[ By the time they clear the trees, the trudge down the rest of the descent isn't as steep, but it is more thickly buried in snow, so that his steps are occasionally a struggle, especially with Claude draped across his back. His arms heft him a little higher, limbs cold and stiff despite the shared body heat between them. It's not quite enough to counter the cold bite of winter air around them. Claude's starting to move past the point of shivering, which is worriesome and has him speeding his movements as much as he can without losing his balance in the snow. He's got to get him out of the elements soon - his own endurance isn't going to hold up much longer out here either.
So when he sees two figures racing towards them across the snow, he almost drops to his knees in relief. Staggering, he tries to shake Claude's legs, seeing if he can rouse him. ]
Claude. Claude? They found us.
[ Of course, he only makes it another half dozen steps before the girls reach him and Hilda's punch is all it takes to topple what little strength and balance he had left. His legs give out beneath him with a strangled curse and he tightens his grip on Claude in an effort to not drop him on his ass in the snow, even as he goes down into a waiting drift.
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So when he sees two figures racing towards them across the snow, he almost drops to his knees in relief. Staggering, he tries to shake Claude's legs, seeing if he can rouse him. ]
Claude. Claude? They found us.
[ Of course, he only makes it another half dozen steps before the girls reach him and Hilda's punch is all it takes to topple what little strength and balance he had left. His legs give out beneath him with a strangled curse and he tightens his grip on Claude in an effort to not drop him on his ass in the snow, even as he goes down into a waiting drift.
Ow. ]