A Snow Story

Meeting the Ice Queen (6)

To my relief, it didn't take long for me to find everyone again. The heads of Sasha, Tobi, and Pintry popped up from the snow all around. I waved my arms to them, trying to get their attention.

"Is everyone okay?" I yelled across the room.

"Yeah." I heard Sasha croak. I also saw Tobi give me a thumbs up and Pintry nodded.

"So, wanna get out of here then?" I asked, calling out. Before anyone answered, we all made our way slowly across the deep snow to join each other. When I was close enough to see their faces clearly, I noticed how exhausted they all looked. I must have looked pretty tired too.

"Anyone have an idea of how to get up there?" I asked and pointed my hand upwards to a ledge a meter or so high. The snow had filled up most of the pit, but there was still a high enough drop from the ground above.

Sasha responded sheepishly and shrugged. "I could fly up and figure something out."

"Yeah, that could work I guess. Any other ideas?"

Tobi raised his hand slightly and spoke with a tiny smile on his face. "Well, we could use those snow stairs right there." He pointed at something behind me and I turned around. Sure enough there was some nicely packed snow that formed into a small staircase.

"When did that get there?" Sasha said, surprised. Her tired bird eyes looked more awake now.

"No idea." I mumbled.

"Let's go then, slowpokes!" Pintry squawked as he began to move slowly through the snow to the stairs.

I rolled my eyes and smiled slightly. That penguin would always be cranky, wouldn't he?

We all followed the path that Pintry had made and trudged our way through the waist deep snow. It sure was getting cold being this deep in snow.

When we got to the staircase we all struggled to get out of the snow and half crawled up the steep snow stairs. I sighed when I got to the top with everyone else. We had all been through a lot in the past hour or so. To be honest, it was kind of hard to tell how much time had passed down here. That made me think of how Sasha and I should have been back in the school at this time. A dull feeling of worry made me feel anxious to get out of here as soon as possible.

"Where to next?" I asked in a hurry.

"I'm glad to say that we have reached the end of the Ice Queens little game." Tobi said and gestured to the net doorway. This door was much fancier and nicer looking than the other ones i'd seen down here. The ice sparkled and shimmered on the beautifully carved door.I could just make out the words "ICE QUEEN,"on the top of the door.

"Before we go in, I should tell you that the Ice Queen can be a little... I don't know, cheeky. Just ignore what she says if it bothers you." Tobi said, with a nervous look on his face. "Oh, and we have to convince her to let you go back up there." he pointed up.

Sasha and I nodded. "And don't forget about telling her to change me back!" Sasha said with angry eyes.

"Oh right." He chuckled. "I guess I'm getting used to you being a bird."He grinned and his eyes met mine. I jumped a little and turned to the door. I always got so nervous when he looked into my eyes. It felt like he could see through me. " Oh and Sasha. Mind giving me back my Jewel?" He held his hand out for it.

Sasha passed it to him with her beak with out saying anything. "What's taking so long? Let's open that door. I need to speak to the Queen as well." Pintry huffed.

"Alright." Tobi said. He turned to the door and held out the necklace Jewel. He then touched the door handle with his free hand and the jewel and door handle began to glow a bright blue.I stared in amazement.