Dragonsoul

Chapter 7

Although the tinkling laughter warmed Leonie and Amitola's hearts which had been feeling the freezing touch of winter ever since they had received the news, they knew they couldn't just let Nald play with the dragon the whole day. There were many things that they had to do, many arrangments they had to make to be able to survive without the one who had provided them with nourishment and protection.

They needed to find another way to get the sorely needed food and warm garments necessary for the long and cold winter that awaited them. Although the cold breath of winter couldn't yet be felt on their skins, everyone in the village knew very well that one could never start preparing too early.

The winters of the Twin village were hard and many a winter people had died for the mere fact that they had underestimated the incredible power that mother nature possessed. There were times when it was so cold that people froze to death in an instant, not being properly prepared for what some deemed to be an unnatural winter caused by evil spirits roaming the village.

Amitola didn't believe in evil spirits, but she did know that without her husband by her side, keeping the children alive and well-fed throughout the winter would be a task that the rare few could accomplish. She told herself that if anyone could do that, if anyone could be that strong and that brave it was the wife of a Hunter.

"Nald dear, I know that meeting a Green Scaled Dragon is not an everyday occurrence, but I am afraid that we have a lot of chores to do. We need to get the animals ready for the sale and some of the things we no longer need." Amitola said.

It broke her heart to pieces to stop the flow of happiness that Nald got caught up in, but times were hard and she knew that some things had to be done. Like dampening her son's spirits and inadvertently reminding him of the situation they were in. All of them needed to take up additional errands to compensate for the absence in the house. Unfortunately, there was nothing they could do for the absence in their hearts. The gaping hole could never be mended.

The moment she said that a crestfallen look appeared on the young boy's face. It was as if life was squished out of his little heart and all that was left was a shell of who he was. What broke the heart of the little adventurer was not the increase of the chores he had to do, but the recollection. The remembering of why there were so many chores.

For a moment, caught up in his boyish wonder, in his fascinations with the dragons, he had forgotten. Tears started coming out of his eyes in a downpour because for a second he had forgotten that his father was no more, that they were all alone in the harsh world that didn't allow for mistakes or hesitations.

The little guy was trying to stay strong as he remembered what he had lost once again but tears listen to no man or boy. Leonie went to him instantly and hugged him tightly. She knew better than anyone that there was no way for him to rein in his tears though he tried with all his might.

After all, his grandmother and some other adults have told him that he had to stay strong, that he was the man of the house now. They went on to say that it was his duty to protect his mother and sister. Although he knew that crying wasn't something the man of the house did, he couldn't stop himself.

It was such a huge shock to him. One moment he was happy playing with his new dragon friend, the next he was heartbroken again. It was like jumping into the ice-cold water of the mountain stream, something he and Leonie did a lot when they were smaller.

Even though what Amitola wanted more than anything in the land was to hug both of her children tightly and never let them go, she knew that she couldn't do that. They couldn't afford to fall apart, not yet. Once the harsh winter came there would be plenty of time to grieve their loss, but for the time being, they had to make sure they didn't join Rimodar too soon in the Great Forest.