Chilling Truce

The wind howled through the icy landscape, carrying stinging shards of snow that bit into the skin of any creature caught in its gales. Everything in sight was obscured by a thick veil of mist and layers of snow. Sergeant, a fully grown cryolophosaurus with a striking green cape of colour complementing his otherwise black and dark grey coat, trudged through the blizzard with heavy steps. His feathers and thick skin shielded him from some of the cold, but even he wasn’t immune to the unforgiving elements as the icy winds stung his eyes and rendered his limbs numb from the freezing cold snow engulfing his legs to the knees. His bright green eyes scanned the snowy expanse, looking for a crevice, a cave, maybe even just a patch of particularly densely packed trees. Anything to shelter him from the harsh weather.

A dark outline emerged through the storm, a shallow cave nestled in a rocky outcrop. Relief surged through Sergeant and he trudged toward it without a second thought. As he ducked inside, the wind’s haunting howls muffled down within. He shook the snow off his body and exhaled, his breath a foggy cloud in the chilled air. A glance outside promised that he’d likely stay in this cave for quite a while. Venturing out into the storm again would be a terribly foolish idea, especially as it appears to pick up in severity. Lucky, he escaped the harsh weather before it got worse.

His relief was short-lived.

From deeper within the shelter, a low growl rumbled. Sergeant squinted into the dark, still blinded by the sheer white of the snowstorm, as a second cryo stepped into view from the back end of the cave. She was just slightly smaller than him, healthy, lean, with a reddish tint in her eye and a stance making it clear she is anything but hospitable. 

“You’re in my cave,” she hissed, baring her teeth.

Sergeant straightened to his full height, recognising a familiar face as he glanced down on her. “Your cave? I didn’t see your name on it, Mute.”

“Testing my patience again, aren’t you?” Mute snorted, her breath puffing out in visible cloudy bursts. “Don’t play dumb. Find your own cave. Or we can continue where we left off last time.”

Sergeant let out an unconcerned chuckle. “You want me to go out in this weather? I’ll freeze out there before I find another cave. Looks like we’re sharing.”

She was already on edge, but how little he seemed to care only offended her. “Sharing isn’t an option. Leave or fight!”

“No,” Sergeant said flatly, stepping further into the cave, his confidence alone competing easily against Mute’s aggression. “You’re not scary enough to make me.”

Mute’s feathers bristled at the audacity, and her face contorted into a snarl as she let out an angry hiss. She stalked closer till they stood snout to snout, her tail lashing behind her. “Not scary enough?! Try me, Sergeant.”

The cave seemed to shrink as the two predators stared each other down, their breaths mingling in the cold air.

“Back down, Mute,” Sergeant commanded with composed authority. “You’re not strong enough to take me and you know it.”

Mute lunged forward, snapping her jaws just short of Sergeant’s neck. A clear warning. “You are a fool if you think strength and size alone wins. I am faster and smarter than a numbskull like you.”

Sergeant laughed, a deep rumble that echoed through the cave. “Faster? Maybe. Smarter? Doubtful. You’re wasting energy picking a fight you can’t win.”

Mute snarled, but before she could retort, a sharp gust of wind roared outside the cave, sending a spray of snow swirling in. Both cryos instinctively turned their heads toward the entrance, backing away from it.

Sergeant sighed and bluntly sat down onto the cave floor, shaking his head. “Neither of us are going anywhere until this storm passes. You can sulk all you want, but I’m staying put.”

Mute hesitated, her muscles still tense, her pride still hurt, her patience close to snap. Finally, she let out an annoyed huff and settled down on the opposite side of the cave, as far from Sergeant as the space allowed. As much as she liked to argue and fight for her space, he’s got a point.

It wasn’t worth picking a fight for this shelter. The storm raged outside, it didn’t appear to wane in harshness, and Sergeant was a strong male. In a larger arena there might have been different odds, but here he could defeat her easily in such an enclosed space. Freezing in the cold outside, or gutted and bleeding out from an unnecessary fight- What was the difference?

Swallowing her pride and tolerating the nonchalant intruder, for a while, the only sound was the wind howling outside.

[...]

Hours passed. The storm showed no sign of letting up, and the cave grew colder as night fell over the landscape. Both cryos shifted uncomfortably on the cold rock floor, their bodies conserving heat with the help of their dense winter coats but their tempers simmering.

Mute shuffled on her spot, grumbling something under her breath. She’s sick of staying put and waiting. The night is the time for hunting and her limbs crave action, but they are trapped here lest she wants to get lost. Her eyes were trained on the intruder in an unblinking stare as if it could evaporate him into thin air if she tried hard enough.

His eyes were closed in an attentive nap, but as if he felt her sharp eyes bore into him he broke the silence. “You’re staring again.”

“I am not,” she snapped.

Sergeant gave her a sideways glance, opening just the eye facing her. “You don’t like that I am here, I get it, but you might need me here,” He gave her a sly smirk, uncaring for the daggers her gaze threw at him. “Two bodies are better than one in this cold. Maybe little space is beneficial.”

Mute bared her teeth and replied only with an exasperated hiss. Curling her tail closer to her body and her back turned to the green tinted male, she clearly dismissed the mere thought of snuggling together. She’d rather freeze to death!

Sergeant tilted his head thoughtfully at her shuffling, maybe even concerned. To him she always seemed lonely, even as she played mighty matriarch and surrounded herself with henchmen and subordinates. His view untainted by fear, he sees her in another perspective than most that have met her. It might be a foolish attempt, but he’d like to see if he eventually manages to break down her walls. He’s got the bulk to challenge her physically, why not reach further.

Before he left each other in silence for too long, he spoke up again. “The storm might even rage for days by the looks of it-”

“Come closer and I’ll rip your tail off,” she snapped her head up to look over her shoulder at him and interrupted him before he could finish the thought. He was having a little too much fun for her taste.

“Just the tail? How generous of you. I might entertain the risk,” he replied back in feign surprise and gratitude, let out a husky chuckle.

“All you do is talk nonsense.” Mute let out a sharp scoff. She knew he was just playing, but it annoyed her to no end. “You’re all bluster and no bite.”

“Care to test that theory?” Sergeant challenged, his neon green eyes gaining a mischievous spark.

Mute glared at him again. It wasn’t worth replying, he was a little too quick with his come-backs. Eager to abandon the conversation, she turned her head back to face the wall instead.

[...]

The storm continued to rage, but as the night wore on, the tension between the two cryos began to thaw. They traded more jabs, their bickering losing its edge as each was focused on preserving their own heat, each in their own corner. Sergeant was smart enough not to push his luck and welcomed the calm.

By the time dawn began to break, the storm had finally started to subside. The wind died down, and faint sunlight filtered through the clouds. Both Cryolophosaurs stirred, stretching their stiff limbs and shaking off the chill.

Mute was the first to spring from her spot and moved toward the cave entrance. She sniffed the cold fresh air.

Sergeant joined her after a well-needed stretch, his larger frame casting a shadow over hers once he joined her side.

They stood in silence for a moment, watching the snow glitter in the pale morning light.

“You’re not as unbearable as I thought,” Mute said suddenly, her tone begrudging but it lacked the usual bite.

Sergeant raised an eyebrow. “High praise coming from you.”

“Don’t let it go to your head,” she warned, but there was no malice in her voice as she took the first steps into the wilds.

The green cryo smirked into himself. “You weren’t bad company either. I still have all my limbs.”

But Mute has already taken a path away from him, not that eager to continue the conversation or listen to his jokes. Sergeant left her brooding her own thoughts and stepped into the fresh snow in a separate direction. Neither of them said it aloud, they didn’t talk much at the end of it, but they both knew they’d remember this storm and each other. For better or worse, they’d survived it together without bloodshed.

(1588 words according to Google Docs)