You are a pilot of a UH-60 Black Hawk engaging in air-to-air rotary wing combat with a Ka-52 Alligator. The enemy pilot is clearly on par with your skills as the dog fight drags on and on. In a twist, both helicopters strike one another simultaneously. You are in neutral territory in the middle of a snowy mountain. The blizzard outside is relentless as you come to your senses in the crashed Black Hawk. Suddenly, you hear the cocking sound of a hammer of a gun

Natalia She points her Markov pistol at you with pure hatred. You notice her leg has a gash wound, soaking her camo pants red "This is for all the suffering and pain you caused for my people and for Mama and Papa!!" She pulls the trigger. All you heard if a click and nothing happened

You trip the enemy pilot with your prosthetic leg, pinning her down with your body weight as she struggles in pain and fury. "You're not killing anyone else today!!" You shout into the cold. In a fit of rage, she manages to wriggle free and roll away from you. Her Markov pistol skids across the frozen floor

The blizzard outside is deafening as the snow whips around the wreckage of your Black Hawk. Your breath forms clouds in front of your face as you grit your teeth against the pain in your side. The adrenaline is wearing off fast, leaving you feeling drained and cold. You spot the enemy pilot trying to stand up on shaky legs not far away

You wake up in a strange place, your senses still muffled by the painkillers coursing through you. You're laying on some blankets near a roaring fire. The warmth feels like heaven on your chilled flesh as it penetrates deep inside, trying to drive away the numbness from the frostbite. Looking around, you spot Abdiel sitting across from you, sharpening what appear to be knives

You hesitate for a moment before slowly lifting your camo pants leg, revealing the gash on your thigh. The skin around it is red and swollen from where it was hit by the rotor blade when the Black Hawk went down.

Tears stream down your face as the pain tears through you with every stitch he makes. You clench your fists tightly, determined not to let any sound escape from your throat. You can feel his breath against your leg as he works carefully and meticulously, making sure the stitches are as clean and neat as possible.

Finally, after what seems like an eternity, he finishes. "There we go," he says softly, sitting back on his haunches and inspecting his work. His dark eyes meet yours for a moment before looking away. "That should do it."

Your leg throbs dully beneath the bandages, but at least the pain is bearable now. The wound feels warm where he stitched it up; surprisingly, you don't feel any numbness from the cold anymore either. You manage a hoarse "thanks," your voice barely audible over the crackling fire.

You hesitate for a moment before slowly lifting your camo pants leg, revealing the gash on your thigh. The skin around it is red and swollen from where it was hit by the rotor blade when the Black Hawk went down.

The sound of the sharpening knives fades into the background as you take in your surroundings. The warmth from the fire feels good against your skin, but it's not nearly enough to chase away the chill that seems to have settled deep within your bones. You carefully pick at one of the fruit Abdiel offered you, taking small bites between shuddering breaths as you try to ignore the dull ache in your side.

After a while, when your stomach feels a little less empty, you turn back to him and ask quietly, "What now?" Your voice is still hoarse from pain and exertion, but it's getting stronger with each passing minute.

The knowledge that they're at least twenty kilometers away from civilization is disheartening. You try not to let it show on your face as you chew thoughtfully on another slice of fruit. Food and water might be scarce, but at least you can find some solace in the fact that you and Abdiel are both experienced survivalists.

"I think our best bet is to find shelter," you say finally. "Something sturdy enough to withstand the wind and keep out as much snow as possible." You gesture toward the surrounding terrain, taking stock of what resources they can use. "We might be able to find some rocks or even debris from the crashed helicopters that we could stack up against each other. And I'm sure there are trees around here somewhere."

Abdiel nods in agreement, his eyes moving thoughtfully over the terrain as well. "You're right," he says after a moment. "We should focus on that first and foremost." With renewed determination, you both get to work, scavenging through the wreckage of the helicopters and searching the area for materials they can use to build a shelter. The task is daunting and exhausting, but it's made easier by the fact that you're working together toward a common goal.

The wind howls outside as you huddle close together in the makeshift shelter, using all your strength to push snow away from the entrance. The walls are made of metal and wood scrapped from the wreckage, but it's barely enough to block out the bitter cold that threatens to freeze you solid. Your fingers and toes feel numb despite wearing multiple layers of warm clothing.

"We need a source of heat," you say through chattering teeth. "Something more reliable than just this fire." You glance at Abdiel, worried. Even though he's strong enough to survive in these conditions for now, they can't last forever without a real solution.

Your cheeks flush with warmth as he wraps his strong arms around you. It's not the most comfortable position to be in, but at least it's better than freezing to death outside. "Thanks," you manage to say through clenched teeth before burrowing closer to him for more heat.

The hours seem to stretch into days as you huddle together in the makeshift shelter, sharing what little body heat you have. You sleep fitfully, waking up every time the wind howls or a particularly loud gust of snow hits the wall. But even when your eyelids feel heavy with exhaustion, you can't help but worry about Abdiel's state. He hasn't said much since they finished building the shelter; his breathing has grown shallow and labored over time.

"Are you okay?" You ask him softly, gently nudging his arm. "You look... not good."

"What kind of animals?" You ask, your voice shaking despite your efforts to sound calm. The thought of bears or wolves prowling around the mountain in search of prey sends a chill racing up your spine.

You can see the doubt clouding his eyes as he glances at you, then back outside. "Just... stay close," he says eventually, voice hoarse from disuse and cold air. You nod, pressing your body against his for reassurance.

You crawl into the makeshift bedding he's created and collapse onto the thin layer of fabric. Even though you're exhausted beyond words, sleep refuses to come easily. You lie there for what seems like hours, staring up at the ceiling and worrying about Abdiel. He looks so weak... and despite his efforts, it's obvious that he can't hold out much longer on his own.

A thought occurs to you, and even though it terrifies you more than anything else in this situation, you know what you have to do. You steel yourself for the inevitable confrontation and finally force your heavy eyelids open. "Abdiel," you say quietly, nudging him awake with one finger.

"There's something I need to tell you..."

You swallow hard, forcing the words out past your constricting throat. "I'm... I'm part of the reason we're in this mess. The people you think I've hurt... they weren't just innocent bystanders. Some of them were involved with me, with my unit." You close your eyes, waiting for the worst to happen. For him to lash out, to hate you more than he already does.

But instead, there's only silence.

You muster up the courage to meet his gaze again. He looks surprised... almost relieved? "I know that doesn't excuse what I did," you rush to add quickly. "And it never will. But if we work together, we might have a chance of getting out of here alive." You hesitate for a moment before continuing. "I'll help you get back home, Abdiel. Somehow, I promise."

His expression softens, and he reaches out to gently touch your cheek. "Gracias," he whispers. Then, with surprising strength, he pulls you into a hug that nearly knocks the air from your lungs. "We'll make it through this together," he murmurs against your hair. "I promise."

And for the first time since the crash, you allow yourself to believe him.

When you wake up after the promised two days, the sun is shining brightly through the entrance of your shelter. You feel surprisingly refreshed, given the lack of actual sleep. As you sit up, stretching achingly stiff muscles, Abdiel yawns and rubs his eyes before opening them fully.

"Morning," he says groggily. "How do we begin this journey home?"

You stand up slowly, wincing as your muscles protest the unaccustomed motion. "We'll need to find some sort of settlement or town nearby where we can get food and medical supplies," you reply. "And a map." You look outside at the snow-covered landscape before shivering involuntarily. "This weather isn't going to make it any easier, either."

"Then let us start our journey," Abdiel says decisively. He holds out his hand, offering you a firm grip and support. As he laces his fingers through yours, you feel a spark of determination ignite inside you. Together, you step outside into the crisp winter air. The first challenge awaiting you is still far ahead, but at least now you face it side by side.

The terrain beneath your feet seems even more treacherous now that you've left the relative safety of the shelter. The snow has melted some since yesterday, revealing jagged rocks and slippery mud hidden beneath. You hold onto Abdiel's hand tightly as he guides you expertly through this unforgiving landscape. It feels strange to be walking beside someone you once considered your enemy; yet, the connection you share now runs deeper than any conflict could ever touch.

As the hours stretch into days, your progress is slow but steady. You find a small town tucked away in a sheltered valley, and with Abdiel's help, you manage to locate a map. Finally, after what seems like an eternity, you find your way back home, the memory of the snow-covered mountains fading into the distance as familiar sights and sounds surround you once more.

You pause for a moment at the edge of town, looking out over the landscape with a mixture of relief and sadness. Your journey with Abdiel has changed you in ways you never expected; it's a part of your life that you'll always carry with you, even as you return to your old life.

"So," he says softly, breaking into your thoughts. "What's next?" His gaze meets yours, expectant and hopeful. For the first time since this whole thing started, you have no idea what the future holds. But one thing is certain: whatever it is, you know you'll face it together.

You blush slightly at his question. It's true that your leg is still healing, but you don't want him to think that's the only reason you suggested it. "Yeah... I mean, they might make our journey faster and easier. Plus," you add with a faint smile, "they look strong."

Together, you make your way to the stable where the horses are kept, discussing which one would be best suited for the two of you as you approach them carefully. The scent of hay and manure fills the air, and despite yourself, you can't help but feel a sense of peace wash over you in this familiar setting.

Finally, you decide on a strong-looking gelding with a kind expression. Abdiel pays the stable master as you both lead the horse back to where they keep their belongings. After saddling him up and checking his gear one last time, you turn to him. "Shall we?"

Your heart swells at the question. The idea of being enemies seems so far away now; it's almost laughable. "No," you reply quietly, shaking your head. "I don't think that's what this was... exactly. I mean, yes, we were fighting for different things, but I never thought of you as my enemy." You hesitate for a moment before continuing. "And after everything we've been through together... I don't want to go back to that."

He looks relieved to hear your words; a tiny smile touches the corner of his lips. "Good," he says softly, returning your gaze. "Because I feel the same way." Together, you and Abdiel continue on toward home, hand in hand. The future may still hold uncertainties, but one thing is certain: from now on, you'll face it together.

"Sí," you reply, the word tasting bitter on your tongue as you glance down at the water rushing beneath them. "I had... someone. We were together for a while before everything happened." You pause, feeling the familiar sting of loss in your eyes. "She died trying to stop me from joining Special Forces. I never told her what it would really be like..."

You trail off, swallowing thickly as you choke back tears. It's been so long since you've allowed yourself to feel this way about your past, but now that the dam has broken, the emotions seem impossible to contain. You steel yourself, trying to push through it.

You take the picture of the baby from him, studying her tiny face intently. She has her father's dark hair and wide eyes; it's easy to see the resemblance. You feel a pang in your chest as you look at Abdiel, remembering what it felt like to lose someone like that.

"She's beautiful," you manage to say softly after a moment. "I hope she grows up to be half as strong and brave as you." His expression softens at your words, and you smile faintly in response before slipping the photo back into his jacket pocket. Together, you continue on through the woods, the sound of rushing water filling the air around them. The silence between them feels comfortable now, less heavy than it did before.

Eventually, they emerge from the trees and find themselves standing at the edge of a field, the familiar shape of your old home visible in the distance. But before you can say anything or make any move toward it, you pause, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly. The journey to get here may be over, but the work of truly finding your way home has only just begun.

"I'm not sure what comes next," you admit quietly, meeting Abdiel's gaze. "But I know that whatever it is, I want to face it with you." Your heart swells at his expression; for the first time in a very long time, you feel like maybe everything will be okay.

Tears prick at your eyes as you feel the warmth of his embrace and hear the words that seem impossible, yet somehow fitting in this moment. "I love you too," you whisper back, wrapping your arms around him as tightly as you can. For now, all that matters is this: the connection you share with Abdiel, the promise of a future together. And whether that future is long or short, bright or dark, you know one thing for certain: it will always have love at its core.

As your lips meet hers, a wave of emotion washes over you: gratitude, relief, joy. You lean into the kiss, losing yourself in the sensation of his mouth moving against yours. With each passing moment, the world falls away and all that remains is this perfect connection between you. It's like coming home after years of wandering lost; everything feels right and true and whole.

When he pulls back at last, you can see the love reflected in his eyes. You smile up at him, feeling happier than you ever thought possible. "Let's go home," you whisper. And together, hand in hand, you walk toward the house where you both belong.