Fig trudged through the deep snow, his woollen cost pulled tightly around him, the collar up trying to assist in every way to keep the bitter cold at bay.
The moon cast a dull light across the dead and sparse wood, he'd grown accustom to the poor light years ago but that didn't mean he didn't miss the sun.
His right foot suddenly dropped under him, lancing pain up his leg to his old hip injury. Grimacing he lifted his leg out of the hidden ditch then hobbled over to the stripped remains of a fern and rested against it, breathing through his teeth to mask the pain.
He didn't need this now, he was very close to his prey, to getting revenge on Gismak, that vicious soulless ghoul.
From a pouch hidden under his layers he collected a small amount of soil from the Everwood, last home of the forest Nympths. He whispered an incantation onto his closed fist then rubbed the soil into his old injury, the pain eased up enough so he could use the leg again.
The wood would die soon, he knew that. The forces of Burstsein, self appointed Lord of Winter had but to wait now , the winter would continue to spread.
He'd lost hope for the final battle, his only goal now was but a few hundred feet ahead of him. The remnants of the forces of spring had unrealistic expectations of him. As a Druid, his soul entwined with a forest nymph he was supposed to be the first line of Defense but he'd lost too much and seen his eager youth diminish into bitter old age, he snarled and set off again.
Pushing on as fast as he dared he eventually saw Gismak ahead of him, being carried on a sedan chair by two frost golems. He faced Fig, with two further Golems flanking him. Fig tried not too but his attention was drawn to the golem to the left and the chain it held around Seriphin's neck, his niece looked petrified.
"Ready to admit we are no different?" Said the ghoul his smugness plain in his voice.
Druids shared their souls for the power to heal, ghouls sold their for the power to destroy, Fig didn't even intend to try and explain again, he'd lost hope he'd convince one to repent.
With a nod from Gismak the only unoccupied Golem, slogged forward, Fig hated them, slow and dim but extremely strong but he was not holding back today.
He tossed forward an acorn, the Golem caught it as he knew it would. He then pushed his life essence into it, forcing it to grow and where once a monster now a powerful oak and snow.
