Tigress felt an unfamiliar cool sensation on her forehead, something wet and soothing pressing gently against her skin. The cold was not biting, but refreshing, as if a wet cloth had been laid there to ease her discomfort. Beneath her, she could feel the crisp crunch of snow, soft yet cold, with a sheet tucked beneath her to keep the harsh chill from creeping into her bones.

She slowly stirred, her eyelids fluttering as she became more aware of her surroundings. Her mind was hazy, as if swimming through fog, and she winced at the dull ache pulsing in her head. As her senses sharpened, Tigress fully woke up, blinking against the dim light. Her amber eyes scanned the space around her—a cave, its rocky walls lined with frost, icicles hanging from the ceiling like jagged teeth.

“Where... am I?” she muttered softly, her voice hoarse from fatigue.

The last thing she remembered was pushing herself to continue through the Frost Forest, despite the overwhelming cold and her body beginning to shut down from exhaustion. She’d been searching for shelter, for safety, before everything faded into darkness. Now, she was here, in this cave, warm despite the frozen world outside.

She shifted slightly and noticed a figure slumped against the cave wall. Her heart skipped a beat. Asher.

He was sitting with his back against the stone, his head tilted to the side as he slept, his chest rising and falling in peaceful rhythm. His soft fur glistened in the cave’s cold light, but he seemed unaffected by the chill. Tigress’s mind raced. Asher had come to find her? He had saved her?

Confusion swirled within her. Why? How? She had always been the strong one, the one to protect others, but now, here she was—weak, cold, and helpless, being cared for by Asher. A heat crept into her cheeks, though it wasn’t from the fever. She felt embarrassed, vulnerable.

As she was about to gather her thoughts, a sudden tickling sensation deep within her nose distracted her. The tickle started faintly, but quickly grew in intensity. Her nose twitched involuntarily, the sensation taking over her senses as her nostrils flared wider.

Her breath hitched suddenly. "Ahh..." she breathed, her body tensing as the inevitable sneeze approached. She quickly rubbed her nose, trying to ease the overwhelming tickle, but it was no use. The sensation only grew stronger, the tickle spreading from her nostrils to deep within her sinuses.

Her breath hitched again, louder this time. "Haaah... Ahh-haah..." Her neck tilted back as her nostrils flared even wider, her chest rising and falling with the deep, uncontrollable breaths. Her whiskers twitched frantically, her body shivering slightly from the impending sneeze. Tigress tried to suppress it, feeling embarrassed that Asher might wake and witness her in this vulnerable state, but it was useless.

Her breath hitched for a third time. "Haaaaaah..." Her whole body tensed as the sneeze built to its climax. She clamped a paw over her face, her neck shooting forward as the sneeze finally erupted.

"HAAA-CHOO! HAAH-CHOO! HAAAH-CHOO! HAAH-CHOO!"

The sneezes came in rapid succession, each one forcing her forward, her body jerking with every expulsion of air. Her ears flattened against her head, her eyes squeezing shut as the force of the sneezes wracked her body. After the fourth sneeze, she sniffled and rubbed at her nose, hoping no more were on the way.

Asher stirred, his ears perking up at the sound of her sneezing. He slowly opened his eyes, blinking groggily as he realized where he was. He glanced over at Tigress, still recovering from her sneezing fit, and smiled softly.

“Bless you,” he said, his voice warm and slightly teasing.

Tigress felt her face grow even warmer. She quickly averted her gaze, embarrassed that Asher had not only saved her but also witnessed her in such a vulnerable moment. She was Tigress—fierce, composed, the one who never faltered. And yet here she was, weak from the cold, sneezing uncontrollably in front of the very person she admired.

“T-Thanks,” she mumbled, still rubbing her nose in an attempt to rid herself of the lingering tickle.

Asher chuckled softly, standing up and stretching his arms. “You’re welcome. How are you feeling?” he asked, walking over to her and kneeling by her side.

Tigress hesitated, unsure how to respond. She didn’t want to admit how weak she felt, how much the cold had taken its toll on her. But the concern in Asher’s eyes made it hard to lie.

“I’ve been better,” she said finally, her voice quieter than usual. She met his gaze, seeing the genuine care in his eyes, and it softened the knot of embarrassment in her chest.

Asher nodded, understanding. “You pushed yourself too hard, didn’t you? You’re strong, Tigress, but even you have limits.”

Tigress bristled slightly at his words, her pride prickling. “I know my limits,” she retorted, though the exhaustion in her voice betrayed her.

Asher smiled knowingly. “Right, and that’s why I found you passed out in the snow?” he teased gently, though there was no malice in his words.

Tigress opened her mouth to respond but closed it again, realizing he was right. She had pushed herself too hard. The thought stung, but she also felt a strange sense of relief knowing that Asher was there to catch her when she fell.

“Thank you,” she said quietly, her gaze softening as she looked at him.

Asher’s smile grew, and he gently laid his paw on hers. “I’ll always be here for you, Tigress. You don’t have to face everything alone.”

Tigress felt a warmth spread through her chest at his words. The embarrassment she had felt earlier began to fade, replaced by something far more comforting.

For the first time in a long while, she allowed herself to feel vulnerable. And in that moment, she realized that maybe, just maybe, it was okay to rely on someone else.