The morning sun cast a silver glow across the snow-blanketed village as the crew began preparing for their climb. Ice crystals shimmered in the air, and every breath formed a cloud that quickly vanished in the biting cold. The rooftops of the village houses were buried under thick layers of snow, and distant mountain peaks loomed, shrouded in mist and peril. Villagers offered last-minute warnings, standing nearby with anxious eyes as the Straw Hats made ready.
Inside the house, Robin carefully wrapped another woolen blanket around Nami's sleeping form. "Her temperature is steady," she said with calm precision, brushing a strand of hair from Nami's forehead. Though her words were clinical, the furrow in her brow revealed her silent worry.
"I'll carry her," Sanji said firmly, already lifting her gently into a sled the villagers had provided. The sled was sturdy and built for harsh weather, lined with old cloth and straw to cushion her. Sanji adjusted Nami's position carefully, wrapping additional scarves around her. He checked her pulse, frowning slightly as he noted her still-weak state.
Luffy grabbed the rope at the front, testing its strength with a sharp tug. "It'll hold," he said. "We'll get her to that doctor." His usual grin surfaced for a moment, but behind it lingered a flicker of worry that quickly vanished.
Usopp looked nervously toward the towering silhouette of Drum Rock. "You two sure about this? That path's steep, and the air's thin up there. You'll be dragging a sled through waist-high snow!"
"We'll be fine," Luffy replied with confidence. "Just keep Nami warm until we get back."
Robin slung a rifle across her back and nodded. "I'll stay with the villagers and keep watch. If Wapol returns here, I'll make sure he's delayed." Her voice was steady, but there was a dangerous gleam in her eye.
With final nods and one last check of the sled's bindings, Luffy and Sanji set off. The snow reached up to their calves almost immediately, clinging to their pants with each step. The sled dragged behind with a dull scrape, its runners occasionally catching on unseen rocks beneath the surface. Their breath came in short puffs, quickly swallowed by the wind that howled through the trees.
The path twisted and narrowed with every few meters, flanked by frost-bitten pines and silent cliffs. A branch snapped overhead, and both flinched, eyes scanning the treeline. Luffy pushed forward, swinging branches out of the way and stomping down fresh snow to make the path smoother. Sanji walked close behind the sled, constantly adjusting Nami's coverings and checking her face.
"I owe her everything," Sanji muttered under his breath. "She stayed strong even when we didn't. We all do."
Luffy didn't reply, but his grip on the rope tightened. He remembered Nami's smiles, her scolding voice when they acted recklessly, and her unwavering focus when they navigated through dangerous waters. He clenched his jaw and pressed forward.
The higher they climbed, the more treacherous the path became. Jagged rocks peeked out from under snowbanks like hidden blades. A single misstep meant a slide down the slope. Their legs ached with the effort of trudging through the deep snow. A cold sweat formed under their layers despite the freezing air. The wind howled louder, as if trying to push them back. Here and there, Luffy spotted markings in the snow—large indentations, broken branches, clawed bark—signs that something had passed through not long ago.
After nearly an hour, they stopped beneath a tree laden with thick snow. The branches drooped low, and icicles dangled like crystalline daggers. Sanji handed Luffy a small pouch of dried nuts, and they ate in silence. Their canteens, tucked close to their bodies to prevent freezing, provided a few sips of lukewarm water.
Nami stirred slightly, her lips moving in a faint murmur. Sanji leaned closer.
"She's talking in her sleep," he whispered. "Could be the fever. Or memories."
Luffy brushed a bit of snow from her hair, then froze.
Before they could ponder more, the tree beside them shook—not from wind, but from something heavier.
Luffy stood at once, tension snapping through his frame. "Did you hear that?"
Sanji's eyes scanned the shadows between the trees. "Probably just snow shifting—"
A massive white-furred rabbit suddenly leapt from the forest canopy, landing with a bone-jarring thump just meters away. Snow exploded around its landing site. Its long ears twitched, and its crimson eyes locked on the sled.
Another one followed. Then a third. Soon, five towering creatures surrounded the narrow mountain path, their large forms dwarfing even the tallest villager. Each Lapahn had sharp claws, muscular limbs, and an air of territorial menace.
"The Lapahns…" Sanji said, a grim tone in his voice as he stepped protectively in front of the sled.
The lead rabbit snarled, its breath misting in the cold. It lowered its head, ready to charge.
Luffy dropped the rope and moved beside Sanji, his eyes calm but focused. "They're not attacking yet."
"They're sizing us up. We must've entered their territory."
A tense silence fell. The wind moaned between the trees. The Lapahns' breath was visible in the frigid air, their bodies tense and coiled.
Then, without warning, the lead Lapahn lunged.
Sanji reacted instantly, spinning into a fierce kick that slammed into the creature's side, knocking it aside before it could reach the sled. Snow burst outward on impact.
But another darted forward, faster and lower. Its claws scraped the snow, aiming directly for Nami.
"Don't let them touch her!" Luffy shouted, eyes blazing. He launched himself forward, slamming his fist into the side of the charging rabbit with enough force to send it flying into a tree.
The sled shifted violently from the shockwave. Sanji threw himself back to steady it, shielding Nami with his own body and growling at the remaining rabbits.
The Lapahns, now snarling as a pack, began to spread out, encircling them.
Luffy's eyes narrowed. "They're not done."
Snow swirled around them as the forest trembled again. The wind carried a distant rumble, as if something larger was moving beneath the snowline.
To be continued...
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