Aestivus

7. snow

KALINKA

At the top of the mountains she stood, with Kholodnost held firmly in her hands. At the base of the mountains, a lone mammoth prowl looking for food in the sleet, unaware that it will soon fall prey to the hunters.

"Gliders ready. This thing should be enough for the whole city." She announced, tucking away her sword and opening the leather wing contraptions on her back, and leapt off the mountain without hesitation.

For a brief moment, she was free falling. And then with a silent floomp, her gliders caught the wind, and she started gliding steadily forward. The others quickly joined her, adjusting their locations until they find a clear shot at the animal, swooping down to land a strike, and returning to their original position.

The mammoth lets off an alarmed yelp and raced off down the mountain slopes. "Stop it before it gets into Brisfroid territory. Djehutimesu!" Djehutimesu swore in ancient Egyptian as he swooped off, faster than everyone else, knocking the prehistoric elephant off course while the others caught up with floating spears and axes, sinking them into the creature's hide as it bucked its knees and collapsed slowly.

"An animal a day keeps the smilodons away. Let's skin this thing and bring it back." She told the others, drawing a dagger to assist in the skinning process as Djehutimesu stood watch over them. A dire wolf howl tore through the night, as a group of Brisfroid hunters step into the clearing. "The mammoth was in Brisfroid territory. We should be able to solve this without a fight. Not that you'll want one," their leader mocked as he stepped closer.

Kalinka stood her ground. "You people don't know when to back off, do you? This isn't the team you beat up yesterday. Leave now and I'll spare your sorry asses."

"Last chance. I don't want to fight a girl." The leader on the other side drew his sword but was held back by the hunter behind him. "You don't want the Angel of Destruction after us. Last time they tore down the central plaza in seconds..."

Kalinka laughed, drawing her sword as the opposing hunter charged at her. "You won't be meeting Aneantir anytime soon... only Kholodnost."

With a loud clang, the blades met. "Everyone stand back. I haven't had a swordfight for ages." Kalinka kicked the Brisfroid hunter in the stomach and slashed, dodging a stab from him. In one swift movement, she flicked a clean line across the other hunter's palm and flicked his sword out of his hand and into hers. "Leave now. Last chance." "Give me my sword." Kalinka handed it back. "Go, or you'll have a matching wound on your neck." The hunter grabbed his sword and ran off with his team, leaving nothing more than a thin line of red in the snow.

***

It was almost sunrise after dropping the mammoth off at the community hall, just an hour before the outpost guards change shifts. Kalinka brushes the dirt off a rock on Kralser's peak for a seat. An array of sky islands floats above them. Castle in the Sky, Land of Scholars, whatever it's called. High above even the tallest mountain in the world, casting a golden glow down the memory spring, Praeteritum, atop the nearest mountain. As usual, it appears to be a glittering whirlpool surrounded by lilies, doubling as a nest of the fae.

A herd of Przewalski's horses emerged from the forest to graze on the slopes, as with the goats also on the mountains, contentedly munching on mountain lilies. They are cautious if her presence, but over time Kalinka has their trust, just enough for them to maintain a respectful distance and not toss her off the cliff.

Djehutimesu took a seat next to her. "Nice view, heh? No wonder why you come up here every day. We didn't have this back in Avaris, just swamps and sand. The horses here look funny too."

She glanced in his direction. "Must've been so weird for you to fall from a desert into a cold biome." He laughed back. "It wasn't that bad, but if I was found any later I would have been a... what did they call it... an ice stick? Iced man."

"You sort of sound like my brother when he was younger." Djehutimesu's smile faded. "How is he now? I heard something happened last week." Kalinka facepalmed. "No clue, I moved over to Ophelia's. He messed up my loom big time last week because he wanted to try. Jeez, can't you try your sister's loom without breaking it in two?"

Djehutimesu started fidgeting with his scarab amulet. "The two of you really need to talk more. There's no point to be in stalemate with your brother... even if you two aren't related."

Kalinka drew her sword and started cleaning it with a small piece of mammoth pelt. "Not until he apologizes. That man needs to learn respect. Kinda hoping he gets sent on expedition next week."

"But he's an outpost guard? It takes a lot of manpower to replace someone with an offence rune." "Brisfroid hunters are easier work than the Covayans... they harness power directly from the stars themselves. This isn't just an expedition... we are preparing for war."