Endurance B2C5

"We need tinder for the fire," Viktor's voice cut through my relief. "We brought some firewood but they're soaked. We'll need sticks and leaves to start a fire. There's a small copse of trees we passed on the way here. It's only two hundred metres or so back."

My eyes looked back to the entrance of the cave, where white snow whipped diagonally across. Two hundred metres might have seemed a small distance but in such temperatures it was anything but. It was hard to even see ten through it, which meant the chance of getting lost was high. It would also quickly be fatal.

"The Assassin goes," Viktor decided.

"Are you insane?" I asked, drawing more than just his attention to me. "Blake is the least dressed for something like that." I threw one hand out towards her, highlighting her black cloak, hood and – importantly – her knee-high boots and skirt. She was bare legged at the thigh and already shivered where she stood.

The Knight snorted. "Perhaps she should have thought of that before this. It's a short journey and she's the fastest. We only need a few small twigs and leaves and she will be best suited to that."

"I'll go instead," I said, only to pause as a hand settled on my shoulder.

"I'll do it," Blake said, expression calm. "It's fine… I can do it."

Blake pushed past me before I could argue, and although it looked like some of the others wanted to complain, no one did. As she stepped outside of the entrance, the blizzard caught her and caused her black cloak to whip violently to one side. One bare arm came up to cover her eyes and she trudged out into the wall of white.

[...]

"If you haven't noticed, Blake hasn't returned and it's nearly been half an hour!" I snarled. "I'm going to find her."

His hand caught my wrist and spun me about. I struggled to break free but he dragged me back. "Don't be a fool, boy. You wouldn't be able to see her ten feet in front of your face in this storm."

"And knowing that, you sent her out there!" I yelled, tearing my arm from his. "I'm not going to sit here while she's alone out there. She could be in trouble! She could be…" I couldn't finish.

"If something like this killed her then she shouldn't be on a Quest," Viktor snorted.

A furious snarl tore itself from my throat. My hands clenched into fists and I reared back in preparation to strike him. A hand caught mine from behind instead, and it was so cold.

"I'm not dead," Blake whispered. Her voice was soft, shaky and weak.

My fury vanished in an instant, replaced by the sharp edge of concern as I took her hands in mine. They were freezing cold. "Blake, my god, are you okay? What took so long? I was so worried."

"T-The snow was thick," the faunus coughed and shivered. "I h-had to dig for branches."