The snow, despite its small innocent appearance alone, was devastatingly heavy once piled up and could cost the lives and warmth of many. If it weren't for the beast of the night roaming or living around the snow breaking its building blocks, many would die from the innocent snow taking their last breath of smoky air upon death.
Troops walked upon the snow under the freezing air the climate gave off, every step erupted a crunch and every crunch left a footprint of snow.
There were many footprints in the snow mostly from the beast that roamed other's from troops who ascend the snowy hill.
The soldiers ascend under the influence of their commander Lily Percival. Her figure with a height of 5'10. She was fit and firm with her skin smooth and deep reddish-brown. She had black fluffy texture hair in form of an afro pom pom.
She and her soldiers were dressed with armour such as vambraces, chest plates, and greaves or shin guards. Some gathered other equipment of their own like helmets, pauldrons, or finger tabs for archers.
Nonetheless they each possessed a weapon some on their waist, backs or shoulder's.
Lily had her specialised axe on her back. It was vastly bigger covering her whole back, making her shadow seem bigger than it should. The blades on each side crystallised at the tips forming a blueish hexagon pattern.
The soldier's successfully ascended the massive snowy hill with no difficulties. Atop the hill, the footprints of beast were replaced with a reddish liquid which tainted the innocent feel the snow gave of.
Lily went towards the liquid. From up close she could see the streaks of a gooey icky black within it. She picked the black goo up as she brought it to her nose for a sniff.
The soldiers watching her from the side-line could feel themselves gag some expressed their hint of disgust other's remained calm.
After her small investigation on the gooey substance Lily walked back towards her soldiers as she took her place in the front. The soldier standing beside her expressed his confusion with a whisper.
"Why bother smelling the goo if you already know it isn't our beast?" His voice deep with a intimidating feel yet also smooth. He could scare and calm. Among the troops he was of the one's who remained calm despite their commander's actions.
"Obviously to weed the good from the bad. You should know that Einar you are my right hand man after all." Her voice raspy and deep enough to still sound feminine and pleasant.
Einar Raygor, her right hand man.
He stood tall at 6'3 with a bulky lean physique. His skin was light white while his hair was soft and slightly puffy like a sheep descending down his scalp ending by his hairline with soft or wavy edges. His eye's a soft sky blue, his jaw boxed in a nice manner with a faded beard light beard.
He himself carried a long sword on his back and a dagger on his waist. Unlike his commander Lily Percival's weapon he himself wasn't lucky enough to attract the attention of a master class forger.
They continued to move atop the massive snowy hill searching for something when they stumbled upon a fully made wooden hut. Lily sent a male scout ahead the scout acted as stealthily as he can with his Spirit.
His Spirit Conceal as the name applies, allows him to conceal his presence and any noise he makes within a 10 metre radius making her good enough as a scout.
He made his way to the hut which at the front door he found markings. The first two markings where both spread diagonally from the top right to the bottom left but the third marking was inscribed with the letter "L".
Taking mental notes and a lap around the perimeter he returned to state his findings.
"Commander Percival." The scout did a ninety degree bow before lifting her head to speak. "There is nothing dangerous around the perimeter, only beast blood has been gushed at the back of the hut."
"I see, anything else." Instead of the commander speaking Einar took her place. It was a way to show the male scout what value he held in the face of the commander. The only thing he did was scout, if Lily wanted to she could've asked anybody else.
The Spirit Conceal can only do so much on the battlefield especially with a measly radius of 10 metres. So naturally to Lily the male scout was nothing but a sacrificial lamb ready to be used at any time.
"Y-yes vice commander. I saw three markings on the front door. Two were diagonal from the top right to the bottom left but the third one was and inscribed 'L'".
Lily and Einar glanced at one another, they knew damn well what that "L" stood for. The gushed blood at the back of the hut begun to make even more sense. Seeing their satisfied look on the report the scout returned to her position in line awaiting orders.
Lily's body tilted her once firm standing figure into a resting state with her elbow bent and hand on her waist having her hip out holding her weight. On the other hand Einar continue to stand firm with his arms crossed.
He watched in silence on his commander's actions. A chuckle erupted from her mouth as she flicked her hand at Einar then brought it to a half with all five fingers straight and firm.
With a nod Einar commanded, "Rest!"
The soldiers slowly dispersed half cut down nearby trees as seating's the other's along with some scouts went out looking for food. It had been some time since they ate anything.
A kilometre beyond the snowy hill was a shimmering river surrounded by meadow which had been piled up on by the snow even the weather was freezing the river still ran although it's speed decreased.
Floating along the river was a rowboat with a boy too old to be child but too young to be considered an adult. He wore black vambraces tied on his forearms, a black half robe it's length reached down to his waist and sealed tight around his top half and thick.
His pants were slightly loose but tight around his ankle. The white scarf made from wool wrapping around his neck gave a sort of contrast and feel to his outfit.
His skin black caramel with an nice face. His eyes brown and his hair was black thick and textured, the top curly with the sides and back short.
He rested on a rowboat his other sense's heightened as he closed his eyes letting it flow down stream. He had no weapons insight all were hidden. He was feeling peaceful.
The chirping birds singing to one another, the air freezing yet excitingly warm. His breathing unbothered on this river of time he felt nothing could slip his grasp yet the more he flowed the more time passed.
Time was the only thing slipping from his grasp, he was running out.
Before he knew it the sun position moved, it was an inch from the horizon line.
A deep sigh left his mouth before he picked up the oars and directed himself toward the nearby land. He exited and pulled the boat out of the water leaving it at it's position.
He knew his way throughout the snowy forest he even made a mind map of which areas where dangerous or safe and at the moment he stood at the foot of the massive snowy hill.
He stared at all the footprints that ascended it. If he could he would turn back now yet he felt himself being watched. He could leave in a struggle but the fact the person had yet to attack gave him some sort of suspicion.
And plus his house was on the hill he didn't feel like letting bunch of strangers roam through it so he ascended the hill.
Even though it was a small hill the air lowered in temperature he could feel his body lower more into the snow.
The more he ascended the more tree's had been cut off it was surely a big group. Finally reaching atop the hill he saw a camp stationed near his hut. He immediately noticed most of it's members especially...
"Lily." His voice was young but slightly deep, it had a clear feeling but it lacked any emotion.
"Adeus." Lily replied with a soft grin.