Page 3 of A Winter Awakening
Perhaps an animal? But what animals climbed cliffs? Whatever it was, it disappeared over the top. But he thought he heard yelling. He paused. No movement or sound followed.
He kept on through the valley.
The ashy smell of smoke filled his nostrils. A grey spire of smoke rose upwards in the distance. Smoke meant people! People meant salvation.
He laughed. “We’re saved, Daisy! I told you everything would be fine.” He patted her flank.
They broke into a trot. But as he approached, he frowned.
Not people. Mountain nymphs. Oreads. About seven sat gathered around a fire. He’d seen and met several oreads in Castle Evermore before. He even had a friend who was half-oread. But these oreads seemed different. For one, they sat half-naked in the freezing air. Yes, very different from any he’d met before.
Gael realised he couldn’t stay out here with them. He’d freeze sitting in the snow with just a fire. But maybe they could help him find humans?
Taking a breath, he rode towards them. He gave them his most winning smile and pushed the hair from his face. He suppressed a grimace at the tangled mess it had become. He glanced over his clothes. They definitely looked worse for wear.
But that didn’t matter right now. The oreads stared at him. No anger or annoyance at being disturbed by his presence, just curiosity.
“Good afternoon, friends!” Was it afternoon? Gael had no idea. “I seem to be a little lost.” He gave a laugh that sounded only slightly panicked. “Would you be so kind as to tell me the way to the nearest village or inn?”
An oread stepped towards him. Taller than Gael, the oread wore woollen trousers. A brown leather bag hung at his hip, the thin strap slung over his shoulder. He wore no shirt, his toned torso bare to the cold, crisp air. A handsome oread with striking, strong features, grey skin, and silver hair and eyes.
“Ores is that way.” The oread pointed. “A path leads out of the valley and to Ores.”
Gael smiled. “And is Ores far?”
“No.”
Gael let out a breath. Gael would be fine! Just fine. He just needed to follow the path.
“Are you all right?” the oread asked, his accent thick, words and sounds rolling together.
“I’m completely fine!” Gael laughed. “I better be off now. Thank you for your kind help.” He gave a wave of his hand and galloped off in the direction the handsome oread had pointed. He smiled, and the tension through his muscles released.
Everything would be fine. He’d find Ores. He’d find people. He’d find food and shelter, and he’d be safe.
“I told you we’d be fine, Daisy.”
He rode along the path, going up and out of the valley. The rocky path wove upwards. Thankfully, Daisy managed it. Although, she had to pick her way carefully, and she moved rather slowly. Finally, they reached the top and rode onwards.
The trees grew sparser. Ores should be nearby. But he couldn’t see the path anymore. They just rode through trees.
How had he managed to leave the path? Were they still on the way to Ores?
Dread grew in his chest. The shadows stretched across the ground. Although poor at telling the time, Gael knew night was not far. He’d need to find somewhere soon. Perhaps he should go back and find the oreads. Ask again. He turned Daisy around.
Which way had they come?
His stomach growled. Why hadn’t he asked the oreads for food? But he’d been too focused on finding a village.
He continued. As he rode, fog thickened the air.
“Everything is fine, Daisy. You’ll see.” He gave a weak laugh.
He rode on and on and on. The fog grew thicker, and darkness drew nearer.
Not clear what he was doing, but desperate now, Gael jumped off Daisy, thinking he might get a better sense of which way to go from the ground.
He cried out as he landed. Pain shot through his foot and ankle. He fell to his hands and knees. He inhaled through the pain as snow soaked his trousers. A rock had been hidden by snow, and he’d jumped straight onto it and twisted his foot.