|| Frost bite ||

❄️ Unfathomable ❄️

“Some memories
never leave your bones.
Like salt in sea,
They become part of you
– and you carry them.”

❄️

Weeks passed, and slowly the snow began to melt, signalling the arrival of spring. New leaves dared to peep out of the barren branches, buds bloomed to feel the sunlight. But the trainees were seriously getting bored with their same and daily schedule.

Thankfully, not before long, they were called for the first Hunt of the year. They'd have given diamonds to have got it a week earlier, but one stern reply from Renolf had them shut up. So came another boring week that seemed like a lifetime.

❄️

"Wake up, wake up, you lazy goat!"

Elanor groaned at the yelling of her brother near her ear. "What?" she grumbled, trying sitting up while carefully avoiding his head.

" 'What?' " he grinned, "It's the Hunt, silly!"

It was as good as an electric shock. She sat bolt upright, nearly crashing their heads together. "Get off!"

He jumped down, rattling the bed. Grabbing a leather breastplate and a cloak, he raced out of the room. Tripping and stumbling over her own feet, Elanor hurried to get dressed in some leggings, a tunic, and belts.

She crammed into the breakfast hall a good twenty minutes later, fully dressed and equiped with her bow, quiver and dagger. The hall was busting with talks, hurry of activities and a great deal of shouting and cursing, exceptionally crowded due to all the hunters being in one place for once.

Squeezing in between Niphredil and Celon, Elanor quickly swallowed some food before rushing off again. From the end of the table, Rebecca rolled her eyes.

"Here goes Miss Whirlwind," Naim remarked, causing Eäron to nearly choke on his bread.

"Someone's got their priorities straight," Ilván said cheekily, earning a wink from Renolf, who very carefully avoided Rebecca's notice.

                                         ❄️

Elanor sped down in the direction of Eglan's house, from where they would set out. Her horse, Gwaeren, was already there, along with many other horses.

The others were not too long to join, but still they received some curses about being 'stupid guys' and 'intentionally lazy'. Not so long after, the sound of thundering hooves faded into the grey and green forests.

"Stay away from the eastern bank!" Renolf warned one last time before heading off towards west. Elanor took a northern bend and turned back to see who else had followed. Eäron's presence she could easily decipher through the constant yelling, and Naim's quieter voice answered him cheerfully. And behind them, gaurding the rear, was Eglan.

She turned back, ducking under a low hanging branch just in time as Gwaeren gained speed. The cold air whipped past her face as her steed sped as the wind, leaping over fallen branches and loose snow so quickly that she barely registered them. His feet seemed to fly over the terrain, and in no time, the trees had thickened around her. Managing to turn back once, she saw none of her companions.

She eased her mount into a trot, turning him around to face the way through which they had come. The horse was not too happy about the sudden stop, and beat his hooves indignantly on the icy ground.