Chapter 58 The Survivor's Guide
[Nyx]
I glanced up at Selene, still mounted on her brother's back. Despite everything—despite her guilt, her terror—she was functioning. Helping. This was what an Omega did. Not manual labor in the snow, but medical guidance and assistance.
I nodded at her. She'd found her role.
"Administering anti-shock medication," the lead Omega announced, injecting the first dose into the girl's arm. "Preparing cardiac stimulant."
The syringe plunged in. They worked with practiced efficiency, movements sharp and certain despite the brutal conditions.
"Her body's nearly shut down," the lead Omega said grimly. "We found her right at the edge. Any longer, and..." He didn't finish. Didn't need to.
"We need immediate transport to medical station! She requires professional rewarming treatment—our field capabilities are too limited!"
Just as they prepared to move her onto the stretcher, her eyelids began to flutter. Seconds later, they opened—green eyes wide with terror and confusion.
"You... you..." Her voice was barely audible, a thread of sound.
I immediately grasped her freezing hand in mine. "You're safe! We're Moonblade's rescue team!"
"Don't talk," the medical Omega advised from her other side. "Conserve energy."
But the girl's grip on my hand suddenly tightened—weak but determined. Tears slid from her frost-damaged cheeks.
"Lilith..." she forced out.
Everything inside me stopped.
"You saw Lilith?!" The words exploded from me, my voice shaking with desperate intensity. I clutched her hand harder.
"Nyx!" the medical Omega warned sharply. "She's extremely weak!"
I forced myself to breathe, to moderate my tone. "Slowly... what's your name? Did you see Lilith?"
On Damon's back, Selene went rigid. "She said Lilith..." Her voice trembled. "She knows where Lilith is..."
She leaned forward, straining to hear every word. Damon adjusted his stance, keeping her balanced while everyone held their breath.
The girl struggled to keep her eyes open, fighting to stay conscious. "I... I'm Mara..."
Each word cost her. "When the avalanche... came..."
Her voice kept breaking, breath shallow and labored. "Lilith... she... she pushed us away..."
Tears streamed continuously down her face. "She shouted... told us to run toward the boulder... said it might be safe..."
"She saved us... so many people..."
"But she herself... got swept away by the snow..."
Mara's voice grew fainter, but she pushed on with desperate determination. "Which direction?" I demanded. "Where did she go?"
Mara raised one trembling hand, pointing southwest. "That way... there's a very distinctive boulder... triangular-shaped... very large... wide base... sharp peak..."
She struggled to recall every detail. "Like... like a small mountain... like a pyramid..."
"Right near... where we were planning to ski..."
"Lilith got swept... in that direction..."
"I saw her... trying to grab the rocks... but the snow... too much snow..."
"She's buried... near the triangular stone..."
Her voice faded to almost nothing. "Please... please find her..."
"She saved all of us..."
"If not for her... we'd all be buried..."
"Please..."
On Damon's back, hearing Mara's description, Selene's tears fell like a dam breaking. "She saved them..." she choked out. "She pushed them away... but she herself..."
"All because of me..."
"If I hadn't suggested going there..."
Through the mind link, Symone's irritation flared sharp and immediate, directed at me: 'Nyx, stop coddling her. All this self-pity and crying won't help Lilith now.'
Symone's wolf let out a low, irritated growl aimed directly at Selene, her amber eyes flashing with barely contained frustration.
I caught Symone's mental complaint and shot her a gentle but firm look. Not now, Symone. She's already broken.
Symone's wolf ears flicked back in reluctant acknowledgment, but her displeasure was still evident. Another soft growl rumbled from her throat as she watched Selene continue to sob.
Selene's voice suddenly strengthened. "The triangular stone... I know that place..."
She immediately spoke into the radio: "I know where the triangular stone is!"
"I took them there! I know the route!"
I looked up at Selene mounted on Damon. "You're certain?"
"Certain!" She nodded vigorously. "From here, northeast direction, approximately five hundred meters!"
"I remember it clearly!"
"That boulder is very distinctive—exactly like a pyramid!"
But suddenly, Mara's eyes fluttered open again. Despite her weakness, she managed to whisper urgently: "No... not... northeast..."
Her voice was barely audible but determined. "Southwest... three hundred meters... not five hundred..."
She struggled to lift her trembling hand, pointing in the opposite direction from where Selene had indicated. "That way... definitely... that way..."
Selene's face went pale. "I... I thought..." She faltered, looking confused and embarrassed. "Maybe I... maybe I remembered wrong..."
"The storm... everything looks different..." Her voice trailed off uncertainly.
Symone's mental voice cut through the link like ice: 'Perfect. First she gets them all into this mess, now she can't even remember basic directions. Real helpful.'
I placed a calming hand gesture toward Symone's position. Enough, I projected gently but firmly. She's scared and guilt-ridden. We need to focus on finding Lilith, not blame.
Symone's wolf let out a barely audible huff, but she held back further commentary.
After providing this crucial correction, Mara's eyes closed again, having exhausted every ounce of remaining strength. But her correction was clear enough. Critical enough.
The medical Omega checked immediately: "Just unconscious. Vital signs have stabilized somewhat."
"We must transport her now!"
I gripped her hand one final time, tears blurring my vision. But these weren't tears of despair—they were tears of hope.
Triangular boulder... southwest direction... right near the stone...
Lilith is there!
She still has a chance to be alive!
"Who is she?" I asked the medical Omega.
One of the Moonblade Omegas checked Mara's clothing, finding a small badge. "Moonblade Pack. Name's Mara."
She's one of ours, Symone confirmed through the link. Omega, works in administration. Very young—just eighteen. Recently graduated and joined Moonblade.
I stared at Mara's unconscious face. This girl had been saved by Lilith. And Lilith was still somewhere under the snow. Fate unknown.
She saved so many people... The thought echoed in my mind. I have to find her. I must.
"Maya," I commanded, "take two Omegas. Transport Mara to medical station immediately! Move fast but steady—she needs professional rewarming treatment!"
Maya dismounted from Seth's back. "Understood!"
She and two other Omegas carefully lifted Mara onto the stretcher, securing her with the thermal blanket intact, ensuring the oxygen mask and portable heaters remained functional. Then the three of them began moving toward the medical station.
Selene watched from Damon's back, praying silently for Mara's safety. And for Lilith to still be alive.
I stood abruptly, looking southwest. Through the blizzard, a massive triangular silhouette was barely visible. Approximately three hundred meters away.
"All search and support teams!" I commanded through the radio, voice ringing with renewed determination. "Target: Southwest direction, triangular boulder!"
"According to survivor Mara's testimony, Lilith was buried near that boulder!"
"Selene has confirmed the location!"
"Everyone converge on that position immediately!"
I paused, then added with absolute conviction: "We will find her!"
"We must find her!"
"Now, everyone—move out!"
Everyone except the three Omegas transporting Mara immediately remounted their wolves.
I swung back onto Lysander's back quickly. Selene was already positioned on Damon.
"I'll guide you," she told me, voice steady with determination. "I'll get us to the exact location."
I nodded. "Good. Stay on comms."
Lysander's massive brown wolf launched toward the triangular boulder at full speed. His stride was faster than before—he could feel my emotions through our growing bond: urgency, fear, hope all tangled together.
Damon's deep gray wolf carrying Selene followed immediately. Marcus, Symone, Seth, Owen, and all the other wolves in formation charged after us.
The entire team moved at maximum speed toward that direction. In deep snow, four legs maintained balance and velocity far better than two. For wolves, three hundred meters meant less than two minutes.
Lilith, hold on, I screamed silently. Your sister is coming. You have to hold on.
"Faster!" Selene shouted from Damon's back. "That direction! I can see the triangular stone!"
Her voice carried both hope and terror. Lilith, please... you saved Mara... you saved so many people... so you have to survive too... you have to...