Do You See It, Winter?

The beautiful front

-Clack-, a little to the left.

No, no, that will not do. -Tap tap-. Was that better?

-Screee-, it shifts. Much better!

I think? The white and blue vase stood, small in stature but sparkling like an open field snowed-over through the night, glittering with an untarnished surface reflecting the morning sun. It rested silently, perfectly in the center of a hexagonal, reflective glass plane. Perfectly centered, that is, to the untrained eye.

No, you are not quite in the center, Winter thought, huffing, clenching his fist as he prepares to shift it around yet again, daintily using a single, serrated claw to tap it ever so slightly into its designated place. The presentation must be flawless, and the strict, relentless voices of his Icewing mentors and family ring in his mind. A constant reminder. He must not falter.

Oh, how long has it been that he's toiled over this one piece of shiny decor, and what for? Something so insignificant shouldn't siphon so much of his time and focus. Yet his mind refuses to settle.

-Tap...tap...- It shifts over the glass, Winter's eyes squinting to focus.

-Tap...-

"Hey, Winter, would you like - "

-Click! -

-Crash!-

Winter's eyes snap open at the voice appearing behind him. He casts his gaze downward to the new, shattered white porcelain littering the floor and the newly vacated, hexagonal glass plane. Eyes stare back at him on that pristine, reflective surface. Eyes that should feel unfamiliar, a look so cold and wrathful, trapped behind that wall of glass in wait. Gritting his teeth, brow furrowing at the reflection, he pulls himself back.

What do you know?! Bringing his talon down onto the solid rock floor he attempts to direct his rage, and a shard of porcelain splinters before he connects with the ground. An immovable and unbreakable foe.

Gah! Nothing but pain shoots through his arm, his bones screaming at the impact and newly drawn, blue blood begins to flow, finding and neatly pooling within cracks in the floor.

"Winter!" The voice cries out, the dark figure bounding closer, "are you okay?! What did you do?" She leans forward, reaching out for his injury.

Moon...

Breaking from his thoughts, he whips his glare over toward her hunched form, his eyes narrowed and he wrenches himself away from her gentle touch. She returns his look, face creased with worry.

"Look at what you made me do!" Winter hisses, his voice sharp, "sneaking around like that, barging in when you are not needed!" He turns back toward the scattered remains of the once-proud vase, now irreparable - his face glints in each fragment tauntingly.

Do not look at me like that! The heat in his chest bubbles.

Moon recoils, her concern morphing into that of confusion, her brow pulls inward as she steps back.

"I - I just wanted to see if you were okay, I didn't mean for -"

"Don't!" He snaps, frost breath puffing into the air around him, "Just. Don't. I do not need your help and I did not ask for it. I can handle things on my own."

Moon's ears droop and Winter stomps past her, shouldering her aside as he steps out of the cave's only doorway, head low and cursing under his breath. The simmering heat in his chest eases back, and he throws a look over his shoulder. The last thing he sees is Moon gently brushing the shards into a neat pile before he crosses away and she disappears from view behind the rock wall.

                                         

                                                     A/N Chapter 1/3 To Be Continued