CREDIT
A gust of wind blew through, knocking over her small stack of tinder just as the sparks finally landed. She cursed and quickly scooped it up, trying in vain to shield it from the wind. The embers glowed red for a moment before another draft snuffed them out.
She could've screamed, but the cold air seemed frozen in her throat. She pushed the little pile of tinder closer to the protection provided by her wagon and struck the flint. Again and again she pushed her knife against it, and again and again the damp bark failed to light. She could feel the cold seeping into her bones, and her wet clothing provided no protection against the bite of the wind.
Just when she was about to give up, a frail flicker of light glowed between the twigs. Hardly daring to move, Valyeria watched as it slowly grew. Soon the flames crackled, giving off waves of heat. She stripped, realizing how dangerous cold temperatures were to a Yludih. The colder it got, the more energy it took for their crystals to function properly. The frigid air bit at her exposed skin before she wrapped herself in a thick pelt and huddled closer to the fire.
Her wings remained hidden under the blanket, and her face was cast deep in shadow as she stared at the flickering flames. Her horse had shuffled its way closer, and now lay opposite her under its own heavy blanket. The wind continued to whip around them, but the wide panels of the wagon created a small pocket of still air.
The intensity and suddenness of the storm had caught her off guard- within bits the heavy clouds had covered the pale sun. The wagon was actually still on the dirt road, though now the heavy drifts of snow were piling up against the other side.
As Valyeria stared past the fire, she caught a flash of movement out of the corner of her eye. She whipped her head around to look, and caught sight of a man struggling as he pulled a horse through the thick snow. A lantern was clasped in his other hand, and he seemed to be headed straight for her little encampment.
Arc 715, 90th trial of Zi'da
Location: Somewhere North-East of Etzos
Valyeria's numb fingers fumbled the flint, dropping it in the knee-high drifts surrounding her. Another shiver wracked her body as she dug through the snow for the fire-starter. Location: Somewhere North-East of Etzos
A gust of wind blew through, knocking over her small stack of tinder just as the sparks finally landed. She cursed and quickly scooped it up, trying in vain to shield it from the wind. The embers glowed red for a moment before another draft snuffed them out.
She could've screamed, but the cold air seemed frozen in her throat. She pushed the little pile of tinder closer to the protection provided by her wagon and struck the flint. Again and again she pushed her knife against it, and again and again the damp bark failed to light. She could feel the cold seeping into her bones, and her wet clothing provided no protection against the bite of the wind.
Just when she was about to give up, a frail flicker of light glowed between the twigs. Hardly daring to move, Valyeria watched as it slowly grew. Soon the flames crackled, giving off waves of heat. She stripped, realizing how dangerous cold temperatures were to a Yludih. The colder it got, the more energy it took for their crystals to function properly. The frigid air bit at her exposed skin before she wrapped herself in a thick pelt and huddled closer to the fire.
Her wings remained hidden under the blanket, and her face was cast deep in shadow as she stared at the flickering flames. Her horse had shuffled its way closer, and now lay opposite her under its own heavy blanket. The wind continued to whip around them, but the wide panels of the wagon created a small pocket of still air.
The intensity and suddenness of the storm had caught her off guard- within bits the heavy clouds had covered the pale sun. The wagon was actually still on the dirt road, though now the heavy drifts of snow were piling up against the other side.
As Valyeria stared past the fire, she caught a flash of movement out of the corner of her eye. She whipped her head around to look, and caught sight of a man struggling as he pulled a horse through the thick snow. A lantern was clasped in his other hand, and he seemed to be headed straight for her little encampment.