Fallen Stars

Chapter 21

TYGRON

12 Years Ago

The snowstorm created a thickness of fog and the snow was blowing hard. It crunched softly on the ground as my bare foot walked on its pile, creating deep holes with every step I took. Fir, spruce and conifer trees surrounded us. Subconsciously counting each trunk I pass on, I hold on to the thought that I should pass one more tree and keep walking out in the snowstorm. I let out a groan each time I could, giving me the energy and force I needed to make it through even though I didn't have any idea where I was heading.

I kept on moving.

Carrying wounded heavy Cathera on my back, I was walking in the middle of the snow. It was so cold that my lungs hurt because of the icy air that steamed from my mouth every time I exhaled. I was walking in the middle of the snow, thankful that frostbite hadn't taken a toll on my body yet. My bare feet had become numb from the coldness of the frost bed I walked upon. Dried blood was covering my left eye.

My frail body was already enough of the coldness, the pain persisting in my body chipped away at my strength one by one.

Right before it happened...

I woke up and found out that 8-year-old Cathera was now sleeping on my shoulder. I slowly removed myself from her to return and sleep in my room, returning the book to the bedside table and tucking her in the warmth of her thick blanket. The snowstorm outside had also gone silent, roars of wind were not to be heard, though even if there was silence I was expecting it to be followed up with another surge of snow.

About to open the door of my room, I heard Mother and Father indistinctly chatting downstairs, on the front porch, my guess.

"Darling, why are you smoking? Put that out!" called Mother, the least I could understand from what they talked about. I was already walking downstairs, slowing down not to creak the planks of the stairs as I stepped on it.

"Why? The kids are asleep already, you know?"

"Just put that out," I heard Dad's cigar fizz after. Peeking through the protective fencing of the stairs, I could see the two.

They are cuddling together, sitting in the living chair with a blanket wrapped around them as they look at the candle at the table, giving each other warmth.

"Tygron," weakly exclaimed Mother as she saw me. "You're still awake."

"I cannot sleep, Mother," I replied, rubbing my eye with a fist.

"Come here," She offered and I went to sit between them. I felt cosy of their warmth wrapping on my sides and preventing cold air from seeping between us three, cuddling. Father's arm extended on the back of the chair, wrapping the back of me and my mother's neck. Mother wrapped her arm around my back, holding my waist.

Experiencing the moment with all silence, we listened to the wind and snow rustling in a weaker noise than it was a few hours before. I know Mother and Father loved that sound like I did, closing their eyes to hear the wind so deeply.

"Tygron, do you know why your father and I are still awake?" asked Mother and I looked at her, mumbling in response.

"We're waiting for something," She smiled at me. Father just nodded and also smiled.

"Waiting? Waiting for what?"

"We're waiting for the after-midnight hour," Dad interrupted Mother who was about to reply, bellowing as usual.