A Choice of Two

What happened? We were running, then we were falling. How did that happen? Was Zach right, was it a teleporter or something? So many questions and no answers, but there were more pressing matters to deal with than how it happened. I was falling for the second time today.

"HOLY SHIIIIIIIT!" I know, screaming wasn't exactly a good way to get out of a situation like this, but it was just instinct. I could also hear Zach yelling over the wind. Hmm, cold, windy, white. Were we back on, or should I say over, the mountain? Perhaps these questions should would wait...

I landed with a Woosh! I felt myself sink low into a deep bank of snow, I had no idea if Zach had such luck. I tried to get up, but the combination of the deep, loose snow, and my injured leg made it almost impossible.

After a few good minutes of struggling, I finally made it to the top of the bank. Walking was going to be a struggle, at least I was retained some of the heat from when we warmed up by that generator.

I didn't see anyone or anything around me. The snow was blinding, I could barely see in front of me. I yelled out,

"ZACH! WHERE ARE YOU?" I turned and tried to listen over the howling winds... No response. I shouted out again, and again, and again, slowly making my way down the mountain, hoping he had the sense to do the same thing. The lower areas wouldn't have as furious of a storm blowing, hopefully.

As I descended the air became more clear, little by little. I went from being able to see 12 inches in front of my face to at least a couple feet, to put things in perspective. It still wasn't enough, I needed to keep moving down.

I walked (hobbled more like) down the mountain, occasionally slipping and falling into deep snow, which was a pain in the neck. After about 30 minutes I felt like I could breathe properly, so I once again began to shout for Zach.

I stopped to listen for a response... was that something? ...Yes, I definitely heard something over the wind.

"ZACH! Come towards my voice!" I was hoping I could guide him toward me.

"Cooper, is that you?" It was Zach, finally.

"YES, yes, it's me!" I hollered.

Zach came slowly trudging up through the snow, which had become a much easier obstacle now that we were out of the heart of the storm.

"Good to see you in one piece," he said once he was close.

"Ditto. Do you have any idea what happened?"

"No, one second I was running, the next I was falling, then rolling down the mountain."

"I didn't roll, that's probably why I couldn't find you at first."

"Well, how about we try to find our way out of this hellhole?"

"Sounds like a plan, let's g- hey, where's the food pack?" Zach stretched to look at his backside.

"Must have fallen off when I was tumbling down... ugh, I had all the food..."

"Listen, it's fine, I still have enough to last a little while, so let's stop wasting time and move out already. At least you still have your gear."

"Yeah, alright."

We set off down the slope at a hastened pace, the cold was beginning to get to us. As we made our way downward, the air began to go fuzzy again. The storm must be moving, this was very bad. Almost in sync we broke into a run, to try and stay ahead of the overwhelming frozen fury but to no avail. The eye engulfed us once more.