Day 39: Drowsy Days

They had left for their journey since morning, by Emyri's memory the path to the village should be several hours east. The plan she formed in her head was simple, head to the village early, scavenge for any food and medicine, then return home by night. Hopefully Leone is alive by then... no better not to think that right now. She could see the thickness of her breath hover in the air as she exhaled, rubbing her paws together and hugging Leone's black cloak tightly around her. Perched above the slowly moving Grizzly, she was thankful for the thick fur she felt under her legs which added warmth to assist her through the storm.

The storm, that's right. Earlier today the weather had seemed a bit cloudy but against her mother's judgement she initiated the journey anyway. Spending a night was enough of a risk for her, and were it not for the cold she felt as if her state of exhaustion would overwhelm her quickly. Needless to say, she felt weak and grateful for Nukka doing the walking for her.

Hugging Nukka tight, she hummed in the relief in which this thick snowy white fur brought to her. Opening her eyes only made them ache more as the wind began to pick up, and the sun had disappeared under a darkened shade of blue which overwhelmed the mountain sky, following the sudden blizzard which struck. To survive, any animal would climb under warm shelter and stay put. Only a Grizzly and a Cat stayed too stubborn to be put down my mother nature.

Emyri opened her eyes when she felt they had stopped moving. Looking over, she could see Nukka bobbing her head up and down before figuring out the cause to that crunching noise she was making.

"Are you eating the snow?"

Nukka froze in place, allowing a chunk of ice to slip from her jaws as soon as she heard her. "Nuuuuuuuu."

"Come on, we don't have any time to lose! We have to keep moving, Leone's life depends on it."

"Right, Leone! Yes!" She agreed, moving her paws forward and marching east for a moment. "Who is Leone?"

"The-The guy, the hunter you hurt with your claws."

"What? Who hurt him?"

"You did."

"You hurt him?"

"What, no not me-you."

"We?"

"Yes, and stop saying we. There's only you." She grumbled, clutching the cloak tight.

Nukka shook her head, sprinkling small bits of snow away from her hair. "No, it's us."

"You've been saying us and we and she since we found you, what gives?" Nukka shook her head, keeping quiet and leaving Emyri without a response. Laying back down onto her back fur, she leaned into the Grizzly's ear. "You know Zimi mentioned you have a few things going on from a lack of sleep, but I'm guessing there is more to you. How old are you? Where's your family? What were you doing with an arrow stuck to you?"

"Hah! She's not crazy, she says. Then why is she talking just like the rest? Told us to go east, where they call us a beast. Don't want to, but the cutie says. What a drag, so why do we do what the girl says? Oh right, forgot about the boy. I hope he is doing well, he really needs some help. And a nap, we could use one right now-no! No no naps, lost them last time. Never again."

"Hey, are you hearing me? What are you talking about, you're not making any sense. What did you lose?"

"Have you seen our Momma? Last smelled her scent east, but we got stung there instead. Not good, no no no no. Don't want to go back, shouldn't go back. Yea, yea turning around is safer." She muttered to herself, suddenly turning direction as if some invisible group had unanimously agreed with her.

Emyri held on tight and began tapping the Grizzly's head, shouting, "What are you doing? We're going east!"

"No, east hurts. East is full of stingers, stingers hurt so bad. Left Nukka crying too, she doesn't want to go east!"

"Stop, stop! Nukka, stoooooppp!" Emyri pushed herself forward, landing in front of Nukka and extending her arms outward. Nukka halted to a sudden stop, leaving her within an inch of Emyri's face. "What happened east?"

"Where did you come from!? She was wondering where you went-"

"Nukka, focus! Are you... are you scared?"

"Nu... but..." The look in her eyes, why is this massive creature so easily defeated with a few words? Her eyes dropped as she hung her head, almost in a way which acknowledged the disappointment she was giving. Licking her lips, she sniffled and shood her head slowly. "Not scared, but she is. Can't protect her."

Emyri sighed, dropped her arms and wrapping the hunter cloak around for warmth. Zimi had warned her that something was off in the Grizzly's psyche, her speech reflected it. Noticing the Grizzly turning her head to a certain direction often, Emyri decided to mention that instead.

"What's over there, is it the village?"

"Nuu, it's a home."

"Yours?" She shook her head no. "Well... maybe we can rest there for a moment. See if the storm calms down, would that help you feel better?"

Nukka looked up and nodded, seeing her eyes light up briefly when she made the offer of rest. Not wasting any time, Nukka turned to her side and slumped into the snow, laying down to offer herself as a seat for the Nekomata. She took it, sitting down and holding on when Nukka lifted up and headed towards a damp cave coming into view.

Curling up, Emyri wrapped the cloak around her like a blanket and looked outside, wishing for the blizzard to end soon. Nukka walked in circles, chasing her tiny round tail before settling on laying down, facing the exit. When Emyri woke up, she wondered how much time had passed then jumped up when startled by a Grizzly's face being inches away and staring at her.

"What! What the heck!?" She shrieked, landing on her butt and clutching her tit. "Are you trying to scare me to death?"

"Wanted to know if you're real." She muttered, laying back down. Emyri rubbed her cold nose, noticing the shadows under her eyes once more.

"Of course I'm real, why wouldn't I be?" Nukka shrugged, staring outside once more. "Did you get any sleep?"

"Sleep is bad, it's how Momma got stung."

Oh. That made her feel bad, especially knowing full well what a 'stinger' is. Emyri approached the Grizzly, laying beside her. "Sorry. You're just... different I guess. I know you said sorry about Leone, but I just... it's going to take me some time. I don't know what I'm doing... what I should be doing."

Silence. Emyri grunted and slapped her paw against the cold stone.

"This bites! We need to keep going but this storm isn't helping. I wish Mom was here, she knows what to do... and I don't. I can't do this, this was a mistake. I'm not ready!"

Nukka lifted her head. "Not ready for a nap?"

"I'm not ready to be in charge. I just think about it, seeing all those girls look up to me, i-it scares me. I don't know how she does it, she's confident and smart and always prepared."

"Nukka doesn't know her, but we think maybe you think too much. Thinking is bad, hurts us and makes us scared. Better to not think and just do." Nukka replied back, breathing softly and rolling on her side.

Emyri sighed. "I wish. Sometimes a clear head sounds like a blessing." She frowned when an overly large paw began to pet her head repeatedly.

"You're funny, she likes you. Maybe you're not so mean after all!" Nukka giggled, pulling the cat girl close and hugging her. She hate to admit it, but the hug was filling her with comfortable warmth all over, which revived the drowsiness in her eyes. Ah well, maybe a bit of shut eye would help clear her head in a bit.

"Thanks, Nukka. Could you keep watch for me?" She whispered, hugging the Grizzly's paw and closing her eyes.

Nukka reassured her. "She always watches out." Looking out into the snow as the kitty fell into a much needed nap.