Coldsnap: Storm's Call

Chapter 18: Seeking Out Guidance

We last read Chapter 17, in which Firebird, Keena, and Geode escape from Galeforce's office and start a massive flood in the capital of Skycrest in retaliation for the Storm Sect mages flooding the Grand Terminus at the beginning of the adventure, while also picking up Coldsnap along the way. After a lengthy, harrowing action sequence, Coldsnap, Firebird, Keena, and Geode successfully escape Skycrest and return to the Firelands within the Elemental Realms with sufficient evidence to condemn the Storm Sect as being responsible for the attack. Additionally, Coldsnap shuts down the portal to Skycrest to prevent anyone from following them. In the aftermath, Typhoon—who is one of the sole storm mage survivors of the failed assassination attempt on the President—finds and revives her superior, Commander Windsor Galeforce, following the flood, who proceeds to update her on current events in his office. With the Storm Sect now exposed, Galeforce decides to instead turn his attention to solving Hydraxus's death, and has Typhoon go undercover for it. This time, we join Coldsnap, Firebird, Keena, and Geode as they go their separate ways for the night and Coldsnap attempts to seek the help of a friend in a very high place.....

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-Firelands, Elemental Realms-

"With the light-blue cloths and this storm mage right here, I should be able to convince the rest of the Mage Aspects that this new 'Storm Sect' flooded the Grand Terminus and not me," Keena informed. "But.....I'd say we've had quite a long day. Perhaps we should go back to our homes and get some sleep, then call a meeting in the morning? What do you think, Snowdust?"

Coldsnap agreed. "Yeah. And.....I feel like I need some alone time after everything that's happened. I need to be where it's quiet and peaceful.....so I can listen to his voice clearly."

"I could use a good rest up," Firebird acquiesced as she dusted off her red, black, and gold armor. "I need to shake off this feeling of uselessness; I literally couldn't do anything fire-related the whole time we were in Skycrest."

But Geode was quick to protest. "Hey! You protected me from those storm mages all by yourself! No fire or anything! So no, I don't think you're useless. In fact, you've more than earned my respect!"

"He's right, Firebird," Coldsnap pointed out. "No matter what happens, you're a valued member of this team. You stood with us against Flamestar even though you had served him for years at that point.....you knew to put the safety of the Realms above your devotion to him. So you are loved.....at least by us. Never forget that."

Firebird smiled. "Thanks, Coldsnap....."

"All right. Are we all breaking for the night?"

Everyone voiced their agreement, but before the group went their separate ways, they stood in a circle and each extended one of their arms towards the center, their hands perfectly stacking on top of each other.

"To the Realms' bitter end....." Coldsnap led.

"The Mage Aspects will defend!" everyone chanted in unison, bringing the cheer to a close.

Then, everyone split off; Firebird remained where she already was, Geode returned to the Stonemount Gorge to be by his father Sledge's side, Keena returned to the Tidal Throne with the two cloths and the deceased storm mage in her possession, and Coldsnap made the trek back to the Whitecap Tundra and entered the Aurora Keep, which was her "castle" of sorts.

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Firebird entered the Inferno Fortress and walked upstairs to her quarters, getting herself ready for a night's sleep. She slowly closed her door and locked it, then moved to the middle of the nearly-circular room and began removing her armor piece by piece.