Novel & Cerita Winter Rise

I now have his blood in my veins. I was so hungry. The midwives were moving quietly around the room, sweeping up soaked rags, wiping surfaces, speaking in low murmurs. One of them, the younger one with the short braids, glanced over and froze. "She's awake," she whispered, almost like she didn't want to startle me. The senior mid-wife, the one with the gray streaks and the permanent frown, turned slowly. Her eyes narrowed when they landed on me. "Good. Means the master won't have our heads yet."

Liana lay on the hardwood floor by the fire, staring up at the bunches of herbs and flowers that hung from the ceiling. Her calculus book was open beside her but not much of her homework had been finished. She’d been up late but forced herself out of bed early so Gran wouldn’t be suspicious. Her head was aching with the lack of sleep and she was more than a bit distracted but what she’d seen. Nothing could hold her attention for more than a few minutes, certainly not enough to answer these math questions. She could take the few steps to the kitchen and brew a tea to get rid of the headache, but that seemed like too much effort at the moment. It was cold out today and smelled a bit like snow.

I force myself to get up and walk towards the edge of the lake where I strip myself bare, careful to place my clothes neatly on top of a rock. Then dipping a toe into the lake, I feel the coldness creep up my feet. I take a deep breath, close my eyes and jump in, allowing the iciness to completely take over me; mind, body and soul. I sink a little before touching the ground and kick to resurface. For the first few minutes, nothing much happens. From the shore, I see the Witch looking at me with her glowing eyes and I am about to climb out of the lake when slowly, I feel heat rising from my body. It starts from the base of my spine and swiftly moves to the top of my head.

Anatashi instructed. "If you can't control being a complete wolf, don't do this. Rex found out that melding like that is euphoric, like lightning in his veins. Winter used to tell me that how he felt until he got used to it, then it was as easy. As easy as drawing breath." Anatashi rose from her seat, silently walking away. Moon saw the tiredness radiating from her and elbowed Kai, "Go help your mate. You can meet up with us later. You and she need each other right now. Go." Moon pushed him.

My muscles were twitching from the effort, and my fingers were stiff from where I had to hold my whole-body weight only using their tips. I refused to climb down to the second plateau. I would need to rest before I tried it. There wasn’t a lot of relief, so I walked for a bit, inching closer to the next drop, and settled down for the rest of the day. I had nothing to start a fire, and there were few trees I could use as firewood. I grumbled but resigned, accepting this night would probably be cold. I was happy I had thought of dressing warmly back at the castle. Even though spring was here, it was pretty chilly up in the mountains.

Winter released the territory in the way of second winters. Not with the surprise of the first. With the recognition of something returning. The specific familiarity of warmth after cold when you have been through the cycle before. The body knowing what to expect. The knowing not diminishing the warmth. Making it more precise. Sera went to the garden on the first true spring morning. Crouched beside each plant. The rosemary had come through stronger than the first year. The roots deeper. The new growth coming faster.

~Vick~ I lay on top of him, feeling the warmth of his body beneath mine. His hands roamed over my back, fingers tracing the curve of my spine. Each touch sent shivers through me, igniting a fire deep within. Our lips met again in a fierce kiss, tongues dancing together with a hunger that couldn't be denied. I felt his hardness pressing against me, and a wave of desire washed over me. I ground my hips against him, eliciting a deep groan from his lips.

That jinxed place can't take my wife from me. I arrived outside the dark woods. My soldiers were standing guard. 'Where is your Luna?' I asked one of them. 'She's sitting by the acid marsh.' I stared into the darkness of the woods through my wolf's eyes. I shifted and wore pants the soldiers provided me. I grabbed the t-shirt he gave me and put it on on my way in. My hands were shaking. Taylor and I only came to the marsh one last time seventeen years ago, at the first death anniversary of our son. That day we sat by the marsh and cried in each other's arms.

Winter returned, but it was a gentle one. The kind that dusted the bluffs with frost at dawn but left the afternoons clear and brittle-bright. The Tidewater Trail, wearing its winter garb of muted grasses and bare branches, had a different, stark beauty. The "Resilience Hub" was fully operational—a warm, low building near the trailhead buzzing with Miranda's interns, Chloe's wellness workshops, and the quiet hum of the climate servers. We'd institutionalized our rebellion, and it was, against all odds, warm and welcoming.

He called out to us. “To the gym for training” Warren called back without even slowing down. As soon as we arrived, he squatted down in front of me. “Ok I want you to really push yourself. I want you to try lift your legs for me. We have an appointment back at the hospital this morning and I want them to be happy enough not to want to see you again. I also want you up and walking again, we have the work Christmas party in a few months, and I want you to be able to walk and dance by then”. “I won’t be going, I have never been to one yet”.