When I was a little girl, during the great famine, we found a single ray of hope. A single path to survival.
No matter what, Aldric stood at the front, shielding us from as much hardship as he could. When we lacked food, he would search further than anyone. When we lacked shelter, he would work harder than anyone, carving out a mountain if he had to.
He became a leader of those fleeing the famine.
But one day, I noticed a change. When people were celebrating, he excused himself. He was still smiling, distributing food as per usual. Making the routine checks where they were needed.
But beneath all of that, I noticed a slight crack.
A worry.
After following him all this time, after trying to learn from the man I saw as an ideal, I noticed his worries becoming worse. He spent his time looking out toward the horizon.
At the sky. The earth. The falling snow.
