[u]Location: West Mountain Pass[/u]

A bitter chill seeped through her armor as the Captain waded through the snow. A blizzard was coming soon, and from the looks of it, there was no way they'd reach the tunnels before it hit. Already a fierce gale tore through the gaps in her bear hide and threatened to pierce her padded armor. She dragged up one foot and plunged it into the snow, then the other. A cloud of vapor trailed from her lips as she struggled to do it again. Behind her, three hundred orcs marched silently behind her. They were cold too, though not nearly as much, and more physically fit.

Yet none of them dared pass the Captain. Even Gilf, who was usually rambunctious, walked just a step or two behind her. The Captain's boot dug a little too deep in the snow and tripped her over. Gilf tenderly picked her up by the arm and set her on her feet again. "You don't have to do this..." he pleaded.

The Captain squeezed his hand and continued her exhausted slog.

[i]I should have trained...[/i] she thought to herself.
[i]I should have come earlier...
I should have let them carry me...
They'll all freeze here because of me.
They're trying so hard to be good
And I'm holding them back.
Why am I so foolish?...[/i]

The winds were getting stronger now.

[i]Pride. It's my own pride.
Pride goes before a fall.
Speak of the devil...[/i]

The Captain tumbled down again. Now, her limbs utterly refused to obey. [i]Get up! Get up! Get UP![/i] Her struggles came out as low moans, and this time, Gilf could restrain himself no longer. He beckoned for Tomas to approach. "Please-" Gilf begged, but the vast orc needed no prompting. Tomas slung her onto his back and resumed his march. The warmth in his back filled her chest.

"Thank you..." she whispered in his ear.

The world seemed to drift away into a cloud of white. The other orcs formed up around her.

Then the storm hit.