The cold never bothered Bandit anyway.
Bandit welcomed the cold. His furred body thrived in the weather, his thick coat making the snowflakes fall right off. The breezes were getting cooler and stronger, fortifying his bones. It cooled him off, the sweat off of his brow evaporating with the gusts as he explored the unknown. Bandit was looking forward to playing in the snow and hunkering down at night, curling into warmth.
Apparently the world had a different idea in mind. Bandit woke up to the heat. The terrible, god awful heat. Just as he was traversing through swamp lands.
**"This sucks."** The usidia spat as he tried to toss his hair back unsuccessfully; his strands falling back into his view. The weather had to change just as he was in the middle of his journey. In the worst sort of climate. *Humid*. It clung to his skin like another layer of fur. It was slick, and *disgusting*. It didn't help his body cool off at all.
No way was he going to let the sudden change in weather deter him though. He trudged forward, his head held high until he had to duck underneath low branches. If he were to let this weather bother him to the point of hunkering down, then that would be like admitting defeat. He couldn't let the weather win.
And so he trekked on. Through the murky waters, over logs and under low hanging vines Even when he was feeling parched, he moved on. There was no clean water in these parts. Even as he was feeling dizzy and his knees buckled, he moved on. In the future, he would have wished he listened to his body and those signs.
Bandit got to a point where he had to clamber over some slippery rocks. No big deal. The world seemed like it was swaying, but that was probably because of the water that was rushing through the stream. It wasn't his body. It couldn't have been. Bandit didn't get dizzy or exhausted. His body was in tip top shape. At least, that's what he told himself.
Confidently, his paws stepped onto the rocks. It only took three steps until the world spun, he missed his step, and he felt air.
The usidia shouted, his throat caught as his body tumbled into the water. Bandit sputtered and tried to clamber up, but the world kept on spinning, his legs were so heavy. Breathing was not his forte right now, apparently, as he kept on gulping vast amounts of air and water.
It was an eternity but it was also so quick. Bandit couldn't explain it. At first his vision blurred and there were snippets of sky, and then there was....nothing.
Bandit was pretty sure he was dead when he woke up. The weird thing was, his head hurt. That wasn't supposed to happen in the afterlife right?
Bandit groaned and tried to turn his head....and hissed when he was met with a hoof. A groan rattled from his lungs. **"What?"** He swallowed thickly, his throat dry and voice crackly. If this was the afterlife, he wanted back to during life. This feeling was terrible.
**"You're awake."** Bandit's eyes, once squeezed shut now fluttered open. *s**t* It was so bright. His eyes narrowed at the strange mare smiling down at him. Too damn chipper for the situation. **"You know, you really shouldn't go swimming in the rapids."**
Bandit groaned, **"It's none of your business what I do."** He gritted out, trying to stumble up. His knees buckled and he collapsed back to the ground. His ears picked up a chuckle from the mare.
**"I wouldn't do that if I were you."**
Bandit turned his gaze back towards her. **"You were nearly dead when I got to ya."** She shrugged. **"But if you want to push your body into death, be my guest. "** She cocked her head to the side, her feather maned glinting in the sunlight. **"Try to die when I'm away though, will ya? I'm not in the mood to deal with a dead body."**
A part of him wished she would have left him for dead. Another groan left his lips. Damn **"Water?"** He couldn't believe he was asking for help. That wasn't in his nature. The mare chuckled again before offering up a small pail of water. It felt like it was much too small. Bandit gulped the water down greedily. Just as he was feeling a bit of satiation it was gone. Bandit sighed, delivering his thanks.
Even though he had been knocked out cold he was still feeling so sleepy. His eyelids were heavy. They fluttered closed and suddenly there was....nothing.
WC: 783
