big heckin' yikes!

Being cold sucked. The snow sucked. Icy breaths of wind pushing against her face sucked. All of it sucked. Why did they have to move here with Gramps? Couldn't he have picked somewhere warmer? She wasn't sure how he enjoyed this place. With its tall peaks, treacherous pathways, and crumbling slopes, it was as dangerous as dangerous could get. Okay, it wasn't like living on a volcano, but who was crazy enough to do that? Not that Delphi knew that. All she knew was that this mountain was lame, stupid, and sucky. She'd rather be down at the Stone Steppe. At least down there there was less snow, less wind, less everything that made moving around miserable. She had even managed to find a cellar that was hidden beneath the aging stone. It was full to the brim of so much stuff that she could use! Yet, she still had to return to the mountainous caves at night by order of her parents and Vidarr. Wandering during the day was okay, but at night, she had to return. It was only recently that she dared tempt to break that rule.

As tempting as it was, she waited until morning to go out. Overnight, a storm had rushed in with a vengeance. Everything outside of the cavern was icy. Slippery and dangerous, she admired the dazzling ice gleaming in the morning light from the inside safety of the den. Would she really dare traverse down the mountain so she could wander about the steppe? Was it worth it? Glancing over her shoulder to where her family slept, it only took a few minutes for her to decide that yes it was worth it. "Binti, come help me get down the mountain," she calls out to her companion who is snuggled up with her sister, Aji. The young Binturong gives her a disgruntled look before stretching and slowly making his way over to the girl. There are grumbles and chittering disapprovals the whole time but the cheeky smile on the girl's face convinces him that at least it will be an adventure.

Stepping out into the light, she shivers. Man, it was cold now. As if the outside world had dropped twenty degrees overnight. Winter was here and ready to say hello apparently. Frowning at her toes tingled with the frigid and crunchy feeling of snow and ice beneath them. While focused on where her paws were taking her and not so much anywhere else, Delphi did not hear the creak. The sun's rays shining over the mountain slowly warmed the dangling icicles overhead. Taking a few more steps toward the pathway only a mere feet away, it was too late by the time she noticed.

In the next second, an icicle fell from the overhang and came crashing down. A clean slice along her shoulder that barely missed piercing her toes. Jumping back with a loud scream, she turned wide eyes over to Binti. None of her family members were healers. She had to find someone... "Binti, I-I need help!" Her voice shakes as she leans back onto her bottom. Blood seeps from the sliced open wound as she fights back tears. Fuck, why couldn't she carry anything useful in her satchel?