The ice and hard-packed snow did not bother Harbin as they traversed down to the ships. Bianca, however, had some trouble occasionally. Most of that came from her clothing. He had helped her hook a couple of the extra bed linens around her for additional protection from the cold, though he wasn't sure it was the best option.
Seeing her now, though, more camouflaged than her red layers were, he felt it was better. He should have left her back at the cave since she did not have the best apparel for the temperature. While she was not enthusiastic about being in the cold, she did not want to be left alone in the caves either. A compromise had to be made. The layers she swore were warm, but they seemed to inhibit some of her movements as they went down. The wind had finally died down for a while, but he doubted it would be for long because the wind surged when there was an eclipse.
Still, she maintained her spirit.
"This is amazing," she said, her breath in a puff of fog in front of her face.
"It is quite beautiful," he said, looking out into the white. It was quite overwhelming, the expanse of white and gray all around them. Even in the low light, it was still bright enough to see by. As they traversed, the gray's true nature was revealed--how it was water under the ice or moving streams flowing underneath the cold.
"That it is," she said. "But that's not what I meant."
"What did you find so amazing."
"That it's absolutely so horrifically cold here. I have been to many places. I don't even think space is this cold."
He smirked. "Space is colder."
"It cannot be by much."
"Want to try?"
She shook her head. "No, thank you."
They headed down, and he was careful to watch where he led because he knew she was not dressed for heavy climbing. They reached a spot he would normally be able to step up easily, but he knew that she would not be able to without help, being so tiny. He waited next to the bolder.
"Are we close?" she asked.
"Very," he said. "Just over this." He gestured to the rock. She reached it and looked at the height.
"I do not think--"
"I have you," he said and held out his hand.
She nodded, pulled her skirts out of the way, and put her foot in his hand, like it was a step, and hoisted herself onto the boulder. He was right behind her, and they were both looking down on the area where his ship was.
Already, even after only half a day on the open surface, ice had covered the craft. He grimaced, for that would be a task to get through to get to the ships.
"That is going to be difficult to get into," she said. She turned to him. "We can wait. I don't need anything. I'm sure I will be fine with just some water for a day. I won't die or anything."
"We are here. It will just be a difficult task to break the ice off without damaging the ship and the pod."
"If we could just... get..." She took a few steps away from him, more toward the ship. "Look at that," she said and gestured to the corner of the ship.
"What do you see?" He stepped up to her.
"That, there, it looks clean by that front lower wing."
He came around and climbed down the rocks toward the ship. "You stay here."
She raised her eyebrow, and he knew she was not pleased with his command.
"I want you safe," he said.
"I know, but I'm also very capable--"
"Listen, I want to be sure that no one has left anything on the ship."
"What do you mean?"
