~Akara
Snow laced wind whips against my face, as I nudge my horse on.
It took me a day to prepare. Fran pointed me in the direction of someone who could lend us horses and enough gear to take us partially up the mountain. We also attained a map, which thankfully highlights that the Snow Demon territory is relatively close to the base of the mountain.
Marek should be there. He will be there.
"Do you have any idea how dangerous this is," Nakoa yells over the wind as we continue our trek upward, our horses sludging through the thick snow. She was wary about this yesterday, and now, she seems to be moments away from turning back around.
"If it's so dangerous, why did you agree to come with me?" I ask over my shoulder.
I feel bad dragging her up here just to find a man she still distrusts. I spent all night encouraging her to stay behind, to look out for herself, but she insisted. Part of me wonders if it's because she thinks I won't make it back, or that I'll turn into a Tani before I get a chance to lay eyes on Marek again.
"There is nothing for me back at Tai's estate," she exclaims, pushing her horse to line up with mine. We are making slow progress, but it's steady. We should be where we need to be by tomorrow evening. "There is nothing for me anywhere."
I watch her for a moment, sad. So much of her life has been destroyed too, including when she lost Evolet.
"Do you have your weapons?" I ask.
"The sword?" she asks, dark eyes widening slightly. She was apprehensive when I passed it to her this morning. I couldn't let her come up this mountain, where a Tani lurks, without something to defend herself if it ever comes down to it. Unfortunately the man who gave us our gear only had a sword to offer Nakoa. "Yes, but I have no idea how to use it."
"I'll protect you," I assure her.
Leaning down, I grab the dagger I have stored on my horse, showing it to her. I'm hoping I still know how to wield this thing, since it's been awhile since I've needed to. And since I drank from the river, I've been weaker...
"He taught you how to use that dagger, didn't he," Nakoa breathes, shivering. I can hardly see much of her face considering ow much of it is covered by thick layers and a covering. But I can see her eyes, more curious than ever.
"He gave me the dagger," I admit. For some reason I could never bring myself to get rid of it, even when I hated him.
Now I'm hoping it will bring me right to him.
"Are you ready to kill the Snow Demon, if we have to?" Nakoa asks anxiously. The trek up here doesn't unnerve her, the Tani does. I can't blame her, I'm scared of coming across it too, since Marek lost his sister to it. But Marek could be up here for a long time if we don't go, and there is a chance, no matter how small, that the Snow Demon can, and will kill Marek.
"I'm hoping wherever the Snow Demon is, Marek is," I say surely, trying to give her hope that he has already killed it, and we won't have to worry about that part, even if I don't believe it myself. "So on that logic, we shouldn't have to kill it."
Nakoa doesn't say anymore, so we just ride, silent as we stare at the endless amounts of snow and rocky outcrops. Eventually our horses tire, and it becomes so cold I can't feel my fingers and toes, so we pause for the night in a nearby cave, and eat by the fire.
We don't just stay there the night.
Upon waking, we are met with a cold, white wall of a blizzard. We creep back into the cave more with our horses, and do the best we can to keep warm, until all our food has been eaten, and the only way we can keep warm is by huddling close to each other.
By the third day, the dark realisation that neither Nakoa or I are cut out for this hits, as we sit at the mouth of the cave, staring out through the valley.
"This isn't worth it anymore, Akara," she mutters hopelessly. It feels strange hearing her voice, since we haven't spoken in hours, opting instead for the constant soundtrack of wind whipping past the mouth of the cave. "Let's just turn back before we are no more than corpses in this snowy labyrinth."
"The map says we are in the Snow Demon's territory. He's got to be around here somewhere," I say.
If we leave...Nakoa and I both know that means I may never see Marek again.
"We could be looking for days...Akara, I'm hungry, and I'm-" Nakoa breaks off, narrowing her eyes, she looks out toward the edge of the valley. I follow her gaze, tilting my head to see past the rock in my way. "Oh, it's him."
It could be anyone, stalking through the snow with their head bowed, layered in black clothing, a large weapon strapped on their back. But I know exactly who it is, in this part of the mountain, looking like that.
"Marek!" I yell out, stumbling to my feet.
He pauses, quite awhile away, although my voice echoes through the valley, catching his attention. For a moment, he doesn't move, as if he can't believe that he's seeing two people standing at the mouth of a cave with two impatient horses pawing at the ground. I call out again, waving my hands excitedly.
My heart is racing, as he turns and starts jogging towards us. Nakoa stays with the horses as I rush out stopping as he does, right in front of me, gaping. For a moment there is just silence, neither of us moving.
"I'm just imagining you..." he breathes, looking over me with widened eyes.
It's been so long since I last saw him, I almost have forgotten how beautiful he is. He wears a face covering, so only above his nose is visible, but it's enough to have my heart fluttering. His blue eyes are so much bolder than I remember, which may be because his silvery blue marking is back, raining down his forehead beneath wispy bronze hair.
"No, it's me. I'm alive," I assure him, stepping forward to grab his arms, shaking him slightly. He is staring at me like I'm a ghost, meaning he truly did believe I had perished in the river.
He looks as though he could collapse. "How?"
I can't wait a moment longer. I fall into his arms, letting him embrace me so tightly it almost hurts. All the cold within me seems to vanish, a warmth unlike anything physical overcoming me.
"I survived the river, Marek. I lost a lot of my memory because of it, but I'm alive," I explain. For the first time in a long time, I feel something near to elation. I thought Marek was dead too, so seeing him, feeling him makes this entire trek and hours of near starvation worth it.
He pulls away, and I'm almost tempted to not let him, until I see the concern written all over his face. "Are you..."
"Tani? I don't know yet, I don't feel much different, but I'm not sick anymore," I note, motioning to my stomach. By now, I would have collapsed if I did, meaning whatever happened in that river, it healed me of Tai's magic. "We came up here to find you. Vaia destroyed Tai's estate, and now he's missing."
He breathes out his nose, before he embraces me again, resting his hand against the back of my head. He smells like pine and spice, like old memories, good and bad. But through all of that, he smells safe. Even if there is plenty more to worry about, none of it matters in this moment.
"I thought you were dead," he breathes into my hair.
"You look horrible," I note, trying to sound amused to lighten the mood as I pull away from him, examining him. His hair is slightly more overgrown then when I last saw him, making him look so unkempt. He would almost look feral if it weren't for those soft eyes of his that are nothing but grateful to see me.
Will Tai have the same reception...I mean, he should do, but will I feel the same way about reuniting with him as I have with Marek?
"I...I can't believe you're alive," he stutters, as if he is still trying to make sense of it in his head. I can't imagine what he's been through these past few weeks. "I intended on killing the Snow Demon, but now...Now I don't know what I want."
"Come back down to the village with me. Let's get our bearings and come up with a plan, I insist, gesturing for him to follow me further up the hill some more toward the cave, where Nakoa watches on.
"Okay. Akara, I-"
I raise my hand, already knowing what he wants to say. I can't hear anything like that right now, about how he feels about me, or anymore about what has happened these past few months. With what has been revealed about Tai on Evolet's deathbed, I have a lot to think about.
"We will talk, alright?" I assure him. And we will, when we aren't up a mountain in the snow, with Nakoa right here.
Marek nods his head, glancing up at Nakoa who smiles tightly, still uneasy about the hunter. He expression falls, however, as she looks over our shoulders.
"Uh, guys," she says shakily. "I don't think we are leaving this cave."
Both Marek and I turn to follow her gaze, and I realise with overwhelming dread, what I'm looking at...The Snow Demon.
And it's holding Tai.
~AkaraIt looks more frightening than I could have ever imagined.It stands tall, scorpion like in it's appearance, with glossy white scales like ice. It has no eyes...In fact, it doesn't have a distinguishable face. But it doesn't need to have massive fangs and a drooling mouth to be terrifying. It's large tall curled up over it, with pincers that have Tai's unconscious body snagged around them.There are no thoughts in my head as I start trudging through the snow toward it. I don't get very far, as a hand comes out to grasp my arm, yanking me back curtly."No...Akara no, that's not what you think it is,” Marek hisses.I blink
~AkaraNo one spoke the entire way down the mountain.By the time we made it back down to the Inn, we were all equally exhausted, and rattled after what happened with the Snow Demon. Nakoa nodded at us once we stepped inside, before slipping into her room. I don’t stop her, knowing she needs some time to decompress and come to terms with the fact that she nearly became a victim to an ancient Tani.With legs like lead, I drag myself into my room, collapsing into the chair next to the bed. Marek lingers at the doorway. When Ms Grier sees him, she’s going to be in for a surprise."I can't believe you're alive,” he murmurs, resting against the doorframe.&nbs
~AkaraMy head rests against the wall of the carriage as it rocks unevenly over the unpaved path."What can we expect there?" I ask, watching Nakoa who sits opposite me. She turns her attention from the window to me, looking tired. Her and I haven't spoken about her run-in with the Snow Demon, and I don't think she wants to. I think she just wants to be home."The inside of the place has been mostly trashed. At least what Vaia's followers had access to," she notes, shuddering.Marek adjusts in the seat beside me. "Any guesses on where Tai went?"
~AkaraI stare coldly at the door I once never thought twice about.Months ago, I never insisted on going into Tai's workshop. It wasn't because I wasn't interested in what he was doing, I just wanted him to have a place where he could be alone and do what he was best at. At that time, I never knew he could be hiding something from me in there."Ready to go in?" Marek asks.He stands quietly beside me, having let stand and stare wordlessly at the door for the past couple minutes. Not once has he pushed me, knowing this is a process.
~AkaraWe all stand in the main part of the workshop, staring at the paper on the table.None of us want to touch it. There is no confirmation that whatever is in there will implicate Tai, and yet we all linger uncomfortably. If there is something in there, Zavian, Nakoa and I both are hesitant to reveal it, to taint the image of Tai that we all have. And all of this is because of what Evolet said right before she died.“Shall we read it?” Zavian asks, looking between us.Marek leans against the wall, not having said a word. He's been patient
~AkaraI stare out toward the forest, remembering moments where things were easier.Zavian sits next to me, letting me be silent for some time. It's frustrating, having so many questions, their answers only capable of coming from one man, who could be anywhere right now. And I'm not sure I can face him, after what has been revealed to me."Remind me of why Marek is here again," Zavian asks after awhile.He's been holding onto that question, I can tell."Believe it or not, he was working on our side the entire time," I explain, still hardly able to believe it myself. Marek sacrificed so much for me, and now I'm unsure if I'll ever be able to repay him. "Well, he was trying to protect me. He protected my family and everything, when I couldn't.""I don't trust him. Whether he saved my life or not." Zavian's expression remains solemn, as he looks out into the forest. Zavian didn't know Marek like I did, so I can't blame him for having reservations.I nod, wrapping my arms around myself. "
~AkaraImmediately I'm leaning forward, trying to get a glimpse of what is written on the note."What does it say?" I question, grabbing the small edge of it, marvelling at how much writing has been tucked onto one small piece of paper. Part of it is frayed, practically falling apart in Marek fingers, clearly having been in that ring since Tai made it, all those months ago, meaning he intended for me to see it now, and not back then."It's a bit smudged, but it's an address," Marek murmurs, pushing it into my hands. It's in the Scarlet Province, right in the centre of the city. I've always been frightened by the idea of the city for a long time, warned about it's dangers by my parents.Now, I'm going to have to go there to find Tai."What about the bottom part?" Marek prompts, flicking the bottom of the paper.If it happens, I'm here. Come find me for answers.Tai.He knew. But how?How could Tai have known I would fall victim to the river? A cold stain of fear creeps over my skin, re
~VaelaI stare up out of the carriage window, admiring the sprawling buildings at heights I've never conceived of before."So this is what a city looks like," I marvel, tilting my head to get a better look.This place is almost the exact opposite of the Jade Province. Instead of trees, there are endless buildings and roads paved through them, copious amounts of people mulling about, minding their own business. It's like one of the villages, but tripled in size, with enough people to fill all these buildings."I don't recommend any of you going for a walk without someone else with you," Marek instructs, bringing my gaze back to his. "This place is very unforgiving.""We will be fine," Zavian mutters."I've been here a few times on tours with Kailor. I've never liked it," Nakoa says, shivering. She has huddled closer to Zavian, avoiding looking out the window. Whatever memories haunt her, I doubt she is going to share them with us, and I wouldn't dare ask.All of a sudden the carriage c