Child of Winter: #minithology

Contents

Introduction

1. Story One: To Warm the Seasons

2. Story Two: The Petition

3. Story Three: The Chosen One

4. Story Four: The Sins of the Father

5. Story Five: Icelight

Also By

Copyright

Delicate fingers of frost creeping over windowpanes. Bright berries encased in thin globes of ice. Shimmery sparkles across freshly fallen snow. Lazy flakes spinning down from a winter sky. Chickadees and cardinals twittering on the tree branches.

Winter laughs, its breath puffing up in rolling clouds of joy.

But buried in the delighted laughter is the sharp edge of danger. The lazy snow can turn heavy and furious in a moment’s notice. The crinkly frost can grow thicker. The delicate fingers of ice hanging from the eaves can turn into wrist-thick daggers. The puffy air that was fun a moment ago might freeze in the lungs. The snow seep into the skin. The cold sink to the bones.

Winter is both beauty and beast.

So it is that when we spin stories of winter, we often weave them with strands of hope. It is hope that warms us when all fires have gone out. Hope that wraps around us and keeps us alive until the spring sun may warm us.

In this #minithology, you will find stories of the children of winter. Fairies and elves and humans all born to and of winter. Some bear inner fires. Some wield ice. All are attempting to find their way in the world. They stumble through storms, through the dark, through the frigid wastelands of life as they look for the hope they can contribute to their communities.

Gather close to the fire and enjoy your time spent reading. Discover your own light of hope. Especially if you, too, are a child of winter.

ND Gray

December 2022

Camp Verde, AZ

M.L. Akin’s favorite part of winter is the first big snowstorm. It snows in her story too, so much so that it buries her main characters. One of them doesn’t feel the cold but the other does, and it is slowly hurting him. His friend is his only hope for survival.

Icelyn’s best friend lived in an orphanage. Today she was helping him escape.

They had been scheming together for weeks. Their plan wasn’t as exciting as Icelyn wanted, for the two were merely sneaking away during recess. But it was a safe plan.

Icelyn had decided that their best bet would be hiding in the snow-covered bushes near the steep slope that dropped down further into the valley. The children were warned not to go near it; thus no children, or their nosy teachers, came anywhere near.

Vail’s breaths came out in short gasps as he crouched under the branches. Icelyn remained far calmer.

When should we go? Vail whispered, his eyes wide above the raggedy scarf that covered his lower face.

When do they check attendance? Icelyn whispered back, nodding at the twin teachers who were talking near the snow-covered slides.

As everyone comes in the door.

Icelyn nodded. All the rest of the kids were playing outdoors, mostly throwing snowballs at one another. A set of triplets had formed a tiny snow golem out of rolled snow and were taking turns making it prance back and forth on comically short legs.

Then let’s make for it now.

Almost as soon as the words left her mouth, the tree branches shuddered above them, letting loose a large heap of heavy snow.

Vail Frostilin, you should know better! A teacher appeared out of nowhere, her voice shrill and scratchy in the cold air. Her ill-made hat and scarf matched her red cheeks as she marched toward them from the other side of the playground. "And if you’re playing with that broodless child again…"

"Gooseshit!" Vail hissed, struggling under the weight of the snow. Icelyn was far more prepared. Taking a deep breath, she pushed toward the snow with her hands – her palms took on a pale glow as the snow flew out of her way in front of her, forming a tight tunnel out to the hill’s drop-off. She grabbed Vail’s gloved hand, waving weakly out of the side of the tunnel she made, and pulled him the rest of the way free.

My glove! He whined, as his other glove had stuck fast in the fallen snow, but Icelyn pushed him toward the tunnel.

You ready? Icelyn asked. Before Vail could answer, she ran her hands over the sole of his boots, making them slick with ice that came to a ridged point along the length of the sole. She gave him a push down the tunnel and did her own boots the same.

A blue knitted glove, with strings dangling loosely from the seams, reached blindly through the crest of the snow. Icelyn grinned, tucking her white hair behind her ear as she reached up and froze over the snow around the hand; the teacher at once began to screech something about detentions and allowances.

Icelyn couldn’t care less. She pushed herself out through the sloping tunnel and gasped as she dropped off into thin air. The drop only lasted a second before the slope took her away, sliding and laughing at an ever-frightening speed. She placed her hands on either side of her and the snow on the ground rose up to meet her, forming a barrier for her to keep herself from spinning and sliding down headfirst. Ahead of her, she could see Vail struggling to keep himself upright, digging his feet into the ground to slow himself.

I’m coming! She shouted down to him, and dug her heels into the ground. At their touch, the snow beneath them formed an icy smooth crust and she pushed herself up onto her makeshift skates. Now the real fun could begin.

Vail had slowed himself down just enough that when she formed the ice below him, he was able to get to his feet. Icelyn grabbed him and pulled him along. He slipped on one skate, then got his footing as they crouched together, shooting off toward the left where an icy road cut into the side of the hill.

Icelyn maneuvered Vail out in front of her as they slid down the slope, until she had her hands on his shoulders. There she could properly steer him toward the road without being slowed down by his weight. She heard a shout from behind her and couldn’t resist turning around. The teacher had freed herself and was shaking an angry fist down at the two of them from the precipice. Icelyn grinned and stuck her tongue out at the teacher before steering Vail onto the smooth road and around the side of the hill.

Once on the safety of the road, Icelyn let Vail loose and skated next to him. He was pale, but grinned at her.

We actually did it? He asked, breathlessly.

Of course we did! She replied with a laugh. His gap-toothed smile only made her laugh harder and soon both of them had to stop on the side of the road, less their wobbling skates take them the rest of the way down the hill on their bottoms. Vail collapsed backward into the soft untouched powder, his eyes glinting brightly in the afternoon light.

Wow, I thought I’d have to taste McNulter’s gruel for the rest of my life! Vail exclaimed. He kept his hands folded into his sleeves, keeping his hands warm close to his torso as he lounged in the snow. Icelyn, on the other hand, wore no hat and no gloves, just a simple deerskin coat more designed for waterproofing than to keep her warm. She grabbed a handful of snow and began to form it into a ball.

You have to promise to never doubt me again, that’s the deal, remember? She said, tossing the ball up and down in the air. Her heart was still pounding from the excitement of the getaway. Although she had hoped for a little bit more of a chase...at least that’s how she had imagined it when she was planning the ‘heist’ last week in her head.

I promise! Vail said quickly, nodding his head up and down. I thought we were done for when that McNulter sister saw us.

Icelyn turned up her nose. "That icemelt couldn’t catch a cold." She said confidently. She held out her hand and helped Vail to his feet. The two of them resumed their trail down the road again, this time at a more leisurely pace. Vail looked back every now and then, but Icelyn was unconcerned.

They made it to a fork in the road and Icelyn steered them to the left, further away from town. The road begin to dwindle down to just sled trails, but Icelyn formed an icy path for them to skate on forward.

So we just...do whatever we want now? Vail asked.

Yeah! Icelyn turned and grinned at him. No one will tell you what to do out here. It’s great!

That’s incredible. I can’t believe this is real. Vail said. He shook his ungloved hand and flexed his fingers slowly. Do you have a glove I can borrow at your place?

Icelyn frowned. I don’t. Is it really that cold?

Vail held his hand out to show her: it was bright red all over. He quickly stuck it back into his sleeve best he could.

Icelyn skated close and slid her arm next to his, locking elbows with him for stability.

We’ll get you some gloves. And I can keep you warm when we get to my place. I told you about those furs I got yesterday, yeah?

Vail nodded.

Then don’t worry! We’ll get you warm, and then we can plan all the fun things we’re going to do tomorrow! It’s going to be so fun! Icelyn said, clutching his arm tightly as she grinned.

Vail smiled back. You’re right. It’s going to be great! I can’t believe it. I’m actually free out here!

We’re both as free as a fox! Icelyn exclaimed, waving her free hand to make a shower of snowflakes sparkle above them. They shared a laugh.

Let’s get home, Icelyn said, and raised her free hand again, this time pointing it ahead. Without any effort at all, the icy path before them stretched forward through the pine trees.

Eventually, a slight glow began to surface from somewhere past the tree trunks.

Ooh, what’s that? Vail asked excitedly.

That’s home! Icelyn cheered. She skated ahead of him, pulling him along with long deep strides. The glow burned brighter and brighter, casting long shadows through the pines along their faces before they suddenly reached a snowy clearing.

Vail stopped himself at the edge of the forest. He grabbed tighter onto her arm.