Kōri almost seems to be flying as he rushes over the snow, far faster than he is normally capable of running. Astrila can see the signs that he is being propelled by adrenalin to get back to the main village before the storm hits. Even with the adrenalin pushing him into a faster run, Astrila is still faster than him, her feet skipping over the surface of the snowbanks with ease. He doesn't stop hanging onto her arm as she skims ahead of him over the snowbanks and across the flat expanses of snowy tundra. He doesn't stop or slow until they reach the iglu, not even to shout to any selkie they pass of the approaching storm. Instead, he shouts over the wind to them, his pace constant.
They continue on towards the group of igluit, little flashes of light leaking over the hills surrounding the village, as the storm gray sky looms above their heads. Astrila has to tug Kōri over the hills and down into the shelter of their shadows, protecting them from the howling winds. Kōri leans back against the snow covering the hill to their backs, breathing heavily as his adrenalin fades. Astrila crouches beside him but looks up when the snow before them lightens and sees a selkie carrying a torch, the shadows of her face painted with worry.
"Are you two alright?"
Astrila nods, smiling softly in gratitude. "Yes, we're just tired. We sprinted here all the way from the bay."
The woman nods. "I can see why that would tire someone out. Would you like me to accompany you back to your iglu?"
"Yes, please."
Astrila stands and tugs Kōri to his feet, the wind whipping strands of hair around her face once again. She releases Kōri's hand for a moment to braid her loose hair back and tucks it into the hood of her coat. The woman starts off through the village, and Astrila follows after her, clinging to Kōri's hand once more just in case the blizzard starts in the few moments they are still outside. If krotla starts, she doesn't want to lose Kōri.
The woman leads them all the way to the doorway of their iglu and waits until they duck inside before she leaves them, going out into the whipping winds once more. Astrila looks out into the swirling winds, watching the snow they carry rise from the ground to fly about in the air. Soon, those swirling clumps of blotla, blowing snow, will be replaced by dangerous, deadly flurries of krotla, blinding snow. There is a soft thump from behind her and Astrila turns to see Kōri lying on the floor. Did he fall? Is he unconscious? She takes the few, rushed steps over to him as quickly as possible and crouches, shaking his prone form.
"Kōri? Kōri!"
He groans, and Astrila sags with relief. "Let me sleep."
Astrila sighs and hoists him up, her arms straining as she carries him over to his bed. She is careful as she lets him roll out of her arms and onto his bed, making sure that his face isn't planted into the furs of his bed. Her fingers itch to cover him with his pelt for warmth, but she doesn't touch it. The only one allowed to touch someone's pelt without permission and warning is the person themself. That's what they told her, so she won't touch it. Despite that, she doesn't feel right leaving him uncovered so she steps over to the basket of furs in the storage area. She lifts off the lid, and mercifully, finds one last fur held within. Astrila pulls it out and carries it over to him.
She stretches it out to its full length and drapes it over Kōri, who lets out a sigh as he falls into a deeper sleep. Once Astrila is satisfied that the sleeping Kōri is comfortable, she tugs her pelt tighter around her shoulders and steps back over to the door. Some intla has drifted inside the entrance to the iglu and Astrila gathers it up into a small pile and packs it together before tossing it outside. She packs the small remnant that has been left inside into the floor just past the border of the skins covering most of the floor. When she looks up from her task, the air outside of the iglu has turned into a flat, solid mass of falling snow, a combination of krotla and tlapinti. If she stretches her hand out into the swirling mass, her hand disappears, swallowed by the snow.
Astrila shivers, even from within the warmth of her clothing, and retreats back into the iglu and the higher sleeping levels. On her way up to her bed, she grabs the basket of food and takes out a strip of meat, munching on it slowly. She eats her fill of meat and places the basket to the side before crawling into her bed, covering her body with her pelt. As Astrila drifts off into sleep, she stares at the midlevel fire, watching the crackling flames leap and dance over and around each other, sending smoke spiraling up to the sky.
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Kōri cannot run around outside in the snow for long, can he? What do you think this snow means? What do you think will happen next? Tell me your thoughts!
Happy reading and I'll see you next chapter!
~Goddess of Fate, signing out.
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Gifted Pelt
FantasyAstrila is a normal girl in her Inuit tribe, but is left alone by her mother's death. She runs to the cliffs that overlook the sea and grieves, before she slips and falls off of the cliff into the icy sea. Something saves her, but what is it? Join h...
