Short Story - Searching the Snow [WIP]
Last Update: 06 apr, 2026
By the end of autumn, the snow had already covered most of the Frigid Coast. Winds brought by the sea made the large pine trees shiver, while the waves clashed against the cliffs on the eastern shores. In a small patch of white snow, about forty kilometers from the ocean, a battle seemed to have occurred. A dozen bodies clad in steel armor laid, motionless, on the white carpet. Blood, painting the snow red, was all around them, and the smell of iron filled the air. Standing, four figures, slightly wounded by the battle. Two blonde women, one of them, fully armored with urgen mail, holding a bloody sword, and the other – taller, with only winter clothing – holding her limp arm. Then a giant of a man, standing almost three meters tall, taking his equally large axe from the head of a foe. Finally, a small shape, almost merging with the background, as white as the world around her, with two black horns projecting upward from her head. All was silent, except for the wind.
— I think this was the last of them! — The giant shouted through the strong wind. His voice was loud and rough, thunderous like a boar. The pale skin of his neck showed pronounced veins.
— He is right. — The pale demon concurred, looking around. Her hair flowed in the wind; and her black armor, covered by white fabrics, stained with blood. Looking at the other girls, she continued – Are you two alright?
— Yeah! — The smaller one responded, pulling her messy hair back, and then looking to the side while kneeling to pick up her helmet from the ground. — Korelt?
— I'm fine. — Blunt. Her right hand moved toward her left shoulder, pressing it forcefully. With a loud popping sound, she grunted as it moved back in place — They were strong.
— We need to get out this wind, it's getting too cold.
— We must keep going east! — Shouted the big man, looking in the same direction. Rocky plains and hills, covered in snow, gradually losing altitude towards the sea.
— We need to rest, Iarund! — Replied the small blonde girl — This is the third patrol we fought this week, even you and Steottel are getting tired!
Iarund grunted, unsatisfied. Wounds stacked on his body like flies around a dead ox. The animal skins he wore had patches of dried blood from previous encounters. All of them, to be precise, looked like shit.
— I think there is a village nearby. Miller sorts, I think.
— Won’t it be dangerous? — Replied Steottel, the small demon girl.
— We are still close to the Great Owl’s territory, we can hope they still haven’t joined the United Clans. It’s our better choice, there aren’t many places to hide on this plains.
A moment of silence, as the wind got stronger. A blizzard approached.
— Let’s go. — Korelt said, already walking away. The bodies, slowly being covered in the snow that fell.
The four of them then proceeded east, walking with difficulty among the snowy ground of the hills around them. It was about an hour of walking before they could finally see a small valley amidst the relief. A slow river passed through it, coming from the mountains, northwest of them, and followed southeastward, to the urgen sea.
— There! — Shouted Iarund, pointing towards the river — We need to follow that river. By Owl’s wings, I hope they are friendly.
— We need to approach the village carefully… — Replied Wenrys, cleaning snow off her helmet — Steottel, when we reach the river, could you scout to se if the village people are friendly?
— I can.
— Good!
They were still very far from the coast, having travelled too slowly, due to the attacks. Their target, the region around the United Clans’ Capital, would still be another one or two weeks of arduous travel.
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— Another burned village — Revealed Steottel, coming back to the group. The three of them were waiting close to the trees, hiding from the strong winds.
Iarund lowered his head, in pain.
— Fuck, really? — Korelt stomped the ground — There is any place for us to stay? Or are the houses burned too? — The storm was just getting worse.
— Some are still standing… it seems to have happened a while ago, so it must be safe… though there are no food whatsoever.
— Our rations are enough for another five days. — Reassured Wenrys — But we may have to hunt if we don’t find nothing on the way.
— Good… — Iarund tried to hide his sorrow from knowing another village was destroyed, futilesly — Let’s go then, we shouldn’t wait any longer.
Moving again, the group reached the village about fifteen minutes later. As told by Steottel, the place was empty, and two dozen buildings and a mill were completely abandoned. Some were thoroughly destroyed or burnt. About four homes were preserved, and able to provide proper refuge. Entering one of them, they sighed in relief. The place was as cold as it could possibly be, but at least there was no wind. Dry blood splatter and broken furniture all around. No bodies to be seen.
— We need to get a fire going, I’m freezing. — Iarund walked around the place, gathering broken pieces of wood.
— Aren’t you the avatar of autumn or something? How can you even feel cold? — Asked Korelt, stressed out.
— Ah! It works the inverse, you see… I resist heat well enough. Our friend, the Bear of Summer, probably isn’t bothered by the cold as I am.
— It… doesn’t make any sense — Replied Steottel, also gathering wood.
— Bah! Why does it matter? We are all fucking cold here. I’m not lighting this fireplace just for me, you crazy people. — He puts the wood on the frozen stone hearth — Hey, red eyes, would you?
— Mm-hm. — Korelt looked towards the wooden fragments, as her eyes glowed bright orange. Instantly, fire broke out from the inside of the wood gathered there. Steottel also tossed what she had been gathering. As soon as the fire grew hotter, Iarund crouched and shoved his hand inside it, stirring the flames.
— See? It doesn’t bother me at all! — He laughed.
None of them answered with any energy, but only with a series of agreeing grunts. Iarund then sat beside the fire, silent. They were tired, even the two supernatural beings. Outside, the wind whistled between the abandoned houses, and moved shards of broken glass. Korelt, removing her boots, looked towards the fire.
— Are we spending the night here?
— Probably — Answered Wenrys, having trouble to remove her own — We really need to rest, even if it’s only for one night. We have no healer or potions after all.
— Let me help you. — Korelt approached, kneeling before the other girl. Her hands moved forward, as she held Wenry’s legs up, removing her boots. — You ok with all that armor?
— It has been keeping me alive until now. — She smiled — To be fair, I think I’m really standing my ground between all you monsters.
— You are a good fighter. — Interceded Steottel — Probably the best with a sword, from all of us.
— You flatter me. — A sigh — It’s not like you or even… — She gazed to Korelt — …her, need any weapon to fight.
— We are different. — Korelt assisted her on removing the mail — And we also trust on your skills, you don’t need to worry about it, dear.
— Aye, I know some men that would quickly fall by your blade, lass. — Smiles Iarund, looking inside his backpack.
— Thanks, really.
A moment of silence. Korelt helped Wenrys get out of the rest of her armor, then sat beside her – on what was left of a bench – leaning her head on the other girl’s shoulder. Steottel remained standing, close to a window, watching the outside. Iarund feel asleep.
The storm was getting stronger, and the wooden house grumbled and cracked. The room was getting warmer by the minute, and most of them began to relax. All but Steottel.
— Hey, Steo… you need to rest too. At least sit somewhere. — Wenrys said, her right hand holding Korelt’s thigh.
— I think it’s my fault we have been dealing with so much gerlachians. — She responded, not taking her eyes off the window.
— Mine too. — Said Korelt, still with her eyes closed. — They probably have a kaos priest following our scent.
— There is something we can do about it? — Questioned Wenrys.
— Probably not. If my essence is strong, I can’t even imagine how strong is her’s. — She made a hand gesture, towards Steottel.
— Another reason for us to spend just a single night here. — Answered the small demon.
— Could you all speak more quietly, please? — Iarund said, still leaning on the wall. Silence again.
— I take the first watch. — Steottel said, after some minutes — I will rest later. Korelt, can you be next after me?
— Yes, don’t worry.
— Nice. Okay.
The group finally rested. For some hours, Steottel stood alone, watching from the window. After her, Korelt, when it was already nightime. Then Iarund, and finally Wenrys. Being only four, all of them stood long watches. During that time, they could only think alone about their mission, and the danger ahead.
They had took the duty of scouting the Frigid Coast for gerlachian spies a little more than a week before. Korelt, being a deserter herself, suggested to the Owl Clan’s queen, Brynhild, that she could look for those spies, knowing most of their strategies. Iarund, the Boar of Autumn and a son of the Owl, offered himself to the quest. Steottel and Wenrys, who arrived at the Owl Clan’s together with the famous group of adventurers, the Guardians of the Broken Spear, followed. Wenrys, in particular, didn’t want to leave Korelt to her own fate, and would likely have been the first to announce her interest in joining; had Iarund not been quicker. Steottel just wanted to help, knowing the gerlachian threat was not something to be triffled with. They expected to find just a few spies, just like they’ve found on the city, days before. What they did not expect was what it seemed as a—full blown—silent invasion of Urgonia. Fighting patrol after patrol, their travel speed was reduced significantly, and no clue of who was giving them orders was found. In true gerlachian fashion, most important information was burnt, and regiment leaders always killed themselves before being captured. The footsoldiers were kept in the dark about important locations, names and directions, only following orders. But, with the number of patrols increasing as they approached east, and now this burnt village, Korelt presumed their base of operations would be, if not in the United Clans Capital itself, somewhere close. The gerlachian incursion on urgen lands was far too quick to happen without any inside help, and Iarund theorized the Clans were to be blamed for it.
The morning came quickly for all of them. It’s arrival meant they had to keep moving. Theirs bodies ached, as a continual reminder of the pain they would keep facing.
— We need to go. The storm has passed. — Wenrys began waking up the others — You all had a good sleep?
— Yes — Iarund and Steottel replied.
— No — Korelt continued, still lying on her bedroll.
— Come on, love. You need to get up. — Wenrys approached, kneeling to get closer to her, and then kissing her forehead.
— Fine… just because I like you.
— And we can be attacked at any moment.
— Yeah, that too.
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