Submission (#2056) Approved

The icy mulch ripped Daere’s legs out from underneath him as a hailstorm of projectiles hammered against the cold slants of the oppressive trench. He barely had to time realise the feel of frost biting his visor before he had been thrown back upon his unsteady feet by Bebe. The titan crouched, a stone statue listening for enemy movement. He must have sensed something Daere could not, for all he could here was the ferocious roar of tempest as it rampaged through the battlefield and the thunderous attack of snowballs ploughing against their cover. Finally Bebe spoke, his quiet words powerful through the crashing of the world around them.
“They’re going to attempt an air supported pincer manoeuvre, Korvis will attack from above to distract us while Bishop blitzes forward and Bite hits us from behind. Surrounded and disoriented we’d be done for. Instead, Galth is going to turn a pile of snow to gold which will distract Korvis. Bishop wont dare charge into no man’s land without cover fire and so while I fend him off you will deal with Bite. Understood?”
Daere nodded, adrenaline pumping through his veins.
“Good. Now where is Galth? GALTH! GALTH! GALTHAZZAR SKULL-CRUSHER IF YOU AREN’T HERE BY THE COUNT OF THREE I’M GOING TO LOSE MY MIND! 1! 2!”
Galth’s head burst from a hidey-hole as he scrambled out, waddling over urgently. As Bebe beckoned him over, the shadow of death soared over. Bebe leaped onto Galth, covering him from the rain of heavy hard snowballs as they exploded all around them.
“QUICK, GO! GO! GO! GALTH WE NEED GOLD FAST, THROW SOME AT THE BIRD!”
Every muscle shot into action: Bebe compacting snow into rock-hard balls and hurling them like a trebuchet, Galth diving for the ground making gold clumps, Daere sprinting to defend the reserve trench behind them. Yellow flew upward, it’s glint traveling for all to see before it was snatched from the air. A cry of glee from the Krow followed by Bishop’s bellow rolling through the mutilated land.
“KORVIN! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! I WAS JUST ABOUT TO ATTACK! THE PLAN KORVIN, THE PLAN!”
Distantly a sheepish “My apologies sire.” Could be heard.
But it was too late. Daere sat listening for the light patter of Bite creeping every closer. As they stood on the ledge Daere kicked out the supporting snow and they came tumbling down at Daere’s mercy, his snowball pointed directly at them. But something about their innocent gaze gripped his heart and spread warmth through his cold bones. He lowered his arm and they got up and ran. Daere turned back, shaken by the feeling that grasped his body, the world collapsing and restoring itself with every step.
“It’s complete?” Bebe questioned upon his return to the front line. Ashamed, Daere shook his head. Exasperated Bebe peered over the top. Bishop barrelled towards them like an animal possessed, roaring challenge.
“COME OUT YOU COWARD AND FIGHT ME LIKE THE UNSTOPPABLE FORCE YOU PRESENT YOURSELF TO BE!”
Bebe’s feet shook the earth as they connected with the ground as to rise to face Bishop. He towered above all else, a colossus compared to those around him. He strode forward, missiles of cold striking him again and again, unfazed staring at the sneering Jaws of Hell, untouched by fear. Not until the soft white snow hit hard and splattered against the back of his leg did the behemoth fall. Bite stood upon a mound having just thrown the finishing blow. Daere lay in shock, the nip of ice underneath him nothing compared to the wound of betrayal from the one he had spared.
“Et tu, Bite?”
Bite staggered back, averting their gaze. Bishop posed with flourish over the fallen mountain, revelling in his victory.
“Come here Bite, allow us to claim this victory together.”
Daere sat paralysed, propped up against a wall as Bite plodded over to Bishop who had already scooped the final snowball. His imposing figure stood like a fortress above Daere’s feeble body. He raised his arm, ready for the final strike. As it came down Daere closed his eyes, accepting his fate. Only the snowball never hit him. Bite had lunged for Bishop as he had thrown and so it flew way off course. It soared through the air before exploding against a passerby. A terra by the name of Blake who sparsely showed an ounce of emotion. But as he stood with snow dripping down his face, his wrath could be felt all throughout everything before the horizon. A rage that manifested so fiercely it shook the souls of all those who witnessed. A snowball the size of a boulder was held aloft above him briefly before it came plummeting down upon the ill-prepared Bishop like a crashing planet.
“Oh shi-“
Satiated with his destruction Blake continued onwards. Korvis conceded to dig out Bishop while Galth naively tried to pull Bebe to his feet. Daere stared at Bite.
“You… saved me?”
“You did the same for me.”
Korvis cut in, “This time again next week?”
“Yeah, I’d like that.”