something that she couldn't afford.

So, even when ill, Yuna would not falter.

Standing before the looming tower in front of them, Yuna leaned on it's side. The cold stone sending shivers through her body, but she didn't mind. For now, she needed a breather.

"You straight?"

Cairo's faint glow provided little heat in this snow storm, but for him it wasn't a problem. Yuna had already deduced that his temperature regulated must've originated internally. That way, whatever outside temperatures may be, he could still regulate himself.

"I'm alright...Find a window..."

The snow had gathered very heavily by now. The tower's entrance completely submerged in snow leaving the windows as the only way in.

"Soldier...come..."

Yuna's words were followed by silence as the wind beat down heavier.

She was sure he heard. She noticed his hearing was extraordinary already to the point of being debilitating. Yuna had hypothesized it was his spite, so he should've heard her even with that scarf around his ears.

Yet, her soldier did not come.

Cairo had found a window in the meantime, Yuna catching him attempting to open it from the corner of her eyes.

"Wait..."

Cairo continued fumbling with the latch until he finally got it to open, ignoring Yuna all together.

"Stain...Where is he..."

Cairo had fit through all the way, lowering himself inside the tower before even giving Yuna an answer.

"Mareck?"

Yuna tilted her head in confusion.

"Naren."

"Oh right...Dunno. Maybe he'll turn up."

Yuna traced the tower until she got to the window, holding herself up from toppling over.

"You don't understand...You saw...When he was in the trees..."

Yuna coughed up more blood, but continued speaking. This was important. Even if she were to topple here, she needed to at least get this out.

"We know to ignore it...But he...you've seen he's clueless...What if he acknowledges it..."

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Naren stopped mid step as his eyes grew wide, staring at the sight before him.

It was a familiar one. One that he assumed was just his imagination, but now it was a matter of fact.

A chill ran down his spine, completely separate from the cold that surrounded him. He was frozen stiff in his stride. His breath held tight in his lungs as he was too afraid to speak.

Before him, peering through the dark was a pair of colossal eyes.