[Nivalis Silverfrost]
Nivalis had been dragging the sled through the snowy wilderness for hours, each step sending sharp bursts of pain through her worn-out body. Her muscles screamed in agony, and her breaths came out in frosty clouds, forming a white mist in the icy air. The snow beneath her boots was deep and unforgiving, making the journey arduous. Time seemed to blur as the winter morning dragged on, but eventually, the afternoon arrived.
Every time she looked back at the sled, her heart ached with worry. They were bundled tightly in warm woolen blankets, but her daughter's dark circles and sickly pale skin were hard to miss. Even the baby, who had been sleeping peacefully, looked weary. "I'm so sorry, my sweet little ones," Nivalis whispered regretfully.
As Nivalis trudged on, the thought of resting weighed heavy on her mind. She felt her body crying out for a break, and her mind was just as tired. She approached the sled and whispered to her daughter, "Darling, are you hungry?" Her fingers gently caressed those silvery locks.
Silvia replied in a faint, tired voice, "A little bit."
— "It's time for a rest, then. Let's stop beneath that tree." She pointed to a majestic ancient oak tree standing proudly in the center of a small clearing. Silvia followed her gaze, nodded, and sighed in relief.
Once beneath the tree, Nivalis began to unload their supplies with remarkable efficiency, handling each item with care and tenderness. "Take a seat here," she whispered, helping her daughter out of the sled and gesturing toward the fallen tree trunk just nearby. "And have some bread, here," Nivalis offered, placing the food in Silvia's delicate hands.
"Thank you, Mommy," Silvia mumbled shyly, taking a small bite.
Nivalis continued, "Now, let me hold your little brother while you eat." Her voice was tender, as was her touch. She cradled her son with great care, her fingers gently caressing his soft, rosy cheeks. "Come on, sweetie. It's time to feed you as well," she whispered, adjusting her clothing to reveal her breasts.
The cold air brushed against her exposed skin, sending a shiver down her spine. She nestled her baby inside her clothing, guiding him to her breast. The baby quickly latched onto her nipple, eagerly suckling. Nivalis let out a contented sigh, her body relaxing as she nourished her son. "That's a good boy," she whispered with a warm smile as her baby boy fed.
Sitting on the snow with her legs tucked under her and her baby suckling eagerly, Nivalis did nothing but watch her children. How the girl chewed and the boy let out giggles every time her nipple spurted some milk into his hungry mouth. Despite the harsh journey, simple moments like these made it all worthwhile.
— "Thank you, Silvia. You did great today," Nivalis praised her daughter, her voice filled with admiration and pride. She brushed a strand of Silvia's silvery hair away from her tired eyes, a gentle, motherly gesture.
Silvia's golden eyes sparkled with happiness. "Really?"
— "Of course. You were a tremendous help," Nivalis cooed, nodding slowly. "You kept him warm and safe." She gestured towards the tiny bundle nursing at her breast.
Silvia's shoulders relaxed, a grateful smile spreading across her face. "I'm glad, Mommy," she replied, taking yet another nib out of her piece of bread. Her gaze shifted to her brother, watching his mouth still around her mother's nipple. "He's so adorable."
Nivalis chuckled, "Yes, he is. But he's also a lot of work." Her fingers gently brushed the baby's soft hair as he fed.
"Well, he's a baby," Silvia giggled, her laughter like a ray of sunshine cutting through the snowy landscape.
— "Indeed," Nivalis joined in the laughter, a soft, pleasant sound that seemed to chase away the chill of the winter day and the weight of their situation for just a moment.
Silvia glanced around their snowy surroundings, her brows furrowing. "How long have we been walking?"
Nivalis let out a weary sigh, and as she did, her breath turned into misty clouds that hung in the frosty air. "Around 5 or 6 hours," she said, exhaustion heavy in her voice. Way too little to feel even a little bit safe. "But we must keep walking even further."
"So long..." the girl mumbled ever so quietly. "Is it because Dad will look for us?" Silvia's voice quivered with fear.
Nivalis nodded, worry clouding her eyes. "Yeah. We have to make sure we're far away from him. He won't like it that we ran away."
"I shouldn't have brought it up. Sorry," Silvia apologized, looking down at the snow and avoiding her mother's gaze.
Nivalis gently lifted Silvia's chin, making her meet her eyes. "It's alright, sweetie. You can ask me anything you want," she reassured, her smile gentle and comforting.
Silvia's eyes sparkled as she looked at her mother. "Can you tell me a story while I eat, Mommy?" she requested, her voice brimming with anticipation. She clutched a piece of bread in her small hands, her fingers as delicate as snowflakes.
Nivalis chuckled softly, her fingers tenderly stroking her baby's head as he continued to nurse. "Sure thing. Do you remember the story of the princess and the dragon?" Nivalis asked, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
Silvia stammered, her cheeks flushing crimson. "Yeah, I... um... I mean, no, I don't remember it." She moved her leg a bit in the snow, unable to meet her mother's gaze.
— "You're a terrible liar, my sweet," she chuckled, giving the girl's cheek a tiny pinch. Clearing her throat, Nivalis began, her voice soft and gentle like a lullaby. "Once upon a time, in a land far from here, there was a dragon. This dragon lived in a big cave, deep within the tall mountains, far away from any city or village." Her words painted a vivid picture, bringing the story to life for Silvia, who listened with wide eyes, captivated by the tale.
— "One day, the dragon's heart ached with a longing he couldn't quite explain," Nivalis continued, her voice a soothing melody amidst the wintry surroundings. "So, he embarked on an adventure, searching for something more valuable than all the treasures he had ever collected, even more precious than an entire mountain of gold. He wasn't sure what it was, but he knew he'd recognize it when he saw it."
— "He flew through the sky with his huge wings spread wide. He traveled to the edges of the world, over the mountains and through dense forests, his sharp eyes always searching for the thing that could ease his heart's ache. He visited vast cities and bustling towns, and still, his search yielded nothing."
Silvia furrowed her eyebrows in confusion and, with genuine curiosity, asked, "Why do dragons like gold and other valuables? It's not like they can spend it."
Nivalis paused, scratching her head in a thought. "Well, my love, it's just part of their nature. They are naturally drawn to beautiful, shiny things, I guess."
Silvia nodded in understanding, chewing the food.
— "Where was I? Ah, yes," Nivalis picked up where she had left off. "After many long years of searching the dragon finally found what he was looking for."
Silvia's curiosity piqued, and she leaned in closer, asking, "What did he find, Mommy?" Even though she already knew the answer.
Nivalis's smile brightened. "Not what, but who! He found an elven girl who lived in a simple, ordinary village."
"Why would a dragon care about an elven girl?" the girl shyly asked, giving a toothy smile.
Nivalis' expression softened as she gave the answer her daughter wanted to hear. "Well, this elven girl was very beautiful and truly unique. She had silver hair that shone like the moonlight, and her eyes were the color of pure gold. The dragon fell in love with her the very moment he saw her."
"She had silver hair and golden eyes, just like me, Mommy!" Her voice brimmed with joy, eyes as wide as they could get.
Nivalis couldn't help but chuckle. She placed a gentle kiss on the top of her daughter's head. "Yes, my darling. Just like you, beautiful and unique. The handsome dragon couldn't help but fall in love with her beauty and kindness."
Proudly puffing her cheeks, Silvia mumbled curiously, "So, what happened next, Mommy?"
— "The dragon fell in love with the elven girl, but she got scared and ran away. The dragon followed her, doing his best to persuade her to stay with him. He displayed his powerful teeth, let out a deafening roar, and showed his mighty wings, but she still was afraid of him." Nivalis paused, then added with a chuckle, "Perhaps she couldn't understand that the dragon had fallen in love with her. She thought he was chasing her to make a meal of her."
Silvia nodded in agreement, her lips forming a little pout. "I suppose I'd be terrified too if I were that elven girl."
Nivalis continued, sharing the story of the dragon and the elf with passion. It was a tale she had made on the spot, a fusion of pieces of old fairy tales and legends she had heard and read throughout the years. Her words transported Silvia to a world of love, courage, and wonder, where a dragon and an elf shared an extraordinary connection, defying all odds.
— "...the dragon and the elf discovered a love so powerful that it transformed the dragon into an elf," Nivalis narrated, her voice soft and gentle. "This is it, my love. They lived happily ever after."
Silvia listened intently, her imagination filled in every detail of her mother's words. "That was such a lovely story, Mommy," she said, her smile as bright as the rays of the sun that peeked through the trees
— "Now, why don't you finish your food?" Nivalis suggested, nodding towards the piece of bread in Silvia's small hands, still somewhat untouched. Someone liked the story way too much.
"Okay, Mommy," Silvia obliged, her voice a soft, obedient murmur. She took another bite of her simple meal, letting out a cute 'rawr' as if she were a dragon.
Nivalis shifted her gaze to her son, a tiny, delicate bundle curled up against her. His eyes were closed, and his breathing was slow and steady. He was asleep, but even in slumber, he continued to nurse from her swollen breast, his mouth sealed around her nipple.'He must be truly exhausted. Babies this old usually cry days and nights,' she thought as she stroked her baby's head, her touch gentle and loving.
As her baby slept, nursing, Nivalis noticed her own weariness. The long and arduous journey through the snowy wilderness had left her drained. She sighed and looked around the vast forest. The ancient trees stood tall; the snow clung to their branches, blanketing them in white. The silence was eerie, broken only by the occasional rustling of leaves. 'I needed this break. I am exhausted. And I need to eat something, too," she mused as she reached for a piece of bread.
...
After their much-needed rest, Nivalis stood up carefully, feeling the strain in her tired muscles and the ache in her joints. The weight of their journey pressed heavily on her, but she knew they couldn't linger long. "Let's go. We need to keep moving, honey," she whispered to her daughter, pushing away the ever-present fear of pursuit. Each step took them farther away from the past they desperately wanted to escape.
Silvia nodded in agreement and stood up, her golden eyes reflecting the same resolve burning within her mother.
Nivalis carefully passed her tiny, fragile baby to her daughter. She looked into Silvia's eyes and said, "Take care of him, my love."
"Mhm. Don't worry," the girl reassured her, cradling her baby brother in her tiny arms before settling back onto the sled, covering herself with blankets.
— "Ready, sweetie?" Nivalis whispered, picking up the rope from the ground.
Silvia simply nodded, rubbing her little, flushed nose.
With that, Nivalis began to pull the sled, her footsteps firm and steady against the cold, snowy ground. Her pace was much quicker than her slow, methodical steps before.
"You look much better, Mom!" Silvia exclaimed, a small smile appearing on her lips.
— "I do feel much better, my love," Nivalis replied, looking back at her daughter and smiling in return.
As they continued their journey, the chill of winter seemed to retreat, replaced by a growing warmth that filled the air. The sun shone brightly, casting its golden rays upon the snowy landscape. Ancient pines stood tall and proud as if welcoming the brave travelers into their protective embrace.
The sun's rays were indeed warm and comforting, casting a gentle glow on Nivalis and Silvia as they ventured forth. "The weather is getting better. Finally," Nivalis said, savoring the gentle touch of the sun on her pale skin.
"Mommy, look! A rabbit!" Silvia's voice rang out with excitement, and she eagerly pointed at a small, white creature hopping along the forest floor, seemingly unbothered by the cold.
— "Where?" Nivalis followed her daughter's gaze and spotted the cute rabbit. "Oh, yes. Isn't it adorable?" The sight of the rabbit lifted her spirits. It was a good sign. If they were low on supplies, she might try to catch something with her bow. 'No wonder why our ancestors preferred to live in forests like this,' she thought as she admired the beauty of the surroundings.
As the tiny family journeyed deeper into the winter forest, Nivalis gazed ahead, and only ahead. The determination to keep moving, to face the challenges and the unknown, burned brightly within her.