World of snow [1]

I trudged through the snow leaving my footprints behind me. My bow was tied over my shoulders hanging on my back that had animal fur protecting it. My gloves were bulky and made from rabbit fur that wasn't tanned well and sewn badly as I made them myself I wasn't shocked. However, if this winter continues I might not survive. The deer are hard to catch off guard and the winter monsters are dangerous in conditions like these.

Howls could be heard off in the distance as whether they were of normal wolves or monstrous beasts, it was impossible to tell. A large mound covered by snow stuck between the trees seemed out of place as I approached. But I brushed some snow off in the front revealing a shambled door held together by wood and rope with fur on the inside. I had to slam against the door with my shoulder to open it. But I fell onto the floor thinking there could have been a better way.

Inside was a single room. Nothing special but empty. The room was made of tree branches that held the roof up. Many twigs and sticks piled on top made the wall with rocks at the bottom providing support. The middle of the roof had a large carpet tied to it. And if you looked more you could see old dry blankets against certain parts. You couldn't even stand all the way up but luckily I was still short however couldn't stretch.

I closed the door and sat against the wall. In the middle of my little home was the stump of an old tree I used as a table. To my right was a bed made of handy-down blankets and sewn furs. A bear rug under it all. Wooden logs sat against the wall I rested my arm against. Then a small campfire dug into the ground have a hole behind it letting e smoke out. On the outside where the other end of the hole was would be twigs allowing the smoke out but keeping most of the cold out. A lantern lit the rest of the space and that was it.

I took my large worn-down coat off and tried to think about what to do. But the cold and long walks through the snow wore my body out. I crawled to my makeshift bed pulling the blankets over me and falling asleep.

I found myself in space with stars all around me. My veins throughout my body seemed to glow a dull white light as I looked around.

"Strange dream," I said walking around.

Eventually, I sat down looking out into the stars as one fought my eye. It was not bright but it glowed with many colors like a rainbow. I noticed how it slowly drifted toward me until it was right in front of me. The star shot into my chest as I felt pain course through me. But after a few seconds, it was gone and I felt strange. It was like the void in me was filled at last and I actually felt happy.

"This is great," I said and woke up.

"What on Nexus," I said looking at my hands.

On my right hand on top laid the symbol of a moon in eclipse. On my left lay the symbol of a strange-looking sword.

"When did I get these?" I questioned myself.

I tried getting up but banged my head against the wall. I was feeling like I was on fire. I rushed outside jumping into the snow as I slowly cooled off. But a growl came out a few feet ahead of me.

"Just great," I said seeing it.

A ice wolf stood before me. The cousin of the flame hound but took on the form of a wolf more so. Three small icicles formed around its head shooting right at me. But just as I thought I would die my body burned with orange flames melting them.

"What," I said trying to get up.

But the hound had other plans and one was not to let me get up. It jumped towards me as I rolled a bit using its own momentum I raised my legs tossing it over and past me. At this rate, my body with filled with adrenaline, and I got once again snapped at by the wolf barely dodging. How did I use the flames? The wolf jumped past me clawing my legs as blood was drawn.

I grunted and my body once again burned with flames. I raised my hand towards the wolf as a burst of flames came from my palm. The flames slammed into the ice wold burning its side as it flew a few feet back. It whimpered in pain as I came up to it. The flames on me were subsiding however I managed to toss out one last attack to finish the wolf.

"Been a while since I fought a magical beast," I said walking towards it and feeling the pain in my leg.

Small ice-blue particles came up from the wolf and zapped into me as I stumbled backward in shock.

"Is this what magic feels like," I said regaining my balance.

I knew a few people in the town could use magic but I didn't know anyone able to magical attacks to this degree. Most people with strong magical affinities were adventurers or nobles.

"Damn, I wish I was off of noble blood," I said thinking of their large mansions with good food and never worrying about if you'll freeze to death.

The ice wolf was all white with a small grey fluff on its forehead. When the snow came along the normal fire hounds would turn to ice wolves and those that didn't turn gained blue flames. But once winter was gone they would return to normal unless they were a pure ice wolf. That meant they were born as a ice wolf meaning they didn't revert to either side but stayed the way they were.

I started skinning the wolf thinking how much the fur and everything could sell for. Finally, I found ta core. Anything able to use magic had a magical core. They were worth a lot depending on the tier. I got all the eatable meat over a large fire outside thinking of turning the leftovers into jerky. The sky darkened as I looked out at the stars as the smoke rose.

"I need to learn how to use that power more," I said to myself flipping some meat over. The jerk wouldn't be done until I left it to dry but until then I could pick off the cooked pieces for my dinner.

The fur was of high quality and I could sell it. But I was thinking of having it turned into a coat. If I sold the core I could get someone to sew it into one. But I would need more materials before doing so.

I heard the snow breaking in small groups as I heard something new. I turned my head and a few feet away out of the light just barely was a little kitten. I got up approaching carefully realizing what it was. It was a snow leopard cub and it had a magic core. The frost on its back was not of the could but of a magical barrier. I tried picking it up realizing how cute it was.

"Where's your mother," I asked as it clawed at my hands.

"Don't worry just come here," I said.

It stopped trying to claw me and just looked at me like it understood. I picked him up in my arms and walked back towards the fire. I sat on the log as the cub stared at the meat from inside my coat. It was barely bigger the my hand as it sat inside my coat i opened up for it.

"No parents either. It's okay I'm the same." I said grabbing a pierce of meat from the flames.

"After all is loners have to look out for each other." I said putting the meat in front of its little nose.

It yippee at the meat dragging it to its mouth as I let go. It started chomping on the meat as I flipped more meat over. The cat eating the dog is a little weird to think about. But hunger does things to one's mind and health. The meat was fully cooked as I put the fire out after setting the meat up on some sticks in the trees.

"Okay don't ruin anything," I said opening my door and placing the little cub on the floor. It sniffed around the walls and jumped onto the trunk. I closed the door and took my coat off realizing how it was wet from the snow. I hung my coat and pants outside the door against the sticks that poked out of the wall. I then got dressed and made my way to bed and noticed the kitten curled up in the blankets and furs looking at me sleepily.

"Okay I'm coming but don't bite my face off." I said moving the little thing and covered up.

I opened the blankets as it laid next to my chest. I then covered him up and fell asleep. I was once again in that strange starry place.

As I glanced around, my eyes fell upon the ice wolf that I had previously vanquished. To my surprise, it stood there with an air of pride, gazing at me. Rather than displaying any intention to harm, it lowered its head in a gesture of respect. Suddenly, the wolf transformed into the same ethereal particles as before, but this time, its entire body dissolved into them. In that moment, I felt a surge of power coursing through me once again, but this time, it carried a chilling sensation. As my dream continued, my hand, adorned with the moon in eclipse, emitted a radiant glow that illuminated the night. My focus intensified as I sought ways to summon and harness this newfound power. Eventually, the dream transitioned into a deep, undisturbed slumber, cloaked in complete darkness.