Month: August 2018

Snowman by the Fire

Gram and I aren’t a much better snowpal-making team than Dad and I, but at least we found a spot far enough from the fire that the snow wouldn’t melt in our hands, and close enough that we’re pretty sure we won’t freeze to death.

A Dance of Ice and Fire

When I was a kid, Mom said I liked to play with fire. And seeing as I grew up to be an adventurer pretty much, she was right. I like to run at danger, and dance with it. It challenges me, it makes me learn more, always more.

And when I mean dancing with danger, I mean it literally. I lit the fire to get warmer, but with music blasting a few steps from me, and the tempting red flames, how could I resist?

Party in the Blizzard

I don’t know about you guys, but there’s ONE thing that can dissuade me from heading back to the warmth of my home after a day in the blizzard.

And that’s my great-grandmother inviting me to a party by the Windenburg ruins. She’s the only person in the entire world who could convince me to that, and here we are, dancing together.

Not for long though. The temperatures are below zero after all, so pretty soon we venture deeper into the ruins, to find a campfire. It involves some slipping on the snow.

Against the Wind

If I don’t die from the cold, I’ll die from slipping on frozen tiles inside the park’s bathrooms. Time to brace the winds and head home, Hannah. You did not survive the Belomisian poisons and fire traps to get vanquished by a snowflake.

Deathly Cold

I can’t see the time flying by when I’m on the rink, so before I know it, it’s dark and the temperatures are absolutely freezing. I find the nearest spot to warm up and I intend to stick to it.

About the time I can finally feel the tip of my fingers again, I get a visit from a hooded figure I’m familiar with. I’m too cold to be afraid, but he looks tired.

“Don’t sweat it,” he tells me. “You’re good. You did well to find fire, though, I didn’t feel like doing this whole thing for a fourth time today. And in the same park, too.”

“A fourth time?”

“Yeaaaaaah, it’s a cold day, and they weren’t careful. Anyway, don’t stay there too late. I’m off the clock.”

And with a faint cloud of dark smoke, he disappears.

I wait until the blood goes back to the tip of my nose, and then I take his advice, and I get the heck out of the snow.