When the blue finally came

The sudden panic that flooded him made it hard to breathe, hard to even think clearly. Any hint of rational thought vacated him all at once, as soon as he knew his mother was calling to him. He'd do anything in his power to see her again, to feel her warmth, to save her from whatever it was that was threatening her - or threatening all of them, he really wasn't sure. His heart beat erratically inside his chest as his legs pumped harder as he climbed and climbed and climbed...

But it was cold, so much colder than it'd been just moments ago. The way his chest was healing, combined with the sudden way he started shivering, made him halt abruptly. "Aryn…" His teeth were chattering now and he tried to find her in the faint moonlight, aiming to bury his face in her fur to soak up any warmth he could find from her. "Was all that in my head? I thought it was her, I really did, but…" But he couldn't go any further, he was too cold and too tired, and suddenly he felt a sob sneak out as he pressed himself into her, feeling his hopes begin to fade.