Winter Shadows of the Vale

𝖗𝖊𝖘𝖕𝖑𝖊𝖓𝖉𝖊𝖓𝖙

𝖗𝖊𝖘𝖕𝖑𝖊𝖓𝖉𝖊𝖓𝖙 (𝖆𝖉𝖏) 𝖆𝖙𝖙𝖗𝖆𝖈𝖙𝖎𝖛𝖊 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖎𝖒𝖕𝖗𝖊𝖘𝖘𝖎𝖛𝖊 𝖙𝖍𝖗𝖔𝖚𝖌𝖍 𝖇𝖊𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖗𝖎𝖈𝖍𝖑𝖞 𝖈𝖔𝖑𝖔𝖗𝖋𝖚𝖑 𝖔𝖗 𝖘𝖚𝖒𝖕𝖙𝖚𝖔𝖚𝖘

I woke up to something wet, and finally realized it was Witz. My eyes settled on the world around me, well, forest to be exact and I realized the reason I was here to begin with.

"I'm up. I'm up." And he helped me up with his constant nudging.

Sighing, I rubbed my eyes, "Let's go."

The tracks were vanishing but thankfully, no one else had come this way through the night. We followed what was left of the hoof tracks and the wheels of the cage attached. Once we exited the forest there was a small town beyond the way.

"That's the best guess." And we started our way there.

- - - - - - - - - -

"Are you up?" It was Clarissa that asked seconds before she opened the curtain to see Winter.

The woman was looking around frantic but her leg stopped further movement, "You're fine."

WInter stopped moving and looks at the blonde, remembering the night before, "Where am I?"

"Hillway Medical Bay. May I ask your name?"

Winter tried to sit up but failed, so Clarissa helped her up, "It's Winter."

Clarissa smiled, "Okay, Winter. So a man brought you in and we stitched your leg up last night. I checked it earlier while you slept and it's starting to heal well. You'll need to stay here for a few more days though."

Winter nodded, "May you call the man in?"

Clarissa nodded and minutes later Thomas came in. He looked over at her sheepish, "Why did you take me here?"

He didn't say anything for a long moment and just sat down next to her, "I say myself in you."

Winter's eyes widened slightly before they stopped and she looks at him in question, "I do not mean to be rude but I saw a younger me. A more scared, fragile, but head-strong me. I was so used to being run over by those men so why not let you go and make them pay? The old man, my pathetic excuse of a father he is."

Winter wants to say something, but decides against it, "My mother was a prostitute."

Her eyes widen, "Oh."

He nods, "Was. She had me after he, well, you can assume. She couldn't do it on her own so she came to my father. What did he do? He took me to become a pawn in his games and killed my mother right in front of me. He told me for years it was my fault, but I slowly realized that it wasn't. I don't want you to get a similar fate, so I'm letting you go."

He gets up and goes to leave, "I apologize for your leg. It will scar, your face too."

Thomas turns to her and looks into her eyes, "Wear your scars like a shield. Use them to your advantage."

Winter grabs his hand as he goes to leave, he turns, "Thank you, Thomas."

All the man can do is nod, "I wish you all the best."