Midnight Fae (GXG)

Meeting

"Mom!" Frostine's voice cracked as her mother didn't open her eyes the first time she shook her. Covered from head to toe, her mother was cold. Frostine's heart raced with panic as she frantically tried to wake her mother again, but still, there was no response. Worried, she quickly reached for a blanket to wrap her mother in, hoping to warm her up and bring back some color to her pale face.

A slight whimper was heard.

"Frost...ine?"Her eyes opened tiredly as the girl widened her eyes and released a sigh of relief. "Frostine, my dear," her mother weakly whispered, "I'm just feeling a bit under the weather. I'll be alright; don't worry." Frostine's tension eased slightly, but she knew she needed to keep a close eye on her mother and seek help if necessary.

"I know. I have known." Her mother smiled as if it took all of her energy. She raised her hand and brushed it against the girl's cheek. "My dear child." She spoke softly. Frostine felt a lump form in her throat as she held back tears, trying to stay strong for her mother. She gently grasped her mother's hand and whispered, "I'll take care of you, Mom. You're not alone."

A gentle laugh went past the woman's lips.

"You're so sweet, darling. I'm going to get better. It's just a cold." Her mother responded weakly. Frostine's heart ached at her mother's words, knowing deep down that it was more than just a cold. She forced a smile, hoping to bring some comfort to her mother's fragile state.

"I know you will." She squeezed her mother's hand tighter, silently promising to be her rock throughout her illness.

The room was cold, as it has always been these past couple of years. It was snowing nonstop, and Frostine couldn't seem to remember a day when it hadn't. She had to get more wood to put on the fireplace. Frostine sighed as her mother closed her eyes.

"I hope you get well soon, Mum." Frostine quietly stood up, gently releasing her mother's hand. She knew she had to brave the freezing weather outside to gather more firewood. As she headed towards the door, she couldn't help but feel a pang of worry for her mother's health. Is she ever going to get better?

Gritting her teeth, Frostine grabbed the axe by the doorway and raised it into both of her hands. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for the bitter cold that awaited her. The wind howled outside, causing the windows to rattle and the snow to swirl in a frenzy. She locked the door behind her and sighed as she put her hood on.

She has always been a weird girl.

Beginning with being born without a father up to having white hair since the day she was a child. Despite the challenges she faced, Frostine had always managed to find strength within herself. People in the village often whispered about her unusual appearance, but she never let it bother her.

She stepped into the thick forest, the trees swaying from side to side like a chord being struck. The air was crisp and cold, causing Frostine's breath to form small clouds in front of her. As she walked deeper into the forest, the sound of her footsteps seemed to echo through the silence, adding to the eerie atmosphere.

She stopped once she reached the area she normally checks, near the river, about in the middle of the forest. She put another pair of gloves on her hands to keep them from freezing. It was the middle of the night, and the weather wasn't forgiving at all.

Frostine shivered, her body instinctively curling inward to shield herself from the biting wind. The moon cast an ethereal glow on the frozen river, illuminating the icicles that hung from the branches like delicate chandeliers.

With a small grunt, she raised the axe and swung it hard into the wood trunk. The sound of the axe hitting the wood echoed through the stillness of the night, causing Frostine to pause and listen for any signs of movement. The crackling of branches under her boots reminded her that she was not alone in this frozen wilderness.