#'spoiler' for my own stories: she's kind of cio's counterpart; in some ways

[kerra-and-company]

Touching 20. For the prompts!

Heya @salamanderapocalypse and thanks so much for the prompt!! :) Sorry this took a couple days, but here you go! See under the cut for the rest of the fic. 

Warnings: Icebrood Saga spoilers, vague discussion of frostbite

Bjora Marches was cold and creepy and utterly unpleasant, and since Minei knew basic first aid, she was on medic duty.

Specifically, she was in charge of trying to keep soldiers from wandering off into the forest, chasing voices. And of trying to keep them alive.

That was usually difficult (if not impossible) and painful. Today, it was just annoying. No one was dying, but a squad of Vigil soldiers had stayed outside too long. She was in charge of treating their lieutenant, a very tall norn who looked utterly exhausted—probably from carrying two of their squad back to Jora’s Keep singlehandedly—and who had the oddest case of frostbite she’d ever seen.

“What did you do, stick your right hand and only your right hand into a snowdrift?” she muttered, dunking the lieutenant’s hand in a bowl of warm water. They snorted.

“No. I made the grave mistake of grabbing an Icebrood Svanir by the arm to stop him from cutting my head off,” they said. “And I didn’t have gloves on.”

“Why on Tyria did you not have gloves on?” Minei reached across the table to grab bandages, setting them next to her so they’d be ready when the injured tissue was warmer.

They shrugged. “I’ve never had trouble with the cold.”

Minei sighed, leaning back in her chair. “We’re going to have to sit here for a while. I’m Minei. She/her. What about you, Lieutenant?”

“Tanza’s fine. She/they.”

“You a fan of snow, Tanza?”

“Not in particular. But I do think it’s beautiful.”

It was Minei’s turn to snort. “That sounds like a fan to me.”

The corner of Tanza’s mouth curved up. “I was found in a cave as a baby by the women who would become my mothers. As far as we know, the only reason I didn’t freeze to death was snow.”

Minei blinked. She’d meant to make small talk, not share personal information. Then she processed what Tanza had said, and she furrowed her brow. “I don’t follow.”

“Do you know how some animals sleep through the winter?” Minei nodded. “Some of those animals dig tunnels made entirely out of snow and stay there for months. They don’t die because, funnily enough, snow walls actually trap heat.”

Tanza looked down, her eyes not quite focused. “There was a snowdrift in front of the cave when I was found. The snow protected me.”

See, child? It is as I told you—ice fortifies. Ice protects.

“Ice is not snow,” Minei snapped aloud.

Tanza’s eyes jumped back up. “Sorry?”

“Never mind.” Minei’s voice was tense. “Not talking to you.”

Their face shifted just a little. “Ah. Well. Okay.” They coughed. “The more important point is that I was saved. And I was lucky in more ways than one. I ended up with wonderful mothers who taught me to hunt and to respect the Spirits. What about your parents? What are they like?”

It depends which ones you mean, Minei thought. The ones I can’t remember? The one who raised me? Or the one who died for me?

Aloud, she said, “I had them. I don’t now.” Anticipating pity, which she did not want, she quickly added, “But I’m glad you do. Let’s take a look at your hand.” It was far too early for that, but it was a change of subject, at least.

Tanza carefully lifted her hand out of the water, and the two blinked.

“You didn’t tell me you were going to heal me with magic,” Tanza said.

“I didn’t,” Minei said, completely nonplussed. She grabbed Tanza’s hand, inspecting the palm and fingers for any sign of discoloration or chill. There was none. “I can’t heal that way. I don’t know how.”

More than that, no one on medic duty today could have healed Tanza. None of them had so much as talked to her, and, more importantly, none of them were capable. Jormag seemed to have a particular fondness for taking out healers, and the Vigil was still waiting for reinforcements.

Minei shook her head. She’d seen enough weirdness to last a thousand lifetimes; she wouldn’t let this unsettle her. “I have no idea what just happened,” she said. “But I’m still giving you a bandage.”

Tanza laughed, and Minei began wrapping their hand in gauze. The entire process was over in under a minute, and Minei secured the gauze with a pin.

“All right,” she said. “You should be good to go. But stay in the keep today, and wear gloves next time.”

“No promises,” Tanza said lightheartedly. She stood up and headed towards the door.

“Lieutenant!” Minei called after her.

They turned around. “Yes, Warmaster?”

“At least promise not to die, would you? We’ve lost too many soldiers already.”

Tanza grinned, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “I’ll do my best.”