Winter Shadows of the Vale

𝖊𝖝𝖕𝖊𝖉𝖎𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖚𝖘

𝖊𝖝𝖕𝖊𝖉𝖎𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖚𝖘 (𝖆𝖉𝖏) 𝖍𝖆𝖛𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖔𝖗 𝖘𝖍𝖔𝖜𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖆𝖇𝖎𝖑𝖎𝖙𝖞 𝖙𝖔 𝖗𝖊𝖘𝖕𝖔𝖓𝖉 𝖜𝖎𝖙𝖍𝖔𝖚𝖙 𝖉𝖊𝖑𝖆𝖞 𝖔𝖋 𝖍𝖊𝖘𝖎𝖙𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓

Dear Diary, 

Time has passed rather quickly since Duran took me away from my home. Taking away is a strong way to describe it, he helped me get away is more of a proper term. He's not as bad as I had previously assumed he would be. Saving me a couple times is something I'll have to add to the list of ways I'll have to pay him back for. I suppose, the money I get once I reach Laniniel, I'll send some to him. He'll get settled off somewhere and I'll be happy, him as well.

Witz has warmed up to fast. He comes up to me freely now and nuzzles up to me. It's warming and reminds me that I'm not completely alone. Duran's nice to me and we get along pretty well. Some days he wakes up in sweat, talking about his mother, father, and a boy names Gregory. Every time he does he's usually sour during the rest of the day. He still looks out for me, something I am very thankful for. Not sure how long I would survive out there without someone like him.

There's something in his past that's clearly holding him back. It haunts him, I can tell. I'm no mind teller, but I know the look of pain in someone's eyes. The days he's fine, we make casual conversation and act like friends, neighbors almost. Neighbors that have lived next to each other for years but are only talking because they're the only family they have.

Maybe he's doing it out of obligation? Maybe it's the promise of money. Who knows, I don't think he'll ever let me know what's going on inside his head. Yet, I'm oddly content with that for now.

- - - - - - - - - -

Weeks have passed in the normal routine between the two. They either walked, or took turns riding Witz. It was a simple routine, wake up at the crack of dawn, ride until their butts hurt and if they hurt before nightfall they still kept going. At the end of the day they'd hunt or find what they could, the next town a good lot of miles away, before they ate and slept.

The 'relationship' between them grew into something more family-like. They'd protect each other in their own respective ways. Winter with her caring nature and amazing healing skills, and Duran with his good impulse and fighting skills.

"You have to stop doing this, one of these days I won't be able to heal you."

Duran scoffs, "I think you've learned a good amount these past few weeks."

Winter sighs, tightening a bandage around his shoulder, "That may be true, but one day I may not be there to stop the blood."

Her hands leave him to go back to pushing the fire around. He stares at her for a moment and thinks over her words. He ends up wondering how he's lived this long. Luck probably.

He whisked his shirt on, tucking it into his pants before wrapping his belt around himself once more. They ate in silence, "What do you plan to do once we reach Laniniel?"

Winter wonders the question, she also notices he didn't say if this time. "Probably search out my medical side. I don't think I'm much good at anything else."

Duran nods, staring into the final bits of his stew, "At least you are good at something."

He said it so be nice but it backfired, "And you're not?"

Shrugging, "Does killing count?"

Winter smiles, "It does. They don't have trained assassins for nothing, Duran."