Yeti or Not

Expedition

Natalya and Fenneck encounter a Yeti while trying to get two refugees Dimitri sent them to safety from the far west pass.

The wind and snow was coming down hard on Natalya as they crested the ridge. Fenneck reached down to help their new companions. They were a couple of half-elf siblings who had been accused of treason for their political protesting. The woman's name was Anastasia and her brother's name was Aleksandr. Aleksandr was a bard and made a point of using his musical abilities to advance political messages. He had managed to rake Pufuktin's name through the mud among the southern town of Vladigrad before Dimitri was sent to kill him. He had convinced his sister to join him. The sun was long gone and they were on their fourth day of trekking through the western mountains. They hoped to make it to the cave soon but the wind and heavy snow was slowing them down. Luckily they all had some kind of magical defense against the cold, but even with Fenneck's ring around her finger the wind burned Natalya's face. Suddenly Fenneck drew his bow and went to fire an arrow into the dark snowy mist around them but the wind took his arrow and blew it out of sight. Natalya and Anastasia drew their bows, confused by Fenneck's fear. Suddenly the air filled with a low rumble. "Yeti." Fenneck said just loud enough for them to hear him over the wind. Natalya looked around through the swirling snow but couldn't pick anything out. Suddenly a giant claw flew through the storm and sent Fenneck tumbling down into a ravine. "Fenneck!" Natalya shouted. The giant white monstrosity stood before them and roared. Natalya shot an arrow toward it but the wind sucked it into the storm. The Yeti lurched at Natalya and she rolled out of the way causing it to stumble and fall down into the ravine with Fenneck. Anastasia shot an arrow down into the ravine hitting the monster in the back. Fenneck moved away from the monster and drew his short swords. Natalya sent an arrow hitting the monster in the back of the head. It let out a roar before swiping its giant claws at Fenneck and sweeping his legs. Fenneck let out a cry as the monsters claws ripped through his armor. Aleksandr pointed at Fenneck and magic shot from his hands and helped close some of Fenneck's wounds. Anastasia let another arrow pierce the monsters back. Fenneck stood and swung his swords at the monster's hand, leaving it's wrist weak and bloody, barely holding on by the bone. The monster roared in pain. Natalya nocked another arrow and hit the monster's bloodied hand causing it to break free of the bone and fall to the ground. The monster swiped at Fenneck with it's last good hand and ripped a gash into his shoulder. "Fair enough." Natalya heard Fenneck mutter in pain. Aleksandr shot another wave of healing magic over Fenneck causing his blood to stop spilling out over the white snow. Anastasia sent an arrow that lodged into the yeti's shoulder. Fenneck swung at it again with his two elvish blades ripping two giant gashes in its chest. Even through the snow and wind Natalya couldn't help but admire his agility and skill. She focused her bow and sent an arrow into the yeti's foot causing it to roar loudly in pain. He angrily lurched forward at Fenneck, slamming him into the rocks. Natalya saw Fenneck's head hit the rocks and saw blood start to trickle into his snow white hair. Anastasia sent another arrow deep into the monster's back. Natalya drew her bow and jumped down toward the monster, landing on its shoulders and sending her arrow straight down into the skull of the yeti. She felt its body start to go limp and as it fell forward she gracefully leapt off and rolled into the snow. She ran to Fenneck. "Fen! Fenneck!" She plopped down into the snow next to him and took his head in her hands. He smiled up at her and she sighed with relief. Suddenly he started to glow as Aleksandr sent more healing magic into him, closing his head wound and giving Fenneck enough energy to get to his feet. "Are you okay?" Natalya asked him. "Of course my love." Fenneck smiled at her and took her face in his hands and kissed her passionately. "Stay up there! We'll climb back up!" Natalya shouted to the two half-elves. "Can you make it up okay?" Natalya asked Fenneck. He rolled his eyes at her, "You worry too much, I'll be just fine." He pecked her on the cheek and they climbed back up onto the ridge. The snow and wind was steadily growing worse as they trekked on into the night. There was no where else to stop until the finally arrived at the bumblebear cave and made their way inside out of the cold. Fenneck created some light as Natalya got the fire going and soon the two half-elves were sleeping in the corner with bellies full of soup. Natalya laid down with Fenneck under their furs to warm up. The sound of the storm outside rumbled the cave as they laid together in the firelight. "You scared me today." Natalya gently told Fenneck as he caressed her hair. "I can take on a yeti just fine." He said, "I've survived worse. Honestly I'll take a yeti any day to a sabretooth tiger." He chuckled. Natalya wrapped her arms around him tightly, "I love you so much Fen, I don't know what I would do without you." There was fear in her voice as she felt the reality start to set in of how much she didn't want to loose him. He kissed her lips gently and she leaned into him, enjoying the sweetness of his lips and breath. She felt so at home with Fenneck. He was such a comforting presence in her life, not just because of thiramin but because of how close they had become over the years. She enjoyed that thiramin only ever seemed to heighten their experience together, not lead it. She loved her life with him in the mountains and the adventure of helping the refugees. "I'm right here darling, everything is going to be just fine. I love you so much Nat." Fenneck said caressing her lovingly. She curled up into him and they slowly drifted off into their meditations.