MAY THE SECOND BITE YOU IN THE BREAST

If those on the crossing thought it was cold on ground level during winter, they should try enduring the whole season up on the high ridges of the peak. Every day Geirdriful ploughed through the deep drifts of snow and contemplated the effect one wrong step might bring. Would it bring an avalanche down of someone’s head or would send her careening of the mountain top to the jagged piles of rocks below. While these thoughts may be considered rather morbid, they occupied her mind when the howl of the wind to was too loud to talk over.

With the wild winter beginning to die down and the sun peeking through the clouds, the bandit faced girl decided to brave a trek down to the crossing. Her descent was speedy despite the strong mountain winds pushing and pulling at her to throw her off balance. No matter the difficulty, once Geirdriful had a goal in mind, she set about completing her task as promptly as possible. For this reason, she made it to the bottom of the peak with the last dregs of morning still to spare.

She sucked in a deep breath and steadied herself, no longer used to the air being so think and heavy with oxygen but savouring it all the same. It was warmer down here to, the worst of the weather blocked out by the mountain she called home and the trees that surrounded its base. Even the snow that covered the entirety of the upper peaks was almost non-existent here, only present in small, sleety piles puddles.

While the weather wasgood, Geirdriful had plans to explore each and every island this year, but first, she wanted to see how her old friend in the lagoon was doing. “Léon!?” she called out as she as crossed over the lagoon boundaries. “Hey Lion Eyes!? You here?” Last time she’d come here, his scent lingered around every corner before she’d eventually run into him. This time, she could find no trace.

Eventually she stopped by the edge of the lagoon itself, wondering if the water would be surprising warm or surprising cold. “Léon!?” she called a final time, giving the surrounding area a scan before looking back at the green-blue water. “Guess he isn’ here.” she muttered, and dipped a hoof in lagoon.

Tepid.