Snowstorms and Hazel Melodies

Prologue

Death is nothing at all.
I have only slipped away to the next room.
I am I, and you are you.
Whatever we were to each other,
That, we still are.
-Henry Scott Holland

"Breathe, Snowflake. Fill your chest with air, let it flood your senses and cradle your power".

Caramel-brown hands clasped softly over young, pale ones and gold feathered wings wrapped around the bouncy teenage fae in front of him. The air was crisp and freezing around them, stingingly fresh as it entered her body.

"Now, you have got to relax and focus, Rai. Stop giggling and jumping around", the older fae scolded but his soft eyes and blooming smile betrayed his words.

Letting out one final titter, 'Rai' squeezed her eyelids shut and did as she was told.

A familiar sphere of crackling energy lay dormant within her soul, untamed and untapped. It expanded with every second she paid sole attention to it, reveled in the anticipation of being claimed and harnessed by its master forevermore. Its master however, was painfully young with a mind that wandered far too much and concentrated far too little.

Outside her mind, her brother was sensing the change in the wind itself and watched with piqued interest as the tiny fae's white hair blew about wildly and leaves swirled at her feet. There was an immense premonition of power in the forest clearing they stood on.

!POOF!

A cloud of misty snow now sat comfortably on Raina's already silvery white locks and contrasted heavily with her brother's onyx brown.
Unable to restrain himself further or for longer, the older fae guffawed uncontrollably. Doubling over, his fingers grasping at his tunic for support and gasping for air within intervals of boisterous laughter.

"Rydan! You insensitive brute!" Raina huffed indignantly, eyes narrowed at her older sibling's amusement and cheeks reddened from embarrassment.

Gaining composure but still cackling faintly, Ry flicked off the fluff of snow that was adorably situated on the tip of the female's tiny pink nose, "How am I not to laugh at that, Snowflake?".

Raina's eyebrows furrowed deeply from disapproval, "I like to think you won't find it funny when I never manage to tap into my abilities properly".

Rydan quirked a dark brow, "Is that so, sister? Have you already decided that to happen? What an insult to my teaching prowess, I must take offence to that".

"Quit your theatrics Ry, I was messing with you. I will become the most feared ice wielder Prythian has known".

"And of that I have no doubt. Now, focus".

Those same caramel brown hands held the same pale ones only that the latter was older, more calloused from rigorous training and the former was blackened, burned and trembling.

"Rydan", icy breath and wind mingled around both of them that whispered wrath and pain.

Frost and blood-dipped lashes fluttered and the corners of his eyes crinkled ever so slightly, "Raina".

His ethereal wings, crafted by the Cauldron and Mother herself, those strong feathered ones, the same that his sister used to envy as a baby fae because of how much it shimmered in sunrises and sets, golden with an orange hue. How contrasting and yet twinning it was to her own silver and azure. Now missing from their home on his back, mere bloodstained stumps remained. Rydan's long, skillful fingers now scorched and destroyed, brutally leaving marks that only Autumn Court fire did. Those fire markings and burns etched and scoured every inch of his arms to his calves and to the gaping hole in the stomach.

"It's okay" Raina croaked, throat obstructed by misery and hurt, "I'll heal you. We can find someone, anyone, and you will be fine".

Yet, out of all the gruesome injuries, the look in his eyes hurt Raina the most. Tender chocolate irises that were always full of sassiness, knowledge, wit and pure jubilation were nowhere to be found in the resigned, dull, empty ones in their spot. No reflection of pain or anger, just detachment and forced acceptance. He knew his fate and every cell in his sister's being wailing in agony because she knew it too.

"Snowflake", the stress in his voice was laced with weakness.

All she could answer with was a terrified head shake, tears flying all over the roasted grass, "Don't you dare, give up on me, brother. Not right now, let me take you away and take care of you".

"Rai. Spread my ashes with mother and father, will you?.. God, I love you so much Raina. You're my heart's heart".

A smile of sweet memories and cherished feelings stayed on the peaceful and young face of Rydan Zor.

They say that his sister's screams and cries of loss and promised revenge still echo through the forests of where the damned Autumn and Spring Courts meet. 

In those moments and long, dreaded ones after that, Rai truly believed happiness had become a memory, something to reminisce upon. She settled for contentedness, joy in the small moments, pride in the big ones and utter emptiness in some. The feeling of home, the warm fuzzy feeling had perfectly disappeared from Raina's painting of life. Until a certain Night Court shadowsinger relit that warmth, and gave home another meaning. One day, after many turmoil and struggles, our ice wielder will find that all roads lead to Azriel...

-Tangled Thoughts