I do what I can to stop the bleeding but all I can do is rip off shreds of the sack that hold the food and water I grabbed.

I wrap it around her tightly. Tears falling down my face.
Wind's face is pail. Her eyes are wide in fear. She grabs my hand.

"It's going be okay. You're going to be alright." I try to stay strong for her, but deep down I know that she's running out of time.

No one is here to help me. Even if we were at the Community, no one would help her.

No one would care. They would let her die.

Snow flies around us. It's still dark and I can barely see. I can see a faint outline of Wind on the ice.

We can't stay here. I'll take her far away. Far from this place of hate and cold.

Away from the people who have hurt her.
I gently lift her into my arms. Her head rests under my chin.

I stand up and carry her away.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It begins to get light out as we go. The black world turns to grey as snow continues to fly around us.

I can see Wind now, and the sight breaks my heart.

Her stomach is covered in blood. Her face is almost white and her eyes are closed.
We're both freezing. My toes are numb and my face is red.

I feel her squeeze my hand.

Stop.

I crouch down onto the ice. I set her head on my lap. I hold her hand.
She's dying. She knows it.

She looks up at me. Her eyes dull. Tears continue to fall down my face. I hold her hand tightly.

For the first time I see fear in her eyes. She's scared, I don't want her to be.

I don't want her last moments to be filled with fear, but I don't know what to do.

I remember our time spent in the woodshop. I remember when the bird came in.

How Wind sang with it, how we made our song together.
I know what to do.
I start to sing.

I hold her hand and look down at her.
She's staring up at the clouds. The snowflakes swirling around. Some landing on her face before melting, others landing in her long hair.

Her breathing begins to slow. Her eyes are unblinking.
She is no longer afraid of dying.
She closes her eyes, and I sing her to sleep.