"Mother…" Serena's voice was barely above a whisper. "May I go outside for a little while? I want to collect some herbs."
Her hands were clasped nervously in front of her. Her long white hair fell down her back like silk, shimmering faintly in the dim, jeweled light of the cave.
Her mother, Elen, looked up from grinding roots. Her brows furrowed.
"No. It's too dangerous. You know what the world is like now. The snow, the frost—it's not normal anymore."
"I know," Serena said quickly. "But I won't go far. Just near the outer edge. Please, Mother. I'll be careful. I promise."
Elen hesitated. Her eyes softened as she looked into her daughter's pleading gaze. Serena had always been responsible, careful… curious.
Finally, she sighed. "Very well. But only for a short while. And stay within the warded boundary. If you feel anything—anything—strange, you return immediately."
Serena beamed. "Thank you, Mother! I will! I swear I'll be safe."
She kissed her mother's cheek, already turning toward the path that led out of the cave.
Just as she reached the exit, a small voice called out behind her.
"Sister! Wait!"
She turned.
Little Timo, only five years old, ran toward her, arms outstretched.
"I want to come with you!"
Serena knelt and kissed his cheek. "Next time, Timo. I'll be very quick."
"But I want to go outside too!"
"I'll bring you back something pretty, okay?" she said, smiling. "Now be good and help Mama."
Timo pouted as she ruffled his hair, then watched with sad eyes as she turned and ran down the narrow path, her white dress fluttering behind her like a ribbon in the wind.
Elen came up behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Come, let's make supper," she said gently. "Your sister will be back soon."
---
As soon as Serena stepped outside the cave's hidden entrance, she drew in a sharp breath.
The outside world was breathtaking.
Snow blanketed the land like untouched silk, and the trees shimmered with ice crystals, glowing faintly under the pale light of an enchanted sky. Despite the freezing air, there was a kind of peace—an otherworldly silence that wrapped around her like a dream.
"Oh… how beautiful," she whispered to herself. "Even with all the cold… it still feels like a painting."
She twirled once, laughing as snowflakes landed on her lashes.
The cave they lived in—hidden beneath an ancient illusion spell—was a sanctuary of wonder, filled with glowing crystals, waterfalls, blooming vines, warm earth, and wild creatures that had long disappeared from the rest of the world. There was no snow inside. Only light, warmth, and magic.
But Serena had always been curious about what lay beyond the hidden veil.
Now, alone for the first time, her heart thumped with excitement.
---
She wandered deeper into the forest, careful to mark her steps in the snow. She gathered herbs growing near the roots of frost-covered trees, humming softly to herself.
"I'll only stay a little longer," she said, smiling.
But time slipped away.
And so did her path.
After some minutes, she paused.
Something didn't feel right.
She turned. The tracks she left were fading beneath fresh snow. Trees around her now looked unfamiliar—taller, denser, their branches like claws tangled in the sky.
"…Wait," she whispered. "This isn't the way back."
A sudden growl echoed from somewhere nearby.
Serena froze.
She spun around. Nothing but trees. But her heartbeat quickened.
The growl came again—this time louder, closer.
She stepped back, her breath fogging the air. A shape darted through the trees. Too fast. Too large.
Her legs moved before her mind did—she ran, skirts trailing through the snow, breath sharp in her throat.
"I shouldn't have come this far," she cried.
Suddenly, the ground beneath her trembled.
A thunderous rumble rolled through the earth.
She looked up—on a ridge above, a herd of frosthorn elk stampeded, fleeing something unseen.
Their hooves shook the hill.
Then—
> Crack.
The snow beneath Serena's feet collapsed. She screamed as she fell, tumbling down an icy slope hidden beneath the forest floor. Her leg twisted, her side slammed into something hard.
She landed on her back with a cry.
Pain shot through her ankle.
Blood trickled from her nose, staining the snow red.
Her vision blurred.
Everything spun.
The world around her dimmed.
"…Mother…" she whispered.
A faint crunch echoed in the snow—hooves. Through her blurred vision, Serena saw a shadowed figure approach, mounted on a tall black horse. The cold bit deep into her skin, but her fingers twitched, then slowly, shakily, she raised one hand toward the stranger. Her vision pulsed in and out, the world tilting. She could just make out boots crunching through the frost, a long cloak, and the quiet breath of the beast. The figure dismounted. His voice was calm, low, almost distant, as if carried on the wind.
"Very well… that sounds fair."