The Frost Phoenix

Prolog

In the cold night of winter, a wail echoed across the barren land it was heard by the nearby village Telmox. The villagers woke with a start as lanterns were lit as the younger members rushed off to investigate by their leader's command. The group of ten arrived in a clearing where the cries of despair originated from. There was blood splatter around the clearing in the middle was an older looking hut the door was broken off its hinges laying in a splintered mess on the blood-soaked ground. Five bodies were laying around the clearing two dwarfs, a human, a tiefling, and a half-orc. A Dragonborn decided to move first inching his way closer as the wails quieted down to muffled sobs. The Dragonborn cringed slightly at each small splash of a pool of blood when it was stepped on. Upon reaching the entrance it looked inside its eyes widened in horror as it saw what lies inside. The hut was in shambles, broken furniture scattered across the floor, paints and pictures ripped apart, a sole window was broken in the far end of the hut. However what was truly terrifying was that on the floor just out of sight was a dead elf no this wasn't just an ordinary elf by the looks of it, it was a moon elf.

The village hardly ever saw elves pass by let alone one being a moon elf the description fit the dead elf. Alabaster skin, black hair, and those unseeing lifeless eyes were blue with golden flecks just as moon elves were sometimes described. The Dragonborn looked further inside despite its heart crying out that it no longer wanted to see anymore or what was even inside. Further inside its heart twisted painfully as the Dragonborn heard the rest approach it was in shock. A human was laying in a pool of blood with a large gash across her back. She had brown hair and tan skin however what caught their attention when the rest shoved past the shocked Dragonborn was a half-elf child next to her. The child was clinging to its mother uninjured however it was terrified and when they barged in just made the situation worse. The child's terrified blue eyes shot up as it held its mother closer. A human male bent down in front of the kid before asking in a gentle tone" little one what's your name?" The kid shied away from the man before looking as if it was studying the man for a brief moment wiping its tears away smearing some blood on its face as a result getting a couple of sharp breaths from those behind the human.

The little half-elf spoke up in a tired, grief-stricken, pitiful, quiet voice" Norril of Darkmoor." That tone caught them off guard. They were thinking that it was going to be a little boy from the appearance however at that point they were struck with reality. The half-elf had short cut black hair, alabaster skin, blue eyes, and was wearing dark clothes like her father. The only thing that gave away she was a female was her voice. Norril let out a small yawn as she was tired from crying before she asked looking up at the group" c-can you wake mom and dad. I-I tried b-but they aren't waking up no matter what I do."

She sniffled before the man from before said" hey now Norril how about you come with us, ok? I'm Valkarn, I'm going to take you somewhere you'll be safe." She was wary as the stranger held out his arms to pick her up however after a long moment she finally allowed him to pick her up. She clung to him as exhaustion started to tug at her however she refused to let it win easily while Valkarn gave a nod to the others to bury the bodies. Valkarn took the half-elf back to the village when reaching it he was stared at in horror as he swiftly went to the village leader to fill her in on what they found. He knocked on the leader's door quickly calling through the door" Mashina it's Valkarn I found out what was going on and I need help now!"

The door opened to reveal a middle-aged female tiefling who said" alright what's wrong what did you fi-" She trailed off upon seeing Valkarn holding the little half-elf covered in blood splatter her tail coiled around her leg as she frowned a bit. She spoke in a calm caring tone as she saw how exhausted and upset the little one was. She had said" come in, Valkarn we need to get the two of you cleaned up while we do you can fill me in on what happened. However, save the worse parts for later I don't want to torment the child." Valkarn stepped inside as Norril clung tighter to him as he made his way to the bathroom while Mashina was looking for something the child could wear.

Valkarn said after he finally managed to reassure Norril long enough to set her down" I promise Mashina isn't going to hurt you. I haven't lied to you yet so you can still trust me that she's just trying to help us right?" Norril gave a small nod however stayed next to his side as he sighed saying" appears she's taken a liking to me."

Mashina chuckled before kneeling down saying" hey there I'm Mashina the village's leader I'm also good friends with Valkarn." That got Norril's interest as she studied the smiling tiefling for a moment until she was gently nudged closer. Mashina said, in a gentle voice" you must be terrified however no one here is going to hurt you this entire village was built on an understanding. We work together and welcome anyone who doesn't wish us harm so you'll be safe here I promise."

Norril relied in a drowsy voice" 'm Norril." That got a short laugh from Valkarn who could tell she was fighting sleep. After the two were cleaned up Norril was sound asleep sitting on Valkarn's lap dressed in somewhat baggy clothes.

The blonde-haired tan-skinned man said, running a hand gently over Norril's back" I left the others to deal with the mess at the hut we found. A group of five two dwarves, a tiefling, a human, and a half-orc were attacking Norril's family. By what I could tell Norril's father, a moon elf I believe, was the one to kill them most likely after they killed her human mother. It appeared that Norril must have been hiding and the group didn't know it. Now the questions are why did they attack her family who we didn't even know was out there and what are we going to do with her now?" The tiefling smirked her tail twitching a bit where it hung off the side of her chair which made the man confused why she was smirking. That was until realization crossed over him as he spoke with a small bite and wide hazel eyes" no 'Shina I'm not taking her in."

Mashina said, moving her brown hair behind her horns" Valk' look at her and then tell me looking me straight in the eyes that you will not raise her." Valkarn gave a huff before he looked down at the pale black haired half-elf his heart ached slightly. She was clinging to him, her small fists clutching his shirt as if terrified that if she were to let him go he would disappear. Though her crying had ceased he could tell she was hoping to find someone who was willing to reassure her even now. He let out a groan his heartfelt like breaking at the sight he was far too caring to let someone else take her.

He said, his hazel eyes meeting Mashina's pupilless amber-eyed gaze" alright fine you're right I can't just give her up. Damn it my heart just feels like breaking just at the thought I'm far too caring so you win I'll take care of her."

Mashina spoke with a calm voice and a kind smile on her face" that's what I thought would happen the first time I saw you with her. Well, you better be on your way. I'll have someone bring you some clothes for her so expect someone to be knocking on the door. I'll pay for the clothes for now judging by how she is, she'd most likely prefer male clothes just to let you know for the future."

Valkarn stated while getting to his feet" alright I'll be going now we'll talk later on." Mashina waved the man goodbye while he carried the slumbering child out of the house a small smile on his face. Though at first, he didn't feel like he could take care of the child he would soon realize that this was going to be one of the things he'd never regret.