Golden

Chapter Nine: Snow

Once we'd started trudging on a path covered in snow, I started noticing the cold temperature. Before it had been interesting. Now? It was irritating. I wanted to turn around and run back into the warmth, but now we were at least a mile from the border and I didn't feel like running. The cold made me tired, wanting to sit down and sleep, but as I'd nearly done so early and was warned by Saros not to even try it, I was fighting the feeling off with all I had. I shivered. My teeth chattered. I hate snow. I thought. Castor chuckled softly beside me. I glanced at him. After a little while longer of trudging through the fluffy white thickness, and I was pretty sure that the warmth had seeped out of my body completely, I turned to look at Castor again.

"Castor?"I asked. My breath hit the air and created a puff of steam. I blinked at it. He stopped walking and turned around, looking back at me. "When are we going to stop in a town?" He sighed, a puff of steam floating from his mouth.

"The nearest town is two more miles in front of us. But chances are we won't make it before nightfall, right now we're looking for shelter,"Castor replied. He turned and kept walking. As night time slowly made its way to us, we eventually found a small abandoned hut to go into. Inside was a cot with old blankets on it, a fireplace, a little table and a chair. I sat down on the bed, shivering. "Saros, stay with Isla. Keep her safe. I'm going to go look for sticks for the fire." Castor glanced at me as I sat there shivering from the cold. His eyes were etched with a little worry, as if he was scared I'd freeze to death. Saros nodded at Castor and watched as he left. Saros moved from his spot in the chair and stood in front of me. He pulled my cloak off for a second, removing the quiver and dagger from my hold. Saros wrapped the cloak back around me and grabbed a blanket from beside me, doubling my layers up with it. Outside the wind started blowing loudly, howling as if in anger. Saros shut the door to the hut and bolted it, casting another glance at the cold and pitiful shell I was becoming.

"D-don't you g-get cold?"I asked through chattering teeth. Saros crossed to the chair in front of me and sat down, shaking his head. I blinked in confusion.

"You would naturally get cold here. You're from an underwater tropical atmospheric temperature, you're not used to chilling weather,"Saros replies. He grinned and leaned back. "Besides, I bet my brother told you of our magic. It's part of my personal gift, I can effect what I'm immune to." I shivered and pulled the cloak tighter around me, moving the blanket a little.

"D-does C-Castor have that t-to?"I queried. Saros shook his head. "D-do you read m-minds?" Saros shook his head again.

"Castor and I both have different gifts. He got mind reading and barrier enchanting, along with a ton of others. I have immunity for things I want, and a bunch of other things,"Saros told me. We stayed quiet for a bit after that. And then Saros spoke. "I'm sorry....about your uncle." I didn't answer. "My brother will get what's coming to him, don't you worry. We will get revenge."

"Saros....I don't want revenge,"I told him in a small voice. I buried my face into my cloak and the blanket. I held back my tears as best as I could. "I want my uncle back." I sniffed and shivered. Saros gazed at my silently, sorrow written across his features. A sudden bang on the door made me squeak in surprise. Saros sighed and got up, placing his hand on my shoulder as he unbolted the door.

"It's only Castor,"He told me softly. I shivered and watched as Saros pulled the door open. A rush of cold air blew in along with Castor, who quickly ran inside and dropped the sticks and things into the fireplace, letting a sigh of relief out. Saros bolted the door again as Castor lit the fire and then turned to grin at us. He reached in his cloak and pulled out a bag, opening it and dumping out a dead, giant looking bird. My eyes widened. Did he kill that?!

"Dinner,"Castor told us. Saros beamed.

"Yes!"He cheered. I turned my face away from the dead bird. Sure I don't mind eating meat, but that doesn't mean I want to watch how it's cooked or cut up...gross.