The warm scent of porridge filled the kitchen as I spooned breakfast slowly. Mother hummed while moving around the stove, and Father sipped his tea, his calm presence grounding the morning—almost peaceful.
Almost.
Across from me, Serenya poked her porridge with a frown, while Celia sat stiffly, shoulders tense as if bracing for something unseen.
"Eat, Kaiser," Mother said gently as she sliced bread. "The wind's cold today. You'll need a warm meal."
I nodded, though my mind was already on the weather. The pressure and wind patterns told me it shouldn't snow yet, but something about the air felt… unsettled. Wrong in a way I couldn't place.
A sudden kick hit the leg of my chair. I glanced up at Serenya.
Her expression was sour, eyes flicking to Celia with poorly disguised irritation.
"What's wrong with you?" I asked softly.
"Nothing," she muttered, clearly not meaning it.
Celia lifted her head, forcing a small smile. "I'm fine. Just… a little tired."
Her voice was steady, but too soft, too controlled. Something was off with her too.
The silence between the two girls grew tight enough to pull attention like a storm cloud pressing against the ceiling.
"You sure?" I asked. "You don't look fine."
Celia didn't answer right away. Serenya did.
"It's… the weather," Serenya snapped. "Everything feels cold and gloomy. As usual."
Celia's face dropped slightly. The tone wasn't about the weather. Even Father noticed; he set his cup down, clearing his throat.
"Let's focus on eating," he said calmly, a gentle warning wrapped in authority.
But Serenya wasn't letting go. She leaned toward Celia, her voice lowering.
"You really think just being here makes anything better? You're still… different."
Celia froze. The words hit harder than they sounded.
I shot Serenya a look. "Serenya."
She shrugged. "I'm just being honest."
I opened my mouth to speak then the door burst open with a sharp rush of cold air.
Jaren, Mikel, Lira, and Tessa tumbled inside, cheeks pink, boots dusted with snow, voices already bright with laughter.
"Morning!" Jaren grinned. "Kaiser, come on! We're heading toward the stream, snowball fight before chores start!"
I blinked. Their energy clashed so hard with the tension in the room that I felt myself breathe easier just seeing them.
"Yeah!" Mikel added. "You, Serenya and Celia should come. We need more people to gang up on Jaren."
"That's not—hey!" Jaren protested.
Celia looked toward Serenya, waiting… hoping for something other than hostility.
Serenya's jaw tightened. She didn't speak.
"It'll be fine," I said lightly. "We'll all go."
Serenya shot me a sharp glare. "But—"
"Serenya." My voice firmed. "Celia's coming too."
A beat. Then.
"…Fine."
Mother, who had been listening quietly, stepped closer with a soft but serious tone.
"Before you all run off, be careful. The wind's shifting. The elders say a storm might form later."
My chest tightened. I hadn't accounted for that.
I checked the window. The air did look… heavier.
"The pressure's stable for now, Mom," I said, thinking out loud. "The storm won't hit until later, if it forms at all."
Mother raised an eyebrow. "Then don't stay out too long. If it worsens, you come straight home. All of you."
Serenya muttered something under her breath, but I let it slide. Celia's eyes flicked toward the window, thoughtful but still carrying that earlier tension.
"Alright," I said, pulling on my coat. "We'll go and be back before anything hits."
Jaren, Mikel, Lira, and Tessa were already calling for me from outside.
I paused at the door, looking back.
Father nodded once—silent approval and Mother smiled warmly, lifting a hand.
"Keep an eye on the sky, Kaiser," she said. "And keep everyone close."
"Yes, I will, my forever caring Mom,"
The cold settled on my skin the moment I stepped out. With one last glance inside, I closed the door behind me.
"You think it's safe if we go toward the stream today?" Celia asked, voice small but steady.
I nodded, adjusting the straps on my satchel. "It should be. The path is mapped clearly… but the snow-mist can distort how far things look. As long as we stick together and move in the same direction, we'll be okay."
Celia nodded slowly. Her shoulders loosened a bit.
Behind us, Serenya dragged her feet through the snow, arms crossed. "She's already walking too slow," she muttered.
Lira sighed. "Serenya, please. Not now."
"What? I'm not wrong." Serenya flicked a glance at Celia. "If she falls behind, don't blame me."
I stepped between them. "No one's falling behind. We'll pace it so everyone stays together."
I met Serenya's eyes. "Including you."
She huffed, but didn't argue.
We moved deeper into the snowy wilds, mist curling around our boots like cold fingers. I counted trees and landmarks, trying to keep a mental map like the books advised.
Celia walked close to me now, careful with every step. She kept glancing toward Serenya as if expecting another comment.
"You're doing fine," I murmured. "Taking your time isn't bad. It means you're paying attention."
She let out a breath and gave a small nod.
"HEY, KAISER!" Jaren shouted, pointing ahead. "Look! The snow dips here—bet I can hop it!"
I crouched slightly, eyeing the small mound. "Hmm… looks like the snow's soft on top but might be thin underneath. Could slide if you land wrong."
Jaren scrunched his nose. "Wait, how do you know that?"
"I… read about snow layers," I admitted, shrugging. "And I've seen it happen in the books. Sometimes it looks solid, but it can shift."
Tessa giggled. "Classic Kai. Everything has a lesson in your brain."
"I just… don't want anyone ending up sprawled in the snow," I added, trying to sound confident.
Mikel laughed, elbowing Jaren. "See? That's why we haven't face-planted yet. Book-boy over here keeps us alive."
Jaren rolled his eyes but crouched down, inspecting the dip. "So… careful hops. Got it. I guess I can do that."
Lira snorted. "You sound like a survival manual in human form."
I grinned. "But it's a fun manual!"
Tessa laughed so hard she nearly slipped on the icy patch beside her. "Fun manual, huh? Only you would make snow survival entertaining."
Jaren hopped carefully, arms out for balance, wobbling a little. "Fine, fine. Survival lesson accepted. But next time, I want a demonstration of this 'soft on top, thin underneath' trick in action!"
"Maybe later," I said, smiling. "For now, just watch the snow, notice how it moves… and don't disappear into a drift."
Everyone chuckled, the tension breaking as Jaren carefully made it across, arms flailing dramatically like a circus performer.
Serenya rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Book-boy saves the day."
Celia looked up at me, thoughtful. "So… as long as we know the pattern, we can find the way back?"
"Exactly."
I pointed at the frost-covered branches. "Like these. Look at the shape of the frost. Wind usually hits from one direction. If we get confused, we can use that."
Mikel blinked. "That actually… makes sense."
Serenya scoffed. "You mean you're betting our safety on frost."
I turned to her. "I'm not betting anything. I'm using what we have instead of panicking."
My voice wasn't sharp, but steady. "And it's working."
Serenya's jaw tightened, but she said nothing.
We kept walking, until the mist suddenly thickened, swallowing half the path ahead. The trees blurred into vague silhouettes.
I slowed, watching her breath curl into the mist. "Then we use what we know," I said, crouching to tighten the loose strap on her satchel. "From what I know… snow changes how things look, not where they actually are. The trees, the ground, the wind, those stay the same."
I pointed lightly behind us. "We've left a trail already. And if it fades, we still have the way the branches bend, the slope of the hill, the sound of the river. We're not wandering blind."
Celia nodded, though worry still clung to her expression.
I forced myself to focus, reminding myself that while I wasn't a tracker.
As the mist thickened and snow crunched beneath us, Celia hugged her sleeves nervously, while Serenya's amber eyes scanned the white blur, daring it to challenge her.
Serenya lingered a little behind, muttering under her breath. "Hmph… I don't know why I have to—" Her words cut off abruptly as Lira, in her excitement, flung a snowball that struck Serenya squarely in the face.
"Ah! Lira!" Serenya yelped, wiping snow from her eyes, but instead of scowling, a laugh escaped her, surprising even herself.
"I—oops! Sorry!" Lira exclaimed, immediately scooping more snow. "You're it now!"
Celia lingered near me, fingers nervously brushing the edges of her sleeves. She watched the others, hesitant, hesitant to join in but curious nonetheless.
"Come on, Celia!" Lira called, scooping up a handful of snow. "Here, throw this!" She tossed a small snowball lightly toward her.
Celia flinched but caught it, her cheeks pink. "I… I don't know.."
"Don't think! Just throw!" Lira encouraged, nudging her gently.
Before Celia could respond, Lira accidentally threw another snowball too hard, hitting Serenya squarely in the shoulder.
"Hey!" Serenya exclaimed, brushing snow off her arm. "Watch it!"
Celia hesitated a heartbeat, but then a tiny laugh escaped her. She formed a snowball and tossed it lightly toward Lira.
"Like this?" she asked, eyes wide.
"Perfect!" Lira cheered, jumping and clapping. "Now it's a real game! Come on, Kai, throw one at me too!"
I shook my head, letting a small grin slip. "Maybe later. Someone has to make sure no one ends up falling in the snow."
Serenya rolled her eyes, muttering under her breath, "I guess I have to deal with this elf too…" Her tone was sharp, but the corners of her mouth twitched, betraying amusement she didn't want to admit.
Lira crouched, scooping up a handful of snow. "Take that!" she shouted, tossing it toward Serenya. The snowball hit her squarely on the shoulder, making her squeal in surprise.
"Hey!" Serenya exclaimed, brushing the snow off. "That was cheating!"
"It wasn't! You weren't paying attention!" Lira protested, laughing.
Celia peeked out from behind a mound of snow, giggling nervously. "I… I think I want to try again." She picked up a small snowball, eyeing Serenya carefully.
Serenya noticed and narrowed her eyes slightly, but this time there was no sneer—just wary amusement.
"Go on, throw it," I encouraged softly. "You don't have to hit her, just aim somewhere near."
Celia let the snowball fly; it landed harmlessly a few feet away from Serenya.
"Good!" Lira clapped. "Now it's your turn to dodge!"
Serenya smirked and crouched slightly, hurling a small snowball toward Celia. Celia ducked instinctively, then laughed, her confidence growing. "Ha! Missed me!"
Tessa joined in from across the field, scooping up a snowball. "Watch out, Jaren!" she shouted, tossing it in an arc that sent him stumbling back, laughing all the same.
Jaren retaliated, and soon snowballs were flying in every direction. Celia's cautious steps became bolder, she laughed as she dodged, ducked behind a mound, and flung a snowball at Lira, who shrieked and spun away just in time.
Even Serenya couldn't resist. She lunged forward, scooping up snow and forming a perfect snowball. With a gleam in her eyes, she tossed it directly at Celia. "Try catching this!"
Celia ducked, but not before a light tap of snow landed on her shoulder. She squealed and retaliated with a quick throw, catching Serenya off-guard.
I couldn't help but chuckle quietly. The tension that had lingered between the two girls was slowly melting, just like the snow beneath our feet. Their laughter rang out together now, blending with the shouts of the other children.
"Ha! Got you!" Celia exclaimed, grinning as Serenya wiped snow from her hair.
"Not fair!" Serenya pouted, but she laughed, lightly flicking another snowball toward Celia.
"See?" Lira cheered, rushing over to form a new snowball. "Now it's a real team game! Everyone on Celia's side!"
Jaren and Mikel joined, quickly forming two small teams. Snowballs flew back and forth with playful intensity, each dodge and toss accompanied by laughter and playful shouts.
I kept my distance, watching who might slip and where the mist curled thicker, but seeing Celia assert herself and Serenya loosen up gave me a brief moment of relief.
Celia's confidence grew with each throw. She laughed at near misses and, when a snowball landed behind her, she scooped more snow, eyes fierce as she aimed at Serenya.
Serenya's initial irritation melted entirely when Celia's throw landed perfectly, just brushing her arm. She yelped, laughed, and then spun to chase Celia, shouting, "You little elf! I'll get you!"
For the first time, the tension between them vanished completely. They ran side by side, dodging, throwing, laughing—forgetting, for now, the small grudges and differences that had separated them.
"You're getting lucky!" Serenya shot back, scooping more snow. Her earlier distaste seemed forgotten, lost in the laughter and chaos.
"Careful over there!" I called, smiling despite myself. "Keep the icy patches in mind, and stay within the meadow."
"We're fine, Kai!" Celia yelled, ducking a snowball Serenya threw.
"Team Elf versus Team Human!" Jaren shouted, diving behind a snow mound.
The fight was messy and full of laughter—snow in hair, slips, playful shrieks. Even Serenya, once wary, ran and threw snow freely, tension melting into fun.
Celia ducked behind a small mound of snow, panting, her cheeks flushed. "Kai! You're not throwing anything?" she called, her eyes sparkling.
"Come on! Just one throw!" she insisted, hopping from foot to foot. Her grin was infectious, her excitement uncontainable.
I hesitated as the mist thickened around the meadow. Visibility was still okay, but seeing her laugh so freely pulled at me in a way I hadn't expected.
"Alright," I said finally, kneeling to scoop up a handful of snow. "But I warn you—I'm the best"
Celia squealed with delight. "Yes! That's the Kai I know!"
I formed a tight snowball, taking careful aim at Lira, who had been sneaking up behind Celia. With a flick of my wrist, the snowball sailed through the misty air, hitting Lira squarely on the shoulder.
"Hey! You said you weren't playing!" Lira laughed, spinning around and scooping up another handful.
Celia clapped her hands. "See? He's joined us too!"
Serenya suddenly shifted as she observed Celia, squinting her eyes, remembering something and muttering. "A creature that's wearing a mask for sure," she caught Celia's bright, earnest smile aimed straight at her.
Something in her expression tightened.
"What are you smiling at?" Serenya muttered, sharp.
"I… I just thought we were having fun," Celia said, small but firm.
Serenya narrowed her eyes. "Fun? Do you even understand what it's like to grow up here? In a village where every elf we've met has been… dangerous? Secretive? I can't just pretend that every elf is harmless like you."
Celia's lips pressed together. "I'm not like that. I've never lied, never… hurt anyone here."
"You don't have to," Serenya said, her voice rising with frustration. "It's just in your nature. You can manipulate things we don't see. We don't know what you're capable of. Magic, speed, clever tricks, I've known about elves. They're cunning. They take what they want without asking."
Celia's shoulders straightened. "I would never take anything that isn't offered! I respect your people, your rules… everything."
Serenya's hands clenched, jaw tight. "Maybe you mean well, but meaning well isn't enough! What if one day you make a choice that puts us in danger? What if you decide, without realizing it, that your rules are above ours?"
"I—" Celia started, her voice quivering slightly, "I don't want to hurt anyone. I just… want to belong."
"Belonging doesn't erase the risk!" Serenya shot back. "You can't just show up and expect trust. You have advantages we don't. And that makes you dangerous. I can't ignore it."
I stepped forward, hands raised calmly. "Serenya… I understand why you're wary. Observation and caution are good. But Celia has done nothing to justify fear. She's proving it through her actions, not just words."
Serenya whipped toward me, eyes flaring. "But that's exactly it! Words can hide intentions. Actions can be deceptive too."
Celia shook her head, voice quiet but insistent. "I won't manipulate anyone. I just… I want to try. I want to show you I can be trusted."
Serenya hesitated, staring at her. "And what if you can't? What if one small mistake… and someone gets hurt?"
Celia swallowed, meeting her gaze steadily. "Then I'll take responsibility. But I can't just stand aside forever, hiding behind rules or fear."
I exhaled, a knot in my chest tightening. Rationally, the right choice would be to separate them and call it a day, to de-escalate before someone got hurt, but something clawed at me. Celia's determination, her courage to face Serenya head-on, demanded I let her try.
Before I could intervene further, Serenya spun on her heel, storming ahead. "I'm not… I'm not doing this for you. I just… I need space."
Celia flinched but followed a few steps behind. "Serenya… wait!"
I held Celia's arm, "Where are you two going? It's dangerous out there!"
"Making a step.. And going to assure your little sister that she shouldn't be scared of me.." she said softly, eyes following Serenya.
I tightened my hold for a moment, then released, letting my fingers linger lightly on her arm. "I'll go with you–"
Celia tapped my hand gently. "It's fine, Kai. Maybe… I need to handle this myself. I want to prove we can… be on good terms."
There was a quiet determination in her stance, a glint of hope in her eyes. I let go, stepping back just enough to let her move forward. Celia's small figure shot after Serenya, running with surprising speed to catch up.
Mikel let out a low whistle. "Your sister's something else, Kaiser. Full of guts at that age. I don't know how you even keep up with her."
I let out a short laugh. "She's clever, but her hatred toward Celia, whatever she's heard..isn't fair. That needs to be cleared up."
"Hmm, I agree with you. And, as you said, Celia hasn't done anything that would harm us from the days she stayed within our village."
My friends nodded with Tessa. Everyone had seen how hard Celia tried to fit in, helping elders, learning our customs, playing with children, doing everything to earn her place, even as an elf.
"She's human too.." I whispered to myself, smiling.
Then I realized Celia and Serenya had been out for a while. I looked at their directions and then, in a span of seconds they were swallowed by the mist, they vanished from sight.
I froze, my eyes scanning the white haze before me. The wind howled, tugging at my coat and biting through every layer. We should've never let them out here alone. The thought hit me like a hammer, over and over, but there was no time for second-guessing now.
Lira shifted beside me, her eyes scanning the fog. "Kai, what do we do?"
I blinked, trying to shake myself out of the trance I was in. "I—I think we should keep moving," I said, my voice shaky but firm. "We'll find them. We just need to stay close, pay attention."
Tessa frowned, stepping up next to me. "Pay attention to what? We can't see anything through this fog."
I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. "Tracks. Anything unusual in the snow." I paused, trying to gather the little bits of knowledge I had.
"You really think we're gonna find them in this?" Jaren asked, his tone skeptical. He was standing back, arms crossed, but I could see the worry in his eyes. "I mean, we're in a storm."
I hesitated, feeling the weight of his words. But I had to be sure. "We can't just wait around," I said, shaking my head. "Celia won't let Serenya wander alone. We've got to find them."
There was a beat of silence, the wind howling in the background. Lira exchanged a look with Tessa, who shrugged, though I could see she wasn't entirely convinced.
"Fine," Lira said with a sigh, adjusting the strap of her pack. "But we go slow. No rushing in."
I nodded quickly. "Agreed. Slow. But we need to move."
Lira's voice broke the silence again. "Kaiser, are you sure about this?"
I glanced back at her, biting my lip. "I—I know it's risky. But we can do it." My voice faltered, but I quickly regained control. "I've read about this stuff. Tracking. Reading the wind. If we pay attention, we can figure out where they went. The snow doesn't just fall randomly."
Tessa, walking just behind me, let out a small laugh, though it sounded nervous. "And you think we're gonna be able to follow them in this?"
"I—I think so," I said, my voice a little more confident than I felt. "We just need to look for footprints. Broken branches. Anything out of place."
Jaren snorted. "That's... not a lot to go on."
"I know," I said, biting my lip. "But we have to try."
Lira, who was keeping pace beside me, narrowed her eyes at the mist ahead. "This doesn't feel right, Kai. If they've gotten this far, they could be in real trouble."
I hesitated, the reality of the situation settling heavily in my chest.
What if we're too late? What if they're hurt?
But I couldn't say that out loud. Instead, I kept my eyes on the ground, hoping to spot something. Anything.
"There's a chance they're just ahead," I said, my words more to convince myself than anyone else. "We just need to focus."
The others fell silent, but the tension in the air thickened with each step. I could hear my heartbeat in my ears, louder than the wind, louder than anything else. We should've never left them alone.
Tessa broke the silence again, her voice hesitant. "What if they're... not where we think they are?"
I stopped, looking around. What if they're not? The thought gnawed at me, but I forced myself to keep moving forward. "We'll just have to keep going. We can't give up."
Jaren let out a breath and stepped forward. "Alright, I'm with you."
Lira looked at me, then at the others, and sighed. "Then let's move."
We kept walking, the mist and snow making everything feel like we were walking in a dream. Every tree looked the same. Every shadow melted into the white expanse. I squinted, trying to spot any signs that they'd passed through here.
It's getting darker now. I have seen the patterns earlier.. I know the weather will just be alright. Did I make a mistake there..? Did I bring them in this situation?
I froze, scanning the swirling white. My mind cataloged everything, the rate of fog drift, the uneven ground, the positions of my friends. My mind screamed, return to the village, get adults, don't risk it.
But my heart tightened. Celia was out there, insisting on facing this herself. Serenya was stubborn, fearful, but still a child. I couldn't just leave them.
Lira and Tessa exchanged glances, hesitation flickering in their eyes. "I hope we're doing things right." Lira said.
I bit my lip. "If we wait, they'll wander further."
I pressed forward, silent, vigilant, determined.
The mist thickened around us, curling over the snow and softening the shapes of trees. My chest tightened with every step. Celia and Serenya were out there somewhere, and I couldn't just wait.
I crouched to examine a faint trail in the snow. "These footprints… the smaller ones are Celia's," I said, pointing. "See how the snow compresses differently under her weight? And these deeper ones, Serenya. She's heavier and puts her foot flat."
Tessa leaned in. "You really think we can follow them in this fog?"
I traced the trail with my finger, trying to sound confident even as my stomach twisted. "We can try. The drift patterns show which way the wind has blown, so some tracks are partially covered, but if we compare the impressions to the branches and rocks they passed, we can reconstruct the path."
Jaren frowned. "So… it's like a puzzle?"
"Exactly," I said. "Except it's not on paper. We have to interpret it as we go."
Lira glanced at me, hesitating. "But it's getting darker. What if we can't find them?"
I swallowed. "Then we do the best we can with what's visible. The snow reflects light from the horizon, so we can estimate direction. And… if we find any disturbance that breaks the drift or bends the saplings, that could be a sign they passed."
Tessa frowned. "Wouldn't it be safer to go back for help?"
I bit my lip. Logic screamed yes. But my gut twisted.
Celia insisted on handling this herself. I couldn't leave them. "If we go back now, we might lose them entirely. We can manage if we move slowly, and observe the path, tracks, broken branches, and snow clumps. That's the only way we'll know which way they went."
Jaren muttered, "Man, tracking lessons from Kaiser's books… in real life."
I flushed. "Yeah… except mistakes have consequences."
We moved slowly, scanning the snow. I pointed out footprints, bent twigs, and faint scuffs. My friends crouched, compared prints, asked questions—reminding me I was learning too, and applying what I'd read.
Branches cracked under the snow, making me flinch. Fear clung to my chest, but I pressed on, watching, hoping my knowledge would be enough to find Celia and Serenya.
The snow thickened around us, drifting sideways in sharp gusts. I lifted my head, squinting at the sky. "This… this shouldn't be happening," I muttered.
"What do you mean?" Lira asked, pulling her scarf closer.
"I checked the sky this morning. The pressure was stable, the wind patterns were light, there shouldn't have been any storm forming for at least another few hours," I said, voice tight.
"And now… look at it. The clouds came out of nowhere, moving too fast. The wind changed direction completely."
"Celia! Are you there? Serenya!"
Tessa shivered. "It came out of nowhere? That's… really bad, isn't it?"
"Not necessarily," I said, biting my lip. "If we stay calm, we can use the trees and the slope of the hills to guide us. The wind is stronger, yes, but it's not completely unpredictable."
Jaren kicked the snow irritably. "You're telling me that the sky suddenly flipped on us, and now we're supposed to find them?"
"Exactly," I admitted. "It's not impossible, but we need to think smart. Look at how the clouds are moving, they're heavier on the west side. That means the center of the storm is probably forming up there."
Lira squinted. "So… if we keep to the east side of the meadow, maybe we can stay a little safer?"
"Maybe," I said. "It's not perfect, but it's our only safer path."
Tessa's eyes widened. "And if we don't see them before the storm hits full force?"
"Then we call out and stay close together," I said, though my voice shook slightly. "We keep moving carefully. We can't let the snow bury our tracks completely, or they'll vanish."
Lira swallowed. "Kaiser… what if they're already caught in this?"
I clenched my jaw. "Then we find them. We have to."
"I won't let them disappear."
The wind roared, thick snow blinding us. Shadows flickered in the white haze, trees? Maybe them? My chest tightened. "They're out there… we just have to reach them."
Tessa grabbed my sleeve. "I… I can barely see a few steps ahead!"
A heavier gust slammed into us. Snow whipped across our faces. The path ahead vanished into white.
"They could be anywhere," Lira shouted over the roar of the wind.
"And the storm's moving faster than I expected," I said, my stomach twisting. "I thought it would be calm until evening… but it's already here."
Jaren let out a harsh laugh. "So much for my snowball fight plan."
The wind screamed louder. Snow fell so thick it hurt to breathe. My friends' faces were barely visible, and I knew we were completely swallowed by the storm.
"Celia! Serenya! Can you hear us?!" My voice almost broke, but I forced it through the white roar.
That's it… we were lost.