SSO Winter Prompts 2020

6. Linda

Meteor wasn't particularly happy about the predawn ride, but he wasn't going to deny Linda. She wouldn't have asked him if it wasn't important.

"Don't you normally celebrate Kartik Purnima with your aunt?" Meteor asked as they approached the Silversong River.

"Yes, but with everything going on this year, I thought we should get all the godly help we possibly could," she explained, thankful for the almost full moonlight illuminating the path for them.

"How does a night ride to the river do that?" the horse asked, not following Linda's logic.

"Ideally, you take a dip in sacred water, and the Silversong seems like the closest thing we have to a sacred river. I'm not sure what god will notice, but I hope one will," Linda muttered the last part, operating on faith that this would garner some favor or protection from someone, anyone, who was watching her. They arrived at the river, Meteor pawing at the sand as she dismounted and emptied her bag. The pair were by the Thorn Rocks, the large stones offering some measure of privacy.

Incense was burned, flowers offered to the river, a diya lit, and a towel pulled out. Meteor snorted and looked around, ears scanning for anyone lurking nearby, as Linda stripped down.

"It's normally warmer when people do this," he pointed out, concerned with her plan. Bathing in the Ganges in November or December was one thing, bathing in the Silversong was another.

"It's a quick polar plunge, people do it all the time," Linda pointed out, looking at the icy water and bracing herself. She drew her lips in, biting them as she took off her glasses, placed them on a rock, and dove into the water. The frigid temperature shocked her system, sending her up and gasping for air, frantically grasping the rock she had leapt from.

"Is it dawn yet?" she managed through chattering teeth, squinting at the horizon.

"Just another moment or two," Meteor reassured her, picking up her towel to have it ready. She let out a rush of air before taking another gulp and kicking back into the river and submerging. Her eyes screwed shut, her skin tingling and burning, but a warmth began to grow in her chest. She focused on that feeling, pushing away the thoughts that it might be hypothermia and her lungs demanding air.

When she surfaced again her teeth were chattering so bad she couldn't articulate her words, which was okay because all she was saying was "cold, cold cold!" She pulled herself out of the water and wrapped herself in the offered towel, appreciating the hot breath Meteor blew on her face and the sunlight peeking over the horizon.

"Successful bath?" Meteor asked, watching her dry off as quickly as possible so she could get her clothes back on.

"I felt something, maybe I'll feel it stronger tonight during the moonrise bath," she pondered, wringing out her hair and putting it up.

"Hopefully the water will be warmer after the sun has been shining all day," Meteor added, holding still as she mounted back up.

"Either way I'll bring some of those hand warmers. But for now we need to head back, Auntie and I have plans for the day," she said, turning him toward home and urging him forward.

[Author's Note: I'm not terribly familiar with Hindu holidays, so I hope I didn't botch anything too terribly! I know Kartik Purnima changes every year, but is generally end of November or beginning of December, putting it in the "holiday season". Hopefully SSO can do more with Linda's faith in the future.]