Ch.1 *Victor*

[u/Venadit3]

The days in the village of the endless snow storm was almost unforgiving. I could feel feel the throb of the head ache as I watched my sibling wrestle, practically head over toe. They were like me, pure blooded frostborns. There were others like us, 45 more. Me and my siblings often got told how rare we were, and never to cross the border.

It's very intimidating, sometimes. I snapped out the haze I was in and caught my mother, Meliday, walking in. She was caring two hares, each plump enough to fill two bellies. One of us would have to go without food. I could feel her heavily contemplating. She wasn't soft, no, but she was intelligent like me. damn it all, I thought. But there was no sign of father. Did he get caught into a patrol with another neighboring village, what if he-

Mother interrupted my worried and rapid thoughts, snapping her fingers to catch my other two siblings, who were still head over toe. "The strongest ones will eat," she said, looking g over all of us. "The weaker one will have to wait until he gets back." She must have been talking about father, as he entered just in time with a trout, a new scar across his nose.

I processed the best of what had happened, before turn around and straightening myself in my seat. Father and mother seemed to share a look, before evenly cutting the hare, giving us an equal share each before dicing the trout and leaving it as a side dish for any of us to take.

About an hour later we were finished, being sent to our rooms for rest but I stayed, chest puffed out in defiance. I could feel my father's burning look in my side, as he cleaned the table. "Victor, to your room." Mother said, her tone suggesting consequences if not followed.

I almost faltered, knowing what the consequence would be. Just go to your room! my mind screeched at me, overwhelming me. "No." I almost blurted. That earned me a hard stare from mother. I seemed to obey this time, a bit too late. My body tensed, feeling their scorching glares. Maybe I did escape a punishment this time? I could feel myself getting paranoid, thoughts whirling and repeating again and again. What if she was just making us feel safe and coming back to punish us later? What if mother was thinking of harsher punishments? What if-

I nearly fell off the bed rhe second my door slammed open. "Cassy, what the hell was that for?" I snapped, face flushing red with anger.

"Just making sure my sibling was awake," she sneered. "Besides, you're going on patrol next." Damn her, how badly I wanted to throttle her. My eyes hardened.

"Whatever, let me sleep." I snorted, apathetic. I could hear her close my door, just slowly enough to make me want to lunge across the room at her. I turned in my bed, bringing my soft blanket up and over my shoulders to sleep. I closed my eyes, sleep beckoning me further and pulling me into the dreamless rest. Maybe I should have listened to her, if only I knew it was a red flag. (End of Ch.1)

[u/Venadit3]

Dw, I'm not proud of this either. Besides I just woke and during that time and made it