Forged Destiny [Book 2: Ch. 5]

My optimism died less than two hours into the journey. Howling winds cut across my body, the icy cold biting straight through steel armour and leather. It seeped under my skin and sapped at what little energy I had. The snow that clung to my boots with each step didn't help, either.

The others trudged on in dogged silence, each struggling in their own right to make their way up the base of the mountain. We'd only just started, and already the ground was thick with snow, the air even more so. How bad would it be as we ascended?

"The storm is worsening," Pyrrha called. She shouted and yet the words were muffled and muted, whipped away by the howling winds. "Is this part of the phenomena the Archmage warned of?"

"There's no hint of magic in the air," Kaedin, the Mage assigned to us, reported. "I believe this is just a natural storm. The valleys created by the mountains can cause such at times. Still, it is a concern… we should seek shelter lest our path be blocked. Viktor?"

"Understood," the Knight nodded and ploughed ahead through the snow. He turned to us, arms crossed and his imposing frame apparently unconcerned by the cold. Was it a Knight ability? Did I look out of place for feeling the chill? The others huddled with their arms wrapped around themselves, so at least I was in good company. "We seek shelter in a cave or overhang," Viktor instructed. "The Fang itself is the most stable of mountains. We shall set up camp at its base, using the stone itself as a barrier against the wind."

[...]

"I can carry them myself," Weiss protested. "She doesn't need t-"

"Nonsense, a brawler has Strength to spare. The burden will be far less on her Class than it would your own, lady Mage. This is true, is it not?" The latter was directed at Yang, who pushed herself out of the snow with a red-eyed glare.

She flicked frost from her hair and a little from her shoulders too. Weiss and she shared a quick look, but Yang let out a long breath and nodded. "Sure," she gritted. "It's true."

"Good. See to it, then."

Viktor didn't stop to watch the blonde struggle to her feet, nor to see Ruby and I trudge over to help her up. "I'll carry some too," I whispered, taking one of the larger bags and swinging it onto my shoulder. A cough sounded behind us as the Mage in question came forwards.

"They are my bags," Weiss said. "I can carry them. I didn't mean to suggest otherwise."

"Don't sweat it," Yang sighed and shouldered the other half. She stumbled for a second but caught herself. "Rude as he is, he's not wrong. Technically speaking, I'm better to carry supplies than you. My Strength is a lot higher than yours. You're struggling as it is."

It made sense, even if it felt unfair. Half of Weiss' equipment, now hefted onto my shoulder, added quite a bit of weight, but not so much that I couldn't push onwards.

[...]

The storm became worse by the time we found a cave, and it was with a mutual sigh of relief that we each entered and left the wind behind. It wasn't a huge thing, but maybe that was for the best since it would mean less fire was needed to heat it. It looked like it might have once belonged to a bear, but any such animal was long dead. I doubted even the mightiest could have survived this frigid wonderland.

—Forged Destiny [Book 2: Ch. 5]