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The cold intensified around us with each successive bite of our meal, and our breaths frosted in the air. Sharp wind bit at the insides of my nostrils, and the food grew less appetizing.
The night sky was a sea of countless stars and glowing planets winking back at us. Only some stars were blotted out by the faint tendrils of snow clouds. I cursed in my mind, careful not to annoy Antonio anymore.
I wrapped myself in my sleeping bag and tried to get comfortable on the hard, cold ground with a small stash of food to finish eating. I felt completely exhausted from the day’s journey but my mind was still wide awake. The tremor had settled in, and I was shivering violently in my little sack.
My hands were partially numb, so I stuck them under my arms to help warm them up through the gloves I’d been given. The chill in the air was uncomfortable but bearable, and after a few minutes of being tucked in tightly, I felt somewhat better. The cool air made the urge to throw up eased.
Antonio’s voice pierced through the quiet. “I know you’re sick.”
I closed my eyes and let out a shaky breath. “I’m not sick.”
A moment passed before he said, “Okay.”
Then we were back to silence.
As night progressed, my thoughts increasingly turned towards the year I’d lived on the streets as memories of laughter and fun times with Magda came flooding back.
A bone-deep loneliness had taken over again, and I couldn’t help myself from making conversation.
“You were right—I forgot to get water at the bottom of the stream. But I don’t see why it matters so much if I had done a better job of staying hidden,” I started, chewing on some bland, dried fruit.
I heard Antonio let out a long exhale. “You haven’t dropped that yet? A word of advice, learn your lesson and move on.” His voice was tight and gruff.
I shifted in my sleeping bag, my feet still freezing. “How could I drop it when I still don’t understand why you were so upset? It will snow while I’m competing in the tournament. If worse came to worst, I could eat snow to stay hydrated.”
Antonio made a mangled sound. “San Volcán, you know nothing.”
My cheeks heated, and I was grateful for the dark curtain of night that prevented him from seeing. I wanted to shout at him again, but what he’d said about my life depending on these tournaments rang true. I gathered my strength and croaked, “So teach me.”
There were several moments of quiet. “The rivers freeze the higher you get, which is a problem. You may need to use snow, but eating snow is not the same as drinking water.” Antonio spoke slowly, patiently. “Your body needs water to be in a liquid state in order for it to nourish you, so your body must work twice as hard to heat and melt the snow once it is eaten. You will become more dehydrated rather than hydrated. Your Blood Magic heals you, but it also feeds off of your well-being. If you are not doing well, then it won’t work fast enough and you will die. ”
I listened carefully to what he said. It made sense.
He continued, “You are at more of a risk for hypothermia, too. You will continue to lose more water than you are taking in.”
I let out a breath. “No snow, then,” I whispered.
“No snow unless you can melt it,” he corrected.
I nodded, even though he couldn’t see. After a few more moments in the cold, chilly air, the both of us went silent and fell asleep.
Chapter28
La Cima
The next morning started early, just as the day before had. The cold made it hard to sleep. Of course, the grump currently sleeping soundly rewarded any whiff of complaining on my part with a gruff lecture.
The best way to combat the cold was to preserve heat. Moisture wicking layers, avoiding getting wet, keeping every body part covered.
I got it.
If I died tomorrow, I would still think about how to survive in the cold of oblivion.
Before hiking, we ate a few nuts and dried fruits in silence.
Again.
My body felt like someone had beaten me half an inch within my life. My ribs were bruised and sore. Carrying my pack had taken its toll, along with my poor night’s sleep, and this pounding headache. Absentmindedly, I rubbed the painful spot on my back.
