In a World so Cold

Reference Credit

Ingrid's stomach gave a growl. She hadn't stopped walking for hours now, not to eat, not to rest, not even to scratch an itch. Stopping would inevitably mean getting a moment to think, and she was scared of where her thoughts could lead her. It was cold, and the rain had started up again. The plants in the forest grew thick, and they whipped against her chest and brushed her sides as she walked. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a flash of red.

That's weird... Fucking rift. Fucking red plants. Nothing is right, nothing is the color it's supposed to be. Fuck it all.

She turned her head towards it, but didn't slow. That's when she caught sight of a familiar-looking red and black mare calling out. Ingrid doubled back at a faster pace, feeling a twinge of hope for the first time in what seemed like forever. "Shit. Akumi? Akumi, is that you?" Ingrid asked, not daring to believe her eyes. She thought the rift must be tricking her. She hadn't seen her friend go through the portal. Ingrid had been counting her with the dead this whole time.

"I'm here, I'm right fucking here!"

@Akumi