Breaking Ice: Bring Me Home.

_{Inspired from the song Faded by Alan Walker.}

NO!

Alan, desperately fought against the weight of his winter coat as he ran on the solid Alaskan ice towards the source of the splash.

"Aida!" He got to his knees and dipped his hands into the freezing water, frantic and out of breath.

"God please no. Aida!"

An Alaskan Malamute covered in white fur barked and whined behind him, sniffing and going around him.

"I have to go in." He said to no one in particular as he unbuttoned his coat. Black, the white dog barked his disapproval.

"She'll die!" Alan yelled back and quickly dived into the water.

Black barked harder and then continued on his hunt. His nose sniffing, tail wagging. After a moment, he broke into a run in the opposite direction.

Alan squinted his eyes against the chilling water, swimming in a circle in search of his lady friend. Swimming deeper and farther from the sinkhole, Alan's only thought was finding her before he lost her.

His fingers grew numb and the cold was eating deep into him but none of that mattered. He needed to find her!

Like a prayer answered, he saw her. She was sinking, arms above her head, her red hair carried by the current of the deep sea. With no hesitation, he swam towards her. The farther she got, the faster he was.

After much persistence he got a hold on the helm of her coat, then her hand and with one strong pull, she was in his arms. He swam higher, realizing a second later that he might have lost his way.

What now?!

Black barked as he came to a spot of hard ice – frozen solid. With a bark, he leaped, putting all his weight on his front paws as he landed on the ice.

No response.

Bark! Leap!! Land!!!

No response.

Bark! Leap!! Land!!!

A tiny crack.

Bark bark! Leap! Land!!

Crack!

Alan said a silent prayer as he followed the sound of his faithful dogs' muffled cries. A sheen of light ahead and his heart beat with hope.

Bark bark! Leap!! Land!!!

Split!

Black leapt back as the ice finally gave way. Nonstop, he barked, hoping to alert his master and lead him home.

Alan surfaced a few minutes later, the unconscious girl with him. Black immediately grabbed a hold of the hood on her coat with his teeth, tugging with all his might. Alan, using the strength he could muster, hoisted her up, aiding Black to pull her out of the water completely.

"Do a CPR champ!" Alan yelled.

Black hesitated, clearly wanting to help his master out.

"Now!"

Black quickly faced the girl, using his teeth to rip off the buttons on the fur coat. With enough room, he carefully placed his paws on her chest, as taught, and proceeded to bounce consistently on them.

A minute later, the young lady spat out a mouthful of water, coughing in her wake. Black immediately turned around to help his master who'd fairly succeeded to get out of the pond they'd created, his lower body still dipped.

Black took hold of Alans' collar and pulled, taking him out of the water totally. Alan gasped for breath, glancing at Aida, the Irish woman with fiery red hair that had changed him within a period of three months.

"You're not allowed to die." He finally said.

Amidst her coughing fit, Aida chanced a look at the man she'd once termed arrogant and overbearing. Her heart warmed despite the chill in her bones.

"Definitely not." She replied, her voice hoarse.

Alan crawled towards her as she tried to sit up and sat on his heels.

"Are you okay?"

"Are you okay?"

Silence rung after their simultaneous response but not for long as they soon burst into laughter.

"We should head back. Get you warmed up." Alan said, tucking some wet hair behind her ears.

"Us." She replied gazing up at him. Alan stared into the deep greens of this beautiful woman who had the temper of a dragon. He can't believe he once called her wild and uncouth. She was perfect. Perfect for him.

"Us." He echoed.

Aida silently thanked whatever deity was watching over her for bringing her to the doorsteps of this man. Meticulous and a control freak, yet passionate and giving. Only those ocean blues could move her heart so.

Alan struggled for a bit to rise but he did and gave her his palm which she took.

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