Distracted by the push from the front, they didn't notice the water soaking the ground from behind. It pooled around their feet, and at the precise moment he willed it, cold air rushed over the water. The water lashed at their bare skin, freezing into plummeting temperatures instantly. The frostbite attacked, focusing on their legs and Achilles tendons.
They dared not move them for fear of being paralyzed for life.
Phoenix literally froze in place with the sneak attack from behind. Then, since Kisuke had the frontal attack, she turned her powers, taking care of what was coming from behind, carefully placing her palms downward toward the ground and shaking uncontrollably.
A warmth started to grow around them; however, what was seconds seemed liked hours with the extreme cold they were fighting against. Finally, the water thawed enough for them to break free. Their bodies did not thaw quite that fast. Phoenix pushed out more power.
Kisuke fell to his knees as the extreme cold and the amount of reiryoku he was using finally took its toll on him. He looked back to Juushiro. Water and ice hung from his cloak in various spots, the one arm covered in frozen blood. Kisuke could not tell who was shivering the worst, he or Juushiro. Both their hands were blue. Looking to Tsukiro, as he shivered, also frostbitten and soaked from the water, he sheathed Benihime and looked to Phoenix.
“We need shelter and we need it now.” He spoke loudly over the raging snow and ice storm that whistled around them.
Phoenix nodded to Kisuke. He was right. The three of them, even she, were at their limits. It was time to retreat and tend to the injured.
She slapped her hands together, arms extended out and growing in length and size like wings, but without feathers, only flames. Her head bowed, changing shape as well as her body. When she was done, the Phoenix they knew by name was truly the Phoenix. She expanded her wings and a great warmth wrapped around them.
“Where to?” she asked them.
Juushiro coughed hoarsely, holding Tsukiro up with one arm. "Somewhere dry, and I don't care if it's father away. Tsukiro doesn't have the endurance for this brutality at all. We are going to have to come up with a new attack pattern." He stopped speaking, doubling over and coughing louder. Clenching his fist, he continued. "This one isn't working, and Kis-suke, you, I, need to talk - later - before we do," he coughed, stuttered, voice dropping further.
The captain glanced to Tsukiro. Luckily, it seemed wrapping the Fire Whip around Tsukiro had saved him from the worst of Hyourinmaru's assault, if only just. That was a reason to be glad he had held onto the Kido spell for as long as he had. It had broken sometime during the second phase of the attack, but thankfully for that, Tsukiro's hands were the only ones not blue. For the moment.
Phoenix fanned her wings, lifting her body upward. Grabbing the three, she whisked them away to another cave. The weather was mild with a slow snowfall. Landing outside, she set them safely on the ground and transformed back into human form. Kisuke was helping Juushiro as Juushiro was helping Tsukiro. Phoenix sighed, shaking her head and rolling her eyes. She walked over, taking Tsukiro off Juushiro's hands, and helped Tsukiro in the cave while Kisuke helped Juushiro.
Once inside Phoenix conjured up some food and wood for them, lit a fire, and started healing the ones with frostbit. When she got to Kisuke, she looked him in the eyes and stated, “If you or any of you go dying on this mission. Don't mention my name and the help I gave you when you get here. I'll deny every word of it."
She heard Kisuke chuckle under his breath as he told her 'thank you'. Phoenix softly smiled and continued working on his hands.
Following swiftly on their heels, Hyourinmaru’s storm sealed them inside.
Continued in: Winter’s Touch: Spirits of Ice
