|| Frost bite ||

❄️The North❄️

“Home can be made only once.
Once you lose it,
you never make it again.”

❄️

An hour's ride brought them to their snowy homeland.

The sun was peeking over the snow piled mountains. The first rays of sunlight falling on the snow reflected from it, making the very ground seem like diamonds. Their beautiful home. And the only home they've ever known.

The first being to cross their way was Akeera, a snowy white wolf Elanor had rescued as a pup from a thornbush winters ago. Akeera was dangerous in fight or rage, but otherwise, she was just like an oversized puppy. Seeing her friend, she wagged her tail and whined softly, her tongue hanging out, and trotted up to them.

Elanor smiled, and extended her hand, which Akeera licked affectionately. She ruffled her fur, and limped onwards. Akeera followed like a faithful companion.

"I'd have preferred a dog," Eäron remarked, "if I was given the chance. Afterall, she does little more than follow around and eat and sleep."

"Akeera's capable of much more than that, and you know it," Elanor retorted, "or have you forgotten the strength of her jaws?"

That was the end of it. Of course, he hadn't forgotten the bite marks on his arms. But he would never confess it. Defeated by his twin was not an honourary title.

"What's there to remember?" he instead said, stubbornly staring at the sky.

She raised an eyebrow. "Akeera," she called.

Akeera immediately growled dangerously and revealed her teeth. She glared at Eäron, who out of instinct took a step backward. Wolf teeth aren't something you'd easily forget.

If that shrapnel wasn't hurting so much, Elanor would have laughed. But that thing was protesting violently against each movement. Instead she said, "I win."

Before he could reply, though, they were interrupted by a loud argument.

"I told you they'd mess it up," Brégedúr's deep, thunderlike voice stated, "the twins are too young for being of any use."

" They've succeeded in many missions before," Renolf's calmer, more diplomatic voice  argued, "and I believe they will in this one as well, in time."

"Well," Brégedúr said sarcastically, "seeing that the time was appointed before sunrise and still they—"

He stopped abruptly, as by now they had rounded the bend and before them the said twins stood.

Renolf looked at them, smiled, and turned to Brégedúr, crossing his arms. "You doubt my choice?" he said, raising an eyebrow.

Bregédúr said nothing.

Renolf turned back to them. "Elanor and Eäron," he said, as they both nodded, "did you succeeded?"

" When have we not?" Eäron blurted before Elanor could say anything. She rolled her eyes.

Renolf, however, just smiled. He enjoyed the unbounded tongue of the twins, and their sarcastic nature. "What caused the delay?" he asked.