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wwwww... if i have time
Bea placed down her hot cup on the table, watching the steam rise only reminded her of how cold she was, how her house lacked any form of heat or insulation and that there was a small crack in the wood above her bed that let in the snow. She shuddered and pulled the clothes on her back tighter around her figure. She was lucky at least to own clothes. She was lucky at all to have a roof above her head which coated her from the ruthless winds of the north.
"The wind gods are angry," She heard the elders say during their last town meeting. Angry with who, she wondered. Were there even any gods in the first place? It seemed that the world itself hated them and was trying to drive them away. She slowly stood up, pushing the chair out from under her and stocked up to the window which was dirtied beyond belief. Dirtied from what she wasn't even sure; she hadn't seen the ground in three years, or grass in five.
Placing a paw up to the glass and breathing on it, she started to polish away little speckles of dirt. Slowly her window into the outside world was becoming clearer with every passing moment. She could finally see something breath taking and beautiful: more snow. Piles of it, all around the house neighboring her. Bea could hardly recognize its structure underneath the thick layers of white that blended in with the rest of the landscape. There wasn't a single inch left uncovered.
Her neighbor opened his door, and peeked outside before pulling himself back in. She tried to wave but he didn't even bat an eye at her, of course she didn't blame him for not wanting to spend any extra time in the cold. She pealed her gaze away from the window and walked over to the wooden table she had carved for herself, once again tracing the small markings with the tips of her paw. It seemed as though that was her hobby, tracing the outlines of objects to a fine touch. She was almost positive the table was wearing down from her habitual strokes.
With a small sigh Bea picked up her cup and chugged the last of her tea, not bothering to place it on the counter to clean later. She tucked her chair under to the table before falling onto her hardened bed and turning over into her thin covers. It wasn't much but it provided warmth. She curled her toes and folded in on herself, trying to keep her thoughts in warm shades hoping that would bring up her body temperature.
An owl hooted over head, echoing in the vast abyss. Bea looked up to the sky where small flakes of snow trickled down, yet when she twisted her head to the side there was no clear ground it was only darkness. The owl hooted once again which deafened her every thought. She closed her eyes and covered her ears as the hooting continued to ring. When she peeked them open again she was in a field with the bright pale sky above. A finale hoot, and she turned her body around to face behind her.
"How odd," he spoke with an airy tone, while picking at his feathers for cleaning, "that the queen herself would choose such a small mortal such as yourself to escort her."
Bea took a step back, not fully understanding the owl and his words. She was still caught up on understanding how an owl could talk in the first place. "I- I beg your pardon?" She stuttered.
"The queen," he repeated. "The queen choose you to escort her to your village. She isn't very patient and does not wish to wait any longer. You have already kept three hours, and she's growing angry." The owl flapped its wings and caused the snow to start up again. It started as a slight flurry but in a blink of the eye it started swirling around her in anger, causing her to lose her balance.
"WHAT QUEEN!" She cried towards the owl, though before she could get a response, the snow broke her sleep.
Bea sat up in her bed in a cold sweat, though she wasn't sure if she was cold due to the crack in the wood or if she was truly terrified from her dream. She mopped some sweat from her brow before pulling on her sheets and wrapping them around her tightly. Slowly she began drifting back to sleep, though it was slow and cold as her shudders would wake her up every so often. Her eyes fluttered closed for the last time and finally she had fell back into her dreams.
With her eyes flicking open Bea shot up in bed as a loud thump came from out side her door. The wind was howling and racking against her small house, against the open holes that let the snow. However this sound wasn't that of the snow hitting her house or the threatening to blow it all down. This was different, far louder and stronger then she had ever seen. The thump came again, louder this time and she noticed the door that hung loosely on it's hinges shudder under the weight that was put on it.
Without thinking Bea slowly crept up to the door, careful not to make a sound. But she couldn't help when her foot reached the creaky board that swayed under her footing and alerted what ever was on the other side that she was there. The thump sounded again, this time in two pairs. She startled back causing the boards to crack again and the howling outside grew more rapid. Before she could even get in a stable standing position her door flung open and a tall figure stood in her doorway.
Her mouth hung open as she looked at the figure graced in elegance and standing straight and perfect. The figure slowly tilted her head down towards Bea, looking her in the eyes before gently closing the fragile door behind her. Bea studied the figure who was dressed in extravagant clothes. Furs of a white fox hung closely around her shoulders but when she took another take the fox wasn't dead, he was very much alive and was sleeping restfully.
"H-hullo?" Bea asked. Her mind raced around itself making loops with holes in them that streamed into the next hole. Who was this lady, and why was she in HER house no less? Wasn't the elders house far more welcoming and warm?
The tall figure waved a small gentle paw in a gesture of dismissal. "There need not be any worry." She spoke softly, the wind seemed to pick up where her words ended.
The figure, gentle and graceful looked around Bea's house which was only about as big as a small room. She spotted the small table with only two chairs and took a seat in one, gesturing to the other chair for Bea to join her.
She hesitated for a moment, she didn't know this woman. Why would she trust her when they only just met? She looked at her for a moment, before pulling out the other chair and sitting in it.
She clutched onto the cup she forgot to put away out of anxious habit, tapping on the already chipping pottery causing a rhythm of tireless beats to begin.
The figure looked at Bea, studying her every detail before nodding to herself silently. She extended her paw out to Bea, which Bea took in her own and shook it.
"I, am Winter."
Bea blinked, looking at the woman, at 'Winter'.
"I was born from snow years and years ago in these vary lands. I've met many of your kind, of your people who live here. Yet the years seemed to go on and pass by with little to no reward to your kind, so I've come to help you. It is my job after all." Winter pointed a paw at the cup Bea was holding and with a small flick she refilled the cup with a steaming drink.
Bea stared down at it for a moment, before slowly lifting it to her lips. "What is this?" Bea questioned, giving Winter a suspicious glaze. "Is it poison? Are you trying to kill me?"
Winter's lips curved into a small smile, a small wolfish laugh came out. "Even if it was poison you are the one who drank it freely."
Bea nodded a bit sheepishly, taking another sip of the mysterious liquid. It was warm, sweet and tasted like chocolate. It felt as if she was drinking something the royal family would joy and spend lots of time trying to find every last drop of.
"If you're here to help us," Bea started after finishing the cup, which magically refilled itself after a few seconds, "why are you in my house?" She took another sip and waited a few moments to watch as the cup refilled to a certain line.
Winter furrowed her brow and cringed a little. "This is your house?"
Bea looked up at her and gave a slight nod. The words stung a little, of course her house wasn't as fancy as the elders', and it shook when the wind blew hard but it was her house. It was where she lived and it was where she slept. It's where she choose to grow up in.
Winter's eyes wided before she shut them gently. She let out a small breath that hung in the air, before her eyes flicked open again. "This simply won't do, I can't have my escort freeze to death in her sleep." She mumbled before standing up, she looked over her shoulder once and eyed the clothes on Bea's back.
With another wave of her petite paw she had summoned a small pile of clothing, thicker and far warmer then Bea had ever seen or felt. She eyed the beautifully stitched clothes for a moment before looking up to thank Winter but she vanished out the door.
Bea sat with her brow furrowed and her paw running through her hair. Parchment was laid out on the desk before her and she was scribbling as fast as her paws would go, but it all seemed in vain as the person in front of her talked far faster than she could hear.
He paused to catch his breath and Bea quicky puy an end to his ramblings. "Thank you so much, I will pass this along to Lady Winter as soon as possible. I'm sure we'll get this list done in no time!"
Bea slide out from her chait and began guiding the man out of her room. "Oh and please add that my wife and kids could use a new pair of-"
Bea slammed the heavy wooden door in the man's face and pressed her back up against it. Sinking down onto the floor she closed her eyes for a moment and found peace in the sound of crackling wood. She took in a deep inhale and list the smell of burning pine fall over her.
"I suppose the evening has been quiet the handful hasn't it, Bea." Winter stood by the window with her eyes filled with worry. She turned her had slightly to eye Bea across the room and gave her a small smile.
"Yes, yes I do think it has been a bit of a handful. Nothing wrong with that though," Bea began to rise from the floor, dusting off her pants out of habit. "The people aren't suffering anymore. So I think it's a bit of a fair trade, don't you?"
Winter turned her head to the window, ignoring Bea as she began to approach. "I think it would be best if we moved onto another village, Bea. There are many others in need of help, ones that need it."
Bea stood by Winter's side with her head held high. Her thoughts rolled for a moment looking out on the village. People were no longer starving, and the houses were properly built to withstand the cold. Slowly she began to nodd her head.
"I think that another village could use your help, yes." Bea watched as the sun began sinking in the sky and cast a pink hue over the snow. She grew bitter as the moments passed thinking about her friend leaving. "I guess.. this would be the last time we'd see each other, wouldn't it?"
Winter placed a paw onto Bea's shoulder and pointed out past the walls of snow the village had put up to protect themselves against the cold. "There's a lot out there, Bea. More people, more things and thoughts then you could imagine. I don't want to experience it all a lone, I want you to come with."
Bea looked up at Winter with her mouth a gap. "M-me? You want me to come with? B-but what about my village, the people. What will they do with out me?" She placed a shaking hand on the edge of her desk as while she tried steadying herself. Her body trembled at the thought of leaving her people behind, of leaving her house.
"I need you to come with Bea. I need someone to record my every move, every wish and event I plan." Winter's voice wavered as she spoke.
Bea pressed her head against the window, closing her eyes tightly before turning around to follow Winter. "Winter please, there is bound to be countless others who could do my same job but better!" She let out a sharp breath and bit the bottom of her lip in worry.
"I mean it was only three years ago you taught me how to write and read. And not even that long ago did you show me how to make a proper list of items and records-" Bea sped up her pace and blocked Winter from the door. "You can find someone better, I promise you that. You don't need me for any of it- Non of it! I'm replaceable Winter."
They both stood in place for a long moment, keeping silent. Winter glared down at Bea, a flare of anger in her eyes. She let out a sigh, and raised her hand to Bea's head. She ruffled Bea's hair and brushed a few strands to the side. "You aren't as replaceable as you think Bea, I want you to come with. You're much more then just my assistant, you're my family, my daughter. I'm not just going to walk and turn away from you..."
Bea locked up, and looked up at Winter. Family... were they really family? Did Winter really think of her like that? She tilted her head down and took a step to the side allowing Winter to leave. "I... I'm just scared is all." She mumbled, keeping her eyes locked on the ground. "I-I.. I.. when do you want to leave?"
"As soon as you're prepared to go." Winter smiled down at Bea, and pulled her into a small hug. Though it was short lived it was sweet and was all the other could ask for.
Bea watched as Winter left and stood there watching before quickly turning around back to her desk. She rested her head against the parchment of demands she had been working on and began rereading it. Maybe it was time for a change in pace. [2576/3000]
Hi there!
You can call me Knick! I'm a runner and casual artist
who loves thinking about stories and never writing them.
I’m around for various arpgs and species stuff ^^
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