Henry felt tiny tears fall down his face as Donghae held his hand tightly. The blizzard swirled around them, and they had no idea which way to go. They had been walking blindly in the snow for almost an hour, with no clear direction to get them home.

Regretting the mountain hike, Hae could sense that Henry was close to giving up.

 

The younger boy was struggling with the cold, his limbs stiff and heavy as he kept walking slowly, holding tightly to Hae's hand. 

"Just keep going Henry, just a little bit further."

"Where are we? We don't even know if we're going the right way.." His voice was broken, and Hae stopped to hold him close.

Truthfully, Donghae felt like giving up himself. He felt like sinking into the snow and sobbing until they were rescued. But he knew that that wouldn't help them at all.

"We have to keep moving Henry, to keep the blood flowing."

"I can't.." The younger boy sunk to the floor and curled up pitifully, his warm winter hat hidden in the soft white snow that swirled around them. His heavy backpack was sunk into the snow beside him.

 

Kneeling next to him, Hae put a gentle hand on his back and rubbed softly. Henry looked up at him with tearful eyes, pleading with the older boy to let him sleep, to let them stay there. Donghae motioned for the younger boy to climb onto his back, and Henry hugged him tightly as he clung to his back like a monkey. 

"Thank you" he whispered into his ear, as he felt himself being lifted up off his sore feet.

 

The boy was heavy, and the thick snow made walking even more difficult as Hae crunched through it. Both of their backpacks in his arms, he regretted the trip completely.

He could feel Henry's arms wrapping stronger around him, and hugging his neck. The small shakes from the boy let Donghae know that he was sobbing terribly. 

 

Putting the boy down to stand on the ground, he his hair softly. 

"Try and stay positive, okay?"

Henry was crying, and desperately clinging to Hae. 

"It's so cold, and we're lost."

Spotting a small cave in the side on the mountain, Donghae smiled in relief. "We're not lost Henry, we'll sit in that cave until the snow stops."

Struggling over to the cave, which seemed further away than he had expected, they sat down on the rocks inside. 

 

Hugging close together away from the snow drifts, Henry nuzzled against Donghae's chest and the older boy rubbed his cheeks to try and warm them up.

"It's so cold hyung.."

"I know Henry, just cuddle close to me and we'll wait for the snow to stop."

"The cold hurts my lungs.."

Donghae opened his eyes wide as he looked at Henry properly for the first time since the blizzard had began. Now that he could see him clearly he noticed just how blue his lips were, and how pale his skin was. He was breathing in short pants and hadn't stopped shivering for even a moment.

 

Remembering an old survival show that he had watched, an idea sprang into Hae's mind. But he wasn't sure how Henry would react to it. 

"Henry, we need to get and then wrap us up together in this blanket and put all of our clothes around us."

The younger boy shook his head. "What?! No. I don't want to do that!"

"Please Henry! Look at how cold you are.. I promise it'll work."

After a short pause, Henry finally nodded. 

 

Undressing felt terrible, and Henry was shivering so badly that he could barely hold himself upright. When Hae made a nest for them with blankets and jackets from their backpacks, he lay down on the soft material and felt the tiredness begin to leave his body. Hae lay down next to him and placed the other blanket and jacket over them so that they were completely encased in the warmth. Hugging awkwardly together, Henry felt hugely self-conscious. He wanted to press himself completely against Donghae, to soak in the warmth and the sweet scent of the older boy, but he knew that Hae might be less than pleased at the action.

 

Before he had even fully finished the thought, he felt the older boy pull him impossibly close and cradle him against his chest. 

"Are you feeling a bit warmer Henry?"

"Yes thanks hyung." The younger boy hugged closer, and felt the warmth around him.

He could feel the soft glow begin to spread through his body, and he nuzzled tighter into Hae. The warmth spread to his heart,which was pounding wildly at the thought of being so close to Donghae.

Cradled together, they fell asleep safe and happy as they lay tightly wrapped up against the elements.