Wind brought snow through stark pillars of pine and spruce, their icy crowns falling to the earth. Unimpeded, Enrei travel’s day and night without leaving behind a trail. The whiteout conditions obscured her physical and spiritual form, whilst falling snow covered the footsteps unwittingly burned into the earth.

Stalking through snow kissed fog she drew Royan. Her mark is a large wolf with a mouthful of daggers and icy spines growing through matted fur. She hadn’t planned on hunting the wolf, it started hunting her first after picking out the foreign Fire Qi in her bag. Once the beast lay with an arrow through a half-frozen skull, Eneri crept from the wind and toward the body.

Her bounty doesn’t lie in the meat, nor the fur of the wolf. The icy flame hovering over it is, it isn’t anything powerful like the Chieftains, nor is it weak like the other barbarians. Rather it contradicted the smooth curvature of previous flames, the wolf’s sprouted jagged spikes replacing refinement with a primal taste found in nature. Moreso, the flame gently beat with a dim and dying power whilst she took it in her hand, Enrei listened to a faint howl before silence.

Leaving the carcass behind, Enrei hummed a low prayer. Being left to rot, Nirvana would be unable to take him for some time… However, while she did so, a sunken part of Enrei to whistle eternities birdsong.

—

The sun crept into its cradle, plunging the taiga in near darkness save the dim shine of moonlight and the scant stars managing to pierce through the Hoarfrost. The howling is greater now, with those of beasts and the wind blending together seamlessly.

Ahead, faint torches and distant campfires blazened like beacons to civilizations glory. The gates leading into the outpost were left open, and the few souls working in the street sent her odd glares.

‘I hope they have an inn…’ Glancing in their direction, Enrei pulls her hood further over her head.

Having scant Qi naturally stored within to draw from, and no time to meditate and gather… Using Qi drawn from foods is the next best option in healing her wounds.

‘If that’ll even help…’ Enrei scratched the back of her neck, naturally, her Core is Ice and being in the Hoarfrost was like plunging into an unrefined river where she drew with each drawn breath… It failed to heal her frozen wounds. ‘Maybe they just need to thaw…’

At the center of town is the Inn, a U shape building with a tree frozen at the center of the courtyard. Banners hang across the two parts of the building, nearly frozen solid beneath the Hoarfrosts wrath. Permeating through the stonework, Eneri could smell food and hear chatting.

Inside, there is a direct hallway with two men in it trying to fix the crystallin light fixtures hanging to the walls. Most were dim with nearby candles; however, several were completely off.

“Damn lights…” The older man banged against it, “Candles aren’t working either…”

“Must be the villages if the Squall’s getting this strong…” The younger responds, attitude in his tone like venom. “Either that or Caprinoue's losin fa-”

“Ah!” A loud slap echoes as a red welt is left across his cheek, “Hell was that for?!”

“You wanna get gutted?!” The older man spoke through gritted teeth, pointing to the quieter side of the inn. “You saw the three go in there!”

“Sorry, sorry!”

To the right, voices meld together into an unrecognizable cacophony. Some were boisterous of their recent hunts and crafts. Others spoke of fairy tales, beasts like wolves with fangs of ice. The thought of going in their left Eneri with a nauseous feeling, opting instead to go with the quieter left.

A stone fireplace filled the room with warmth the shadows around it flick around lively as wood cracks. Within are several tables, most are empty with a few groups scattered around including a trio of cultivators speaking boastfully and a lone figure chatting with the barkeep.

Before she can enter, a waiter donning a suite and a civil voice stops her. “Excuse me… Ma’am…” He cleared his throat, “I don’t mean to be rude, but This room is meant for cultivators and sentinels who can… keep a fair appearance…”

Eneri forgot the color her skin had taken, and no doubt what her outfit looked like; never mind the wounds frozen on her face. Awkwardly, she avoided eye contact.

“A–Ah…” Her voice rough through a lack of use. “I..I’m sorry, I won’t stay long I… Just need warmth.”

A few patrons raised their heads, and the waiter chewed his lip.

“Alright– Come, we’ll sit you over here.”

Heading to the back corner, Eneri picked up a few whispers.

“I didn’t know they let Fire Core’s fight with the Sentinels?”

“As if they’d even let a core that weak in it… Poor thing must’ve been caught stealing in Frosthill… But look at that sword…”

Enrei kept her focus forward, her brow twitching hearing their conversation and feeling the growing number of gazes on her.

“Sshh shh I think she hears you…”

Eneri fixed her hood, and sat firmly in the padded chair… The more she fidgeted, the more she felt glares growing on her, but none more intense than the trio of cultivators wearing identical robes of dark orange and olive green, a golden chain around their neck ended with the ornament of a goat.

For a moment, Eneri met the woman's blue eyes, feeling a heinous intent behind their look.

‘They’re clothing is ugly…’

Enrei remarked, looking over the wound on her wrist. While the layer of red frost thawed, she felt a slight tingling coming back to the area, not outright pain but a recognition of the wound…

She picked at it,

‘How long is it going to take-’

Cut from her thoughts when a cup of tea is slid onto the table, the waiter grimaced, casting a dour look.

“Don’t do that here!” He whispered,

Enrei made a sheepish face, pulling down her sleeve with a dry.

“Sorry…” Raising a brow, “I… Didn’t order anything…”

He fixed his collar,

“A patron ordered this for you.”

Enrei glanced around the Inn, her first thought was the trio of cultivators, but they cast shadowed looks just like everyone else.

“Please thank them for me.”

The tea is filled with warmth, immolating her veins like oil it spread throughout her body in a relaxing wave she thought was lost. Her reminiscing cuts short as three cultivators walk up, led by the woman with icy eyes filled with focus and pride.

Instead of sitting, she placed a hand on the table and grinned.

“Good evening young lady, I couldn’t help but notice your injuries…”

“I hunted a beast outside of town.” Enrei interjected, but the cultivator insisted with one of her comrades snickering behind.

“Really? It must’ve been dangerous if a Sentinel sauntered in here with no Qi…” Tapping her fingers on the table, “I’ll tell you what, come back to my room and I’ll keep you warmer and safer then–”

“Not interested.” Enrei spoke coldly, sipping her tea.

The Cultivator tossed her dark locks off to the side with a wide smile and embellished look, bringing a hand to her chest as if to proclaim victory.

“I know, I know it’s not every day you get an offer like this from a disciple of Caprinoue but m—”

Constant snickering finally dawned on her, and the answer was made clear. Her hand curled into a fist as Qi whipped out as frozen tendrils, the pair of laughers step back, her core flaring.

“Excuse me?!” Anger filled her voice like venom, “I am a disciple of the second family, you dare deny me–”

Enrei froze like ice, instinctively reaching for her dagger… Thankfully before anything happened the cultivator on the right shook her shoulder.

“Xei calm down–!” He spoke, quickly withdrawing his hand as she turned to face him with the look of a beast, “Don’t ruin our favorite inn over some Sentinel that’s out of her element.”

“Yeah–Yeah..” The shorter one spoke, “Think of all the gems in the next town..!”

Xei growled her fist smashing into the table, leaving it as a mess of splinters as her Qi drew back into her.

Xei’s companions gave Enrei a hefty amount of side eye as she sighed with relief. For a moment, she’s having trouble deciding if the crowd's icy stares are sent toward her, or the woman and her companions who insulted a Hoarfrost Sentinel.

Allowed a few moments of peace, nearly enough to finish her tea, the waiter came over.

“Excuse me, ma’am…” He whispered, “I’m afraid you’ll need to go.”

She glanced toward with a silent nod,

The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

“Thank you for the hospitality…”

Enrei carried herself with deftness. The taiga may be erratic and hostile, she felt far, far safer here than the outpost. The quicker she got to safety, the quicker she could escape into the mist and have no need to worry about the trio.

Her core quickly dispersed and spread to join the Ice Qi, leaving a lingering presence of flame Qi leaving a trail of breadcrumbs. It’s far from ideal with an Ice Cultivator among them, but it’s better then nothing.

Through the howling wind she could scarcely make out a faint growl and the clashing of weaponry, Qi flared and dimmed.

‘Good, they’re getting ambushed…’

Behind her, the village quickly became a blip to the mix of white out and darkness where the tall trees cast long shadows flickering and writhing as if ready to lunge. Tricks of the mind from exhaust and having rest teased in front of her.

Continuing to run Enrei’s senses fiercely screamed of a dawning predator all around. On reflex, she pivoted and drew Royan; her sudden motion just enough to evade an arrowhead made of ice shooting through the Hoarfrost.

“For a Flame cultivator you hide in Cold well, dodge it even better…”

Xei sauntered from the Hoarfrost’s cover like a ghost, her chest proud and a wry grin across her lips a sword in one hand. “Especially for someone in the Qi realm.”

Not a second to waste, Enrei fired only for a panel of ice to block the exploding arrow. Ready to retreat, the Sentinel readied to run only for Xei to click her tongue.

“You know that won’t work.”

Xei’s grin grew, sporadically arrowheads of ice formed around Enrei,

“Unlike those loathsome beasts you call a challenge… I can use my senses and technique!”

Arrows closed in like ravenous beasts, despite their remarkable speed she managed to dodge a few.

“Ehhnn–!” Enrei chokes down a whine, three heads dug into her right calve and another into her foot, forcing her into the snow she quickly turns to face Xei but before she could stand manacles of Ice bind raise from the snow and bind her legs.

The single step Xei took closed the distance in a flash,

“Hmph, you sure are impressive for…” She mused, scanning over Enrei she watched as her wounds froze over… “Not a fire cultivator..?”

With Xei leaned closer, Enrei grasped for a distraction.

“Wh–Where are your… Companions...?” She spoke through raspy breaths.

Xei shrugged, looking off to the side “Those lower caste cowards?” She snorts, looking over her shoulder. “They got scared over some beast.”

In the brief moment, Enrei grasped for her dagger only for Xei to stab into her hand and pull it away, tossing the dagger off to the side.

“Tchtch, we can’t be having that…” Xei shook her head, stomping onto the Sentinels stomach, a manacle of ice formed, binding her wrists to the earth.

“It’s a shame I need to do this to someone like you…”

Her eye’s scanned over Enrei who writhed over in agony.

“Just think, if you weren’t defiant!”

She stomped again,

“You could’ve decorated my room, instead you’ll be going!”

She stomped again,

“To that pig of a grand elder!”

A final stomp earned a gasp from Enrei as Xei vented the rest of her frustration.

From the beating, Enrei plunged into a momentary darkness. Her body twitched and writhed as if she’d been electrocuted. Wind, Ice and Fire Qi came alive within her as a violent torent hellbent on ripping her apart and consuming everything. It failed to do.

Drawing a breath, though blurry her vision came back

“What the hell are you?! You sure as hell aren’t fi–”

Xei is cut off with a silencing whimper and a series of mumbles, her sword hit the earth like a pillow. Once Enrei’s core calmed down, her vision cleared. The icy blood running through her froze.

Above, velvets of shadow and darkness intertwine and grapple Xei out from the canopies of trees and the furthest reaches of the Hoarfrost. Fright paints her once proud face, ceaselessly writhing like a bug caught in a spider's web, knowing it's the end but using every last instinct to break free from the inescapable.

“Pl–Plea—”

Each binding twists and turns, contorting the woman as if she were a toy. Lifeless, her limp falls to the earth with less grace than a rock. Shadows creep back into their recesses.

Desperate and heaving, Eneri struggled against the icy binds refusing to break. Her sight cast around, in a blink, the figure of a man wearing jet black clothing shoots her a smile… In another blink, shadows shift and contorts around his forming shaving about a foot off of him.

Where a man once stood, a woman donning a black cloak and scarf wrapped around her neck, she wears a gi beneath with pants that are tighter around the calve and loosen the further up with a conical hat strung around her back, allowing her short cut white and black hair to flow freely. On Top of that, a large and fluffy squirrel tail curls vack behind with a swirl going around the sides.

“Man, they did a number on you…” She scratched the back of her head, drawing a skewer like sword from beneath her cloak. “Sorry it took me a while to come, some beasts were running to the outpost..”

The woman stepped forward, and in a flash the binds were cut allowing Enrei to shoot up with a low croak, she offered a hand.

“Can you stand? Do you have somewhere to stay?” She continued, “Not here obviously, Sentinel or not they’d run you out or run you through once they find out these three are dead.”

“W–Who are you?”

The Squirrel girl sported a grin, “I’m Squuyu, and you are?”

“E…Enrei.” The rabbit gave her a grateful, albeit distant look

“Pleasure to meet you. You look like you're at death's door.” She reached into her pocket, pulling out a pill. “Have this, it should help a little bit.”

Enrei nearly fumbled the pill, quickly swallowing the pill. If it’s poison, she could just cycle it. “Thank you…” She managed to get out, “Why.. .Why did you help me..?”

“Hm, hm?” Squuyu raised a brow, “Let’s take a seat, it’s not a long story but I don’t want you to fall over and hit your head on something, the pills good, but its not that good… Aaand…”

The squirrel points at Enrei, “You asked a question first, so I get to ask mine, kay?”

Enrei nods.

“Kay.” Squuyu clears her throat, “How’d you get to looking like that? I know the hand and stomach were from Xei. Everything else you walked into the Inn with…”

“Barbarians…” Enrei hissed, “They… Attacked my village…”

“Oh?” Squuyu raised a brow, “And where are they now..?”

“Dead.”

“Who did that? Did you get a name on them?”

There’s a slight pause, “The Asarge… And me…”

“Huh.” Squuyu scratched the top of her head, “That makes this easier then, shame I can’t claim the credit.”

“Makes coming out here a bust.” Squuyu sighs, leaning her head. “Word of advice? If you’re going to be dressing up as a Sentinel and walking with that sword, wrap it up a bit.”

“I–I’m not dressing up; I am a sentinel.” Enrei defended.

“With a core that weak?” She seemed generally surprised, then chuckled, shaking her head. “Sorry, I didn’t mean anything like that.”

Enrei nodded, feeling her shoulders relax with a soft, albeit raspy chuckle. “I… Was a special case, I just hid in winter and struck out with Royan.”

“Aaaah, so that’s why they were having trouble finding you? Clever.”

“Thank you.” Enrei’s lips perked into a smile as she leaned back, there’s a moment of silence.

“Why… Why did you kill them they were from…”

“House Caprinoue?” Squuyu placed a finger on her chin, “Well, I was contracted to hunt the barbarians and a few disciples lurking around here.”

“They’ve allowed the barbarians to grow bold…” She states plainly. “And some people don’t like that.”

“A…Ah…”

A few moments pass in silence before Squuyu chimes in.

“So… Eneri, what do’ya like?” She snickers, “Despite scorching hot tea and walking into places looking like a corpse.”

Enrei awkwardly chuckles, “Ah… Well…” She squeezed the chibi’s of her family, “I… Like stuffed animals and… Hunting.”

“Huh, that’s cute.”

“What… What do you like..?”

“Hmmm…” Squuyu rubbed her chin, “Well…”

As time went by, the pair talked about everything under the sun. Eneri didn’t remember half of it, after everything the conversation relaxed her mind. She may have only been a few days since she last spoke with someone, laughed with someone but… Those few days felt like an eternity.

What she did remember was, Squuyu loved weapons, flowers, fashion and above all things, frogs. The story behind which she’ll tell another time. Oh! She also likes saving girls in danger.

As night turned to dusk, and the sun stained the horizon through the thinning squall of the Hoarfrost their conversation came to an end.

“Aaaand, that’s how I got this scar.” Squuyu pointed to one just above her ankle, “Not my proudest moment.”

“In chicken wire?”

“Mhm, the bastard left a trap.” She chuckled, sighing, “Good times.” Looking to the sun rising, her whiskers twitch.

“It’s been fun, Eneri but… I have to get going.”

Eneri chewed her lip, pausing for a moment. “I–I understand… Thank you, Squuyu.”

Squuyu stood with a stretch, including her bushy tail.

“Say… What do you plan on doing after this?”

Eneri paused, “I–I’m going to Shanyang.” She states, gripping the three chibis. “I—If the Asarge and House Caprinoue work together then… Then that’s the next best lead I have on where they went.”

“Their names..?”

“Imiyo, Miyo and Aminae.”

Squuyu nods, “Thank you, I’ll put a word in at my village…” There’s a pause, “Eneri… I… Need to ask you something… Don’t go to Shanyang.”

Eneri choked the words in her throat.

“You couldn’t hold your own against a disciple of the Roaming Comet Realm… They have thousands of men and women just like her, never mind those stronger and mortal disciples…”

Squuyu let her words sink deep, till it was visible on Eneri’s face as a mixture of anger and regret.

“If you go there as you are now, you’ll die.” She states, "And you can't help them if your dead."

The pair fall silent, wind howling in their ears.

“I know it won’t help you now but…” Squuyu reached into her pocket, pulling out a sealed letter. “When you achieve a high enough rank, this’ll open and contact one of our members, we’ll come get you, and then we’ll work together.

“Can—Can I go with you now if—”

“I’m sorry, Eneri I can’t… As you are now, our grand master would give you a mission as a decoy and lead you to your death… I… Can’t live with that on my conscience.”

Enrei went quiet again, looking up.

“I–I understand.”

Squuyu sent her a passing smile as she stepped back,

“Thank you, I promise… I’ll convince our Shanyang branch to keep ears out for the three of them.” With a two-finger salute, Squuyu nods, “I’ll see you around, Rabbit.” With the salute and a step back as if she tripped, her form completely unravels into shadow a like a sweater, black strands spread into dark recesses of trees and canopies… Leaving Eneri alone.

“Thank you…” She spoke to herself, clutching the three plushies till her gray and blue hand turned white…

Enrei began walking. Walking in the direction she believed to be Shanyang, or the next outpost. She could spend years hunting all manner of beasts, chasing rumors for anything to give her more power but… Without proper training, she couldn’t clasp that power.

The only question is who to ask… Where to go… She chewed her lip, and heard a distant whistle carried over the wind and Eneri found her answer. Guidance had already been offered, all she needed to do was make an offering.