Cold.

Everything was so cold.

The swirling flurry pelted his already numb face as he trudged through the frozen earth, hoping to find something, anything that could provide temporary shelter to weather through the storm. If he didn't find somewhere soon, there would be no hope for him, for as sure as the frozen droplets beat down upon his small form, he knew that he would likely fall this very night.

Oh, why hadn't they just kept to the city? True, it wasn't the best of places to be, but it damn sure beat being stuck in a blizzard, slowly freezing their asses off!

To add insult to injury, the winds chose just that time to strengthen, whipping the furred hood from his skull to flap annoyingly in the wind. The skies howled mightily, the flurries slowly becoming harder, much more painful as it found purchase upon his cheeks. Resolve faltering momentarily, he stilled as a sudden feeling of dread washed over him. The sky was darkening by the minute, no doubt preparing for an all out shitstorm, just.. great.

A small voice broke over the raging winds as a skeletal head emerged from beneath the semiwarm jacket. His melancholic thoughts were left on hold as he rushed to plaster a reassuring smile on his face. It wouldn't do for him to know just how boned they actually were. Shaky arms settled over the back of the little skeleton's skull, hoping to shield him from the biting hail.

"What is it, Paps?"

Papyrus, his sweet little brother gazed into his eyes forlornly as his small voice barely managed to rise over the storm, "Sans, how much farther?"

The elder skeleton kept his signature smile up, all the while his eyes took in the shivering form of his younger brother. His eye lights wavered as unshed tears clung to his tiny eye sockets, more welling as he looked to his brother for hope.

Something that Sans couldn't deliver.

Despite the terrible chill nipping at the exposed bones of his legs, Sans moved onward in hopes of at least making it closer to where he hoped civilization lie ahead. The odds weren't looking so good, but he had to keep moving forward, he was determined to keep Papyrus safe. One hand moved to cradle the youngster against his chest while the other pushed his head against his neck as he used what little power he had to rise to the surface, giving them a little bit of warmth against the harsh cold.

Papyrus clutched tiny hands into the tattered shirt that lie beneath Sans' thin hoodie as he snuggled closer to the weary skeleton's neck. The wind still nipped warningly against the back of his skull, but he was thankful for the small gift Sans could muster. Warmth was warmth and he was grateful to have it. Tears fell unbidden as they soaked the front of Sans' dirty shirt, although he tried desperately to hold in his sobs and prayed that Sans would think his trembling form merely cold.

Sans wasn't fooled in the slightest, but he clutched Papyrus tighter, offering his strength and support as they moved slowly through the crunching snow.

"Don't worry, bro. We'll make it out of this. We're almost there.." His voice, though confident and a tad smug, was merely a front. He only hoped that he could get Papyrus somewhere safe before he succumbed to the numbing cold.

And so he carried on, one foot after the other, moving farther and farther away from the snowy meadow, out to where they hoped would lie Ebbot City.

How wrong they were..

The two carried on for what felt like years until finally, he began to lose any ounce of hope he once had. The elder brother was tiring substantially, hours of carrying on through the harsh weather, while trying to channel his power outward had taken its toll. Chest rising and falling in slow, unsteady rhythms while his form trembled with overuse, he struggled now more than ever to stay upright, to forge ahead. Things were turning from bad to dire as his power flickered unsteadily before blinking out entirely, leaving the two skeleton brothers to fight off the icy chill full force once more. But he refused to stop, his soul was aching as his powers receded back into his body, his arms and legs heavy and tired from the overexertion.

He knew he must move, if not for his own sake, then for his brother's. Papyrus deserved more than this. A shitty brother who couldn't protect him, couldn't feed him, could not provide for the tiny monster in his arms. Tears flooded his sockets as his heart filled with regret and sorrow. This was not the life he should be living, his brother deserved none of the hardships that came his way. If only fate had been different, if they had not-

Self deprecating thoughts fled the older skeleton as he focused on the landscape up ahead, the faint outline of something in the distance filling him with cautious hope. Sans could make out something in the distance. Squinting heavily, he could make out the shape of something solid, and quite large. It took a few moments before the greatest sight fell upon them.

Light! Piercing yellow light shone it's way through the darkened sky, the storm unable to hide it's warm glow.

Overjoyed, he rushed ahead, clutching Papyrus tightly as he cried his hopeful delight over the storm's fierce winds.

"We're almost there, Paps! We're.. al..most.."

With a low groan, Sans slumped forward, crashing to the snowy earth as he struggled to move. Grunting as he urged his body to stand, he found that the last of his strength was gone. Eyes growing wide, he fought to regain control of his limbs, only to find that he couldn't move. His arm trembled in front of his eyes, no doubt from the cold, and yet he could feel nothing. The overwhelming freeze that had clung to his bones was fading as no doubt his body was shutting down.

No, no! Not now! God, please.. We're almost there!

He begged any higher power out there to hear his plea, to have mercy as he felt himself growing weaker with each passing moment.

Papyrus struggled to free himself from his brother's grasp when he realized that Sans wasn't getting up. Fear overtook his small form as he shuffled under the weight of his brother, all the while calling out for Sans, only to receive no answer in return. Finally after what felt like forever did he manage to crawl out from underneath the large body, while he trembled from the piercing cold that surrounded him. Turning back, he couldn't stop the tears from coming as he witnessed his brother's limp form, tears of his own trailing down high cheeks to fall onto the snow beneath. Something was wrong, so very wrong!

"Sans, get up! Come on, we're almost there!"

Papyrus grabbed hold of a limp hand and pulled with all his might, hoping to spur the older skeleton into action. He sobbed quietly as Sans' eye lights flickered in and out, barely registering that he was there.

"Sans, please!"

His cries fell on deaf ears as the limp body beneath him gave no resistance. No matter how hard he tugged, he received no response.

"..Brother.. don't leave me!"

The flickering eye lights caught his as the older skeleton gave a small grin, one that aimed to hide his exhaustion and fear, but it fell short as his little brother clung to his arm with all his might, sobbing and wailing over the raging storm.

A shaky voice whispered close to his ear, "Pappy.. listen to me. That light up ahead.. go to it.."

The younger skeleton shook his head vigorously as his sobbing only grew in volume, "No! I won't leave you!"

"You need to.."

"NO! I WON'T LET YOU GO! YOU  CAN'T LEAVE ME, SANS!"

A few moments passed before Sans let out a weak chuckle, eyelights fading with every passing second. He wanted to give up, to rest his weary bones, but he needed to get Papyrus to safety. With a sad smile, he finally whispered, "Please.. go. Get help, bro.. I can't.."

The two stayed there on the ground for a few moments before Papyrus nodded and climbed to his feet, hurrying towards the golden light, towards his only hope of saving the only family he had left.

Sans saw him off before his eyes closed, a shaky breath leaving his body as the tears kept falling. It was a dirty trick, he knew. But it was the only way to make sure Papyrus lived. He was too far gone to be saved, but pappy.. He would live, survive this night and hopefully find someone willing to take him in.

As a tiny spark of hope filled his soul, Sans gave a small smile, one of acceptance and resignation. Eyes dimming, his consciousness finally left.