An already improbable situation made even more so. Daniel had been the person Chozen's thoughts turned to first after he regained his equilibrium. He was, after all, the one most likely to mark Chozen's absence. Chozen had been struck with the worry that Daniel might be concerned something untoward had happened to him, and imagining his distress and ready self-blame had been the cause of no small amount of dismay on Chozen's part.
Now, it is almost as though those feelings called Daniel to his side, complete with the wrenching ache of hearing exactly the sort of concern Chozen had hoped his friend would be spared in Daniel's calling out to him.
And Chozen can do nothing to soothe him. He cannot will even his eyes to shift one iota to show Daniel he has heard him, let alone move his mouth to answer. The icy dread flooding him from his heart to his belly seems to plunge an impossible degree further into frigid stillness, eclipsing any relief Chozen might have mustered otherwise at the prospect of help.
Thus, a paradox: from the cold, a spark. This is an intolerable position to remain in, and although Chozen does not know how to escape it, he is more determined than he already was that he must. It will not do to leave Daniel in fear for Chozen's safety, however (arguably) reasonable such a fear might be.
Chozen focuses with all of his concentration on stirring the index finger of his right hand. He cannot see it, with his eyes fixed forward, or feel much of it in the chill that holds him in place - but one twitch, one tremor, one sign of life - anything at all -
no subject
An already improbable situation made even more so. Daniel had been the person Chozen's thoughts turned to first after he regained his equilibrium. He was, after all, the one most likely to mark Chozen's absence. Chozen had been struck with the worry that Daniel might be concerned something untoward had happened to him, and imagining his distress and ready self-blame had been the cause of no small amount of dismay on Chozen's part.
Now, it is almost as though those feelings called Daniel to his side, complete with the wrenching ache of hearing exactly the sort of concern Chozen had hoped his friend would be spared in Daniel's calling out to him.
And Chozen can do nothing to soothe him. He cannot will even his eyes to shift one iota to show Daniel he has heard him, let alone move his mouth to answer. The icy dread flooding him from his heart to his belly seems to plunge an impossible degree further into frigid stillness, eclipsing any relief Chozen might have mustered otherwise at the prospect of help.
Thus, a paradox: from the cold, a spark. This is an intolerable position to remain in, and although Chozen does not know how to escape it, he is more determined than he already was that he must. It will not do to leave Daniel in fear for Chozen's safety, however (arguably) reasonable such a fear might be.
Chozen focuses with all of his concentration on stirring the index finger of his right hand. He cannot see it, with his eyes fixed forward, or feel much of it in the chill that holds him in place - but one twitch, one tremor, one sign of life - anything at all -
Nothing happens yet. He does not give up. ]