Tangled: Stardust and the 12 Zodiacs (Varian Fanfiction)

Chapter 48: Burn

===========(December 1)============

The group's men were busy hauling up the supplies they've bought into the caravan with the occasional bickering of where to put what and Varian sorting out everything again. While that was happening, Rapunzel and Soul were in their room helping Catalina and Kiera put on their winter gear.

"I just love winter! It might be a lonely season where nature takes its rest, but you gotta love the snow." Rapunzel exclaimed, helping Kiera zip up her coat.

"Too bad you're future husband hates the weather." Kiera snickered, making the other two girls giggle.

"Which is why it was nice of Lance to take over the reins." Rapunzel then noticed the sad expression on the astrologer's face. "Is everything alright, Soul?"

At the call of her name, Soul looked up to see the three staring at her. "Hmm?"

"Are you okay? You seem quite out of it." Rapunzel questioned as the astrologer sighed in response.

"I'm fine. It's just...the memories from the last time I went up a mountain on a blizzard...it didn't end well." The girl replied, sitting down on a chair. "Plus, cliffs. And the fact that we're going to pass by Gene's house again."

"Ignoring Gene for a second. Why ARE you scared of cliffs? You never really told us before." Catalina asked, sitting down on the bed.

Soul glanced down, her feet playing with her boots. Her brows furrowed upwards as she sighed deeply. "Well, remember when I told you guys that my brother's gone?" A series of nods came from the three. " He died during a blizzard. We were going up to this mountain  retreat to deliver some stuff when an avalanche knocked our wagon down the cliff. I...I only survived since I was riding Hoofer, the horse when it happened. To be honest, heh, I wasn't really fond of the idea of meeting the King and Queen when we were asking for permission to leave."

"Why's that?" Rapunzel asked.

"They...um, the supplies we were delivering were for them." Rapunzel gasped in shock. "It was their anniversary, and the retreat's manager asked for more stuff from my brother. I know it wasn't their fault, but...I just couldn't help but get angry at them." Soul explained.

"I'm so sorry about that, Soul." Rapunzel softly said, placing a hand on her chest. "You...you know, I almost lost them as well at that time. It was similar to yours. An avalanche knocked their carriage down. I- I don't mean to compare, I just...-"

"-It's alright. It wasn't anyone's fault." Soul reassured, cutting off the brunette. "I heard that it was Zhan Tiri's doing that caused that, and now I'm even more fired up to defeat her for good!" She declared, clenching her fist tightly as everyone looked at her with pitiful eyes."

"Sooo..." Kiera trailed off, changing the topic to shake off the uncomfortable atmosphere that was starting to grow. "What are we gonna do once we reach the foot of Mount Ina? You know, where Gene happens to live?"

"Well, let's start with checking up on him. And I'll try to apologize again if he allows me to." Soul answered, standing up and putting on her winter coat.

"That sounds like a great idea!" Rapunzel smiled as she fixed up her own gear. 

"Oh! Let's give him some food too. I mean, I'm sure we would be encountering more villages as we go. Gene's living alone now, so I figured that we could help him a little." Catalina suggested, earning a nod of agreement from Rapunzel.

"Well, let's get going. I'm sure the guys are tired of waiting for us again." The brunette laughed, causing Kiera to roll her eyes.

"They should have been used to it by now."