"…Never," he muttered, "am I doing this without instructions again."
Si Hon slid down Boreas's side surprisingly smoothly and landed on his feet. Hana immediately burst into applause, clapping excitedly like she'd just witnessed a legendary performance. Sixxy barked along, tail wagging furiously.
"Woof! Woof!"
Si Hon straightened, dusted himself off, and flashed a smug grin.
"See?" he said proudly. "Easy."
Boreas looked and snorted.
Ignoring that, Si Hon turned and headed back toward the tent. Inside, Arven was lying down, arms folded behind her head, eyes half-lidded like she was thinking of something deep.
"…What are you doing there?" Si Hon asked.
"Resting," Arven replied lazily. She waved a hand at him. "Shoo. Shoo. Let me guess— you finally managed to put the saddle on Boreas?"
"…Yeah."
"Good." She didn't even look at him. "Now go. Nivalis is next. Shoo."
She flicked her fingers dismissively.
Si Hon stared at her for a second, then sighed, reached beside the bed, grabbed the second saddle, and dragged it toward the exit.
"…I really should start charging for this," he muttered as he stepped out of the tent.
He looked over againonce more.
Nivalis sat beside Boreas, their massive paws neatly crossed atop one another, calm and composed… almost regal.
"Agh!" Si Hon groaned and dragged himself forward anyway. Sixxy and Hana popped out from behind the tent and followed close behind, clearly excited.
Si Hon ignored it.
Standing in front of Nivalis, Si Hon finally got a proper look at her.
She was terrifying.
Unlike Boreas's heavy, rugged build, Nivalis's body was lean and powerful, her furless hide stretched tight over the dense muscle. Old scars traced across her form— one deep line cutting beneath her left eye, another splitting the edge of her mouth, and more faint marks scattered along her neck and flank.
Her eyes locked onto Si Hon.
Not blinking.
Cold.
Shit… she's way scarier than Boreas…
Then—
Nivalis opened her mouth.
She leaned down toward him, massive jaws parting just enough that Si Hon could see the size of her fangs.
His blood ran cold.
This is it. I'm dead.
A full blooded Ursa Canis… not like Boreas—
"A-ARVE—!"
Nivalis's tongue flicked out.
Slrp.
She licked him across the face.
"….."
Silence.
I'm… really embarrassing myself today.
Sixxy barked wildly, tail wagging. Hana burst out laughing, wiping tears from her eyes as Nivalis lowered herself to the ground and lay flat, letting out a short bark.
"Woof."
"Oh— Dad!" Hana said between giggles. "Sixxy says you can put the saddle on her now!"
"…Alright. Alright," Si Hon sighed, rubbing his face as he stepped to Nivalis's side.
Up close, he stopped.
"Wait… how am I supposed to climb when she's furless?" he muttered. Then frowned. "And— isn't she cold? It's freezing out here."
He placed a hand against her side.
Warm.
Much warmer than he expected.
Sixxy barked again.
Hana nodded and translated, "Sixxy says Nivalis can tense her muscles and regulate her body heat. Her skin warms itself, so she doesn't get cold."
"…Of course she can," Si Hon muttered.
He glanced at Nivalis, who remained perfectly still, patient, her tail giving a slow, steady thump against the ground.
"…Wow," he admitted quietly.
"She's kind."
Sixxy barked once, sharp and proud.
"And yes," Si Hon added with a tired sigh, lifting the saddle, "I really need the skill Speak with Animals. That was one bark for… like, five sentences."
He then stared at her broad, furless side.
"…So," Si Hon said carefully, "now… how am I supposed to climb, by the way?"
Sixxy immediately barked and turned toward Nivalis.
"Woof! Woof!"
Nivalis's ears twitched.
Then—
Her body tensed.
Her muscles popped.
It was like watching a living anatomy chart activate. Thick cords of muscle rolled beneath her skin, her sides tightening, shoulders bulging slightly, her entire frame becoming unnaturally defined. Even the old scars stretched faintly as her body hardened.
Si Hon froze.
"…Damn," he muttered before he could stop himself.
Sixxy barked once, smug.
Hana clapped her hands. "Sixxy says, Mom is helping! She's making herself easier to climb!"
"…That's one way to put it," Si Hon said weakly.
He reached out and placed both hands against Nivalis's left side, it was so SOLID, and warm.Very warm.
"Okay… okay…" he murmured, gripping carefully. "I'm climbing. Don't— don't move."
Nivalis stayed perfectly still.
He hauled himself up, feet against the pure muscle, fingers digging into her muscles. It was like climbing a heated stone wall that breathed.
Halfway up, he paused.
"…Why is this easier than Boreas," he muttered.
Sixxy barked happily.
With one final pull, Si Hon swung himself onto Nivalis's broad back.
The moment he settled—
Her muscles relaxed.
"WOAH."
He nearly faceplanted as the surface beneath him softened, warmth spreading evenly beneath his palms. Nivalis let out a low, calm huff, completely unbothered.
Si Hon froze, then slowly exhaled.
"…Okay," he admitted quietly, lying flat for a second.
"…This is actually really comfortable."
Nivalis's tail thumped once against the ground.
Then Sixxy barked.
"Dad," she said proudly, "Sixxy says. Mom likes you."
"…I'm honored," Si Hon replied, staring at the cave ceiling.
"Also mildly terrified. But mostly honored."
Si Hon shifted, then slowly sat up before giving in and lying flat against Nivalis's broad back.
Warm and Soft.
"…This is ridiculously comfortable," he muttered. "Like a king-sized bed that's permanently heated."
He crawled carefully toward the edge and peeked down.
Hana was standing below, staring up at him with sparkling eyes.
"I… I think I want to go up there with you, Dad," she said softly. Then her shoulders drooped. "But I don't know how…"
Si Hon sigh.
"I… don't think I can carry you up here," he said, "Sorry, Hana."
She smiled anyway. "It's okay."
Sixxy suddenly barked.
Before Si Hon could react, Boreas stood up and walked over to Hana. Gently, very gently— he lowered his massive head and lifted her with it.
"W– woah?!" Hana yelped, arms flailing.
In one smooth mution, Boreas placed her carefully beside Si Hon on Nivalis's back.
"…W–woah," Hana whispered, stunned.
She turned toward Boreas, eyes shining.
"Thank you!" she said brightly.
Then she lay down, hugging Nivalis's broad back, pressing her cheek against the warm skin and rubbing it happily.
"Hehe… it really does feel nice, Dad," Hana giggled.
"Yeah," Si Hon said, smiling.
He pushed himself up, grabbed the saddle, and positioned it carefully atop Nivalis's back.
"…Now," he muttered, rolling his shoulders, "let's get this done properly."
Si Hon swung his leg over, settled himself properly, and placed the saddle down right at the center of her broad back.
Si Hon adjusted the saddle one last time, tugging the straps with ease.
It settled perfectly against Nivalis's back, snug and balanced.
He leaned back to admire his work, then glanced down at Sixxy with a smug little grin.
"…See?" he said proudly. "Perfect this time."
Sixxy sniffed the saddle, circled once, then barked.
"Woof."
Hana, meanwhile, hadn't moved an inch. She was still sprawled comfortably on the softer part of Nivalis's back, hugging it like a pillow.
"Hehehe," she giggled, rubbing her cheek against the warm skin."Sixxy's mom back feels sooo comfortable."
Si Hon snorted. "Yeah, yeah. Don't get too attached."
He stepped onto the saddle and sat down properly this time.
Up close, the saddle itself was clearly made for travel. Thick leather straps wrapped securely around Nivalis's body, reinforced with heavy stitching and metal rings. A sturdy grip rose slightly at the front— something to hold onto during fast movement or sudden turns.
Beneath it all was a layered, stitched carpet pad, soft and insulated, meant to protect both rider and mount from strain and cold. It was well-worn, patched in places, clearly reused more than once.
Comfortable.
But—
Si Hon shifted slightly and glanced down.
"…Still not as soft as her back," he muttered.
Nivalis let out a low, pleased huff.
Satisfied, Si Hon stood up and rolled his shoulders, stretching.
That was when—
"Finally done?"
He froze.
Arven had stepped out of her tent, hands planted firmly on her hips, one brow raised as she looked between the saddles at Nivalis and Boreas, the lounging Hana, and Si Hon standing there looking far too pleased with himself.
"…Yeah," Si Hon replied casually. "Told you I'd get it done."
Arven's eyes flicked to the perfectly fitted saddle, then to Hana happily rolling around, then to Si Hon.
"…Took you long enough," she said flatly.
But there was the faintest hint of approval in her voice.
Si Hon grinned.
"So? Let's go?" he said, already sounding ready to move.
Arven shook her head.
"No," she replied simply. She glanced toward the cave entrance, where the light was already dimming and long shadows stretched across the snow. "I know we need to leave, but really… It's going to turn night. Dangerous."
She turned away and walked back toward her tent.
"We'll prepare instead," she added over her shoulder. "Let me get my bag. Once it's day again, we'll go."
Her steps slowed.
Then she paused.
"…Si Hon."
He looked at her. "Yeah?"
She glanced back at him, expression serious now.
"Could you check if Frosthowl is anywhere near us?"
The mood shifted instantly.
"…Right," Si Hon replied, his smugness fading. He straightened and raised his hand.
"System."
A transparent window flickered into existence before him, light reflecting faintly off the cave walls.
「ಠ_ಠ… you can just call me out, don't need to raise your arms.」
"I hate you."
「Distance to Target: 28,198M」
"its… 28,198Meters, pretty far."
Si Hon read aloud.
Arven nodded once, satisfied.
"…Good," she said quietly. "Then we still have time."
She disappeared back into her tent.
Below him, Nivalis released a slow, steady breath, her warmth radiating against Hana's relaxed form. Boreas settled nearby with a heavy thump, while Sixxy sat proudly between them, tail swishing against the ground.
Si Hon stared at the fading system window for a moment longer.
28,012Meters.
Far
"…Guess we're camping one more night," he muttered.
Above them, the cave suddenly darkened as night crept in.