Winter Shadows of the Vale

𝖛𝖎𝖈𝖎𝖘𝖘𝖎𝖙𝖚𝖉𝖊

𝖛𝖎𝖈𝖎𝖘𝖘𝖎𝖙𝖚𝖉𝖊 (𝖓) 𝖆 𝖈𝖍𝖆𝖓𝖌𝖊 𝖔𝖋 𝖈𝖎𝖗𝖈𝖚𝖒𝖘𝖙𝖆𝖓𝖈𝖊𝖘 𝖔𝖗 𝖋𝖔𝖗𝖙𝖚𝖓𝖊, 𝖙𝖞𝖕𝖎𝖈𝖆𝖑𝖑𝖞 𝖔𝖓𝖊 𝖙𝖍𝖆𝖙 𝖎𝖘 𝖚𝖓𝖜𝖊𝖑𝖈𝖔𝖒𝖊 𝖔𝖗 𝖚𝖓𝖕𝖑𝖊𝖆𝖘𝖆𝖓𝖙

"Come on Witz, you've got to get moving. We've got to go, boy." That very horse refuses to move from the stables.

The horse that was right next to him is next to him and smells his neck. Witz turns back to the horse and nuzzles up against her. Duran and Winter chuckle, "I think you're faithful companion has fallen in love."

"I see that," he approaches Witz, "I'm sorry. We have to go," he then leans in, "Do you want Winter to walk."

The horse neighs in a sad tone, "Come on, say goodbye."

Duran notices the horse doesn't have the full saddle on anymore, their owner had to have come in at some point. They're probably staying a few days here.

Witz and the other horse nuzzle once last time and he walks away over to Duran so he can get the bags situated once more.

"Get up."

Winter punches him lightly but does as she's told and Witz bucks lightly to make her laugh, "You want more apples?"

They finally leave the stable. And when they do a flash of red passes by and Winter turns quickly. When she turns around all she sees is a little bit of red and a boot going into the stables.

"What?"

Winter shakes her head, "I think someone just walked past, is all."

Duran nods, "Oh, okay. Come on, head in the game woman."

She smiles, "Of course. Let's head off."

Witz starts to move and slips from Duran's grasp and takes off with Winter on his back, "Hey!"

Duran laughs and chases after them. Witz goes only to the edge of town before turning to look back at his owner. Duran is quick to run up to them and he hits Witz in retaliation but all the horse does is snort.

"No apples for you."

Witz looks up at Winter and she smiles, "I'll give you one later, I promise."

He's happy to that and let's Duran grab his reins once more and they make their way farther and farther out of town. Once they finally settle down to use the bathroom, the town is a small spec in the distance. 

"I'm going to wash up a bit and use the bathroom okay?" Duran gives her a thumbs up, "Sure. I'll be here."

"Hey Witz, you thirsty?"

Duran nods, "Go ahead and get something to drink, boy."

The horse walks up to Winter and she grabs his reins and they wade into the woods. He has to duck a few times between trees but they soon find a small stream. There's also a cave on one end on the dry end, it however connect with the water.

It's getting harder to see in the darkening sky. It't getting closer and closer to winter as they get farther and farther towards Laniniel. The weather is getting colder in the night but the weeks they've been on the road has turned the summer into late autumn. 

Witz bends his head down into the water and takes a long drink but water hits back at him and he recoils. Winter laughs when she sees a fish swimming around, it circles a bit and swims off to a small group of them.

"It's just a fish, Witz."

The horse seems to pout but goes back to drinking. Winter sticks her hands into the water and sets her face over them. Washing her face with the cold water she sighs in content, "Thank you for this water."