Breaking the Ice (Book 1)

Chapter One

LUNA

She panted as she climbed a bit further. Her hands numb, the frost nipping her nose. So exhausted she was. "I have to know what the Icee kingdom is like." Luna whispered, trying to motivate herself. "I didn't think it would be this cold though." As a Nightling, she didn't think she'd be welcomed into the palace with friendly faces and a hot drink. But this wasn't the first time she did something she shouldn't have. Who would've thought a nine year old's curiosity could lead to taking a sneak peek of one of the most dangerous tribes?

But all of them were dangerous in their own ways. Luna pulled herself a few inches higher, then stopped to catch her breath. She was almost there, she could feel it. She looked up, stopping herself from looking down at the snowy white blanket outstretched far beneath her. She prayed that she didn't fall. The wind was against her, blowing air into her face, making her raven hair cover half of it.

Suddenly, one of her feet landed on a ledge with ice coding, and lost traction. Both of her feet lost their positions. Luna held tightly to the mountain with her hands, like it would have to come down with her if she fell. She finally found footing and attempted to slow her heartbeat and rest for a few moments. It had been a long few days. When she finally reached the top, she released the breath she hadn't noticed she was holding. She had her eyes shut closed to shield them from the wind, when she reopened them, her heart sped up again in terror. Spears pointed in her direction, close enough to pierce her face. She didn't think she'd be caught so soon. She crouched at the feet of pale skinned people with wolf characteristics like ears and a tail. They also had little horns poking out of their heads.

Two grabbed her forearms and dragged her away. Luna didn't bother retaliating, She caught a glimpse of the castle, it was shiny and looked to be made of icicles. Just the look made it all slightly worth it. The cell they tossed her into was very small, had no windows, a corner where she could do her business, and a ledge that was probably supposed to pose as a bed. It was the same material as the walls that trapped Luna in; stone. She didn't really mind it that much at the time. "Trespasser," hissed an Icee.

Four years later:

"You know the drill." Yeti hissed, smoothing out his bleached bangs.

"Ofcourse," the prisoner replied. She jumped off her ledge, and faced a corner with her hands folded behind her head. He slid the tray of food carelessly through the slot that it landed upside down.

"Oops," he frowned, trying poorly to make it seem like it was by accident. Luna knew Yeti had it out for her ever since she first arrived. She wanted to curse at him for being such a smug Icee. But she didn't even get an opportunity when footsteps came into earshot.

And if Luna was correct, in which she always was, there seemed to be two pairs.

"We had a prisoner for four years that I never knew about?" asked a young male voice. Yeti turned to the sounds, arms crossed. "What are you doing down here?" the same voice asked. He then came closer into view from Luna's cell. He had wild turquoise hair, which wasn't as common haircolor for an Icee as far as Luna knew. His right eye was the same color, but strangely, his left eye was a magenta pink with a hideous scar over it. That also wasn't a normal Icee characteristic. But he did have furry wolf-like ears instead of Luna's common ones, along with a furrier tail and clawed fingers, something Luna most definitely didn't have.

"Feeding the defected Nightling." Yeti seethed.

"Am not." Luna rasped quietly, pulling her hood lower over her face. The scarred Icee gave her a searching look.

"Classes are starting soon Your Majesties," the guard beside them informed. Although his cold eyes glared at Luna, his voice was like butter toward the two Icees. Yeti nodded and the guard turned to the other. The scarred Icee waved his hand and the guard left without a word.

"How'd you get in here?" he finally asked, out of nowhere. Luna stayed quiet, unsure he was talking to her directly or muttering to himself. After a few moments, the Icee's frown deepened. "I just asked you a question." impatience filled his tone. Luna hesitated, she was talking to a complete stranger after all. But he seemed someone high ranked, and she didn't want to be in worse trouble.

"Just...adventuring." she mumbled.

"Adventuring?" he echoed.

"Just wanted to see what the kingdom was like." she whispered, hoping he didn't ask more questions.

"What's your name?"

Luna's lower eyelid twitched. "What's your's?" she countered.

His eyebrows narrowed, not a lot, just a little. "Tell me yours first."

Luna let out a sigh. "Luna..." she said slowly.

"Sleet," he nodded. Sleet? It sounded like a mischievous name. "How old are you?" he continued, like it was an interrogation.

"What's with all the questions?" she raised an eyebrow skeptically.

"Just to feed my curiosity." he shrugged.

"Thirteen, I think." she answered before thinking.

"Hmph," was his only reply.

Then Yeti came back and rubbed his knuckles on Sleet's scalp, "Class is now, Furry-Flurry." And they left shortly.

"Great," Luna grumbled. "Now I'm bored."