I don’t have time to think just move as I put on layers of clothes then boots then coat and gone. I find snowshoes and poles and make a plan as I burst out into the winter winds. If I trek down along the ridge to the treeline, then I can drop into the trees and move quicker. The forest is dense and the snow is not as deep there.

It will likely take me over an hour to get anywhere close to Remme, but if I continue to follow the trees down further into the vale, I can try to stop the army from advancing. Or at least slow their advance so it is less of a surprise.

All of this being a horrible risk for an avalanche with this face of the mountain being steep. If I took the path Remme took along the face, it would be less risky but I’d be exposed to sight and probably make this whole situation worse. The alps can not know I am here.

From the location where the alp kings and Remme are meeting, he will likely not see the advancing army until less than a quarter mile away. They almost must be shielded in some way for Remme to not be aware of all the magic beings behind the mountain. Or maybe he is aware and reckless. Irrational. Just like me, climbing down to certain death with no plan. Alas, even a stone heart bleeds.

As I descend into the trees I can see the collection of shadows coming around the backside of the mountain. Slowly, the moving darkness gets bigger and bigger. Fear rushes over me as I can see what happens to be hundreds of alps.

Remme must be irrational to confront this, especially if there is no imminent threat if he stays in his manor. Or maybe, this is why the council fears him.

I make it to the lowest point of the forest right as the army approaches the pass, not yet into view of Remme. I scramble up a tree, an older one with thick branches, and find myself a hidden shelf to perch on. This will only work if they do not know where I am located. I play a little with the wind and swirl it around the trees, creating a small snow squall south of me.

Once I am content it appears the squall is coming from further down the valley, closer to the creek, I wait. The army is waiting too, waiting for a signal from their leaders it appears.

I can see Remme better now and he appears tired of the conversation - arms crossed and slightly turned away from the kings, who seem to be arguing amongst themselves. Remme is scanning the mountain, likely ensuring no hidden attackers are waiting.

The snow squall I created gets his attention. His posture stiffens as his head turns to directly where I am. I am so glad I am in this tree, so far from his burning fury. I don’t dare move to give away my position to the army below. I let the squall subside and blow some ice crystals towards the pass, enough to catch the sun and Remme’s eyes. He looks towards it and back to me, nodding.

The midday sun and tension in the moment are making me sweat. I look for any sign from Remme. Hope that he has a plan or the foresight to back down and get away before this gets worse. Either would be fine.

If we make it through this.. But I don’t complete the thought as I see the front line of the alps move.

I let my squall grow and add to it shards of ice. It's a swirling, glittering weapon which meets the alps from behind as they pour out from the pass. As they exit the pass they turn north towards the kings and Remme, hardly aware of my ice as it assaults them from behind. Bodies fall and blood starts to stain the snow at the pass.

If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

The army halts and shields themselves from the ice behind rocks. A line of shielded alps march south into the ice protecting archers who let arrows fly into the squall. I have to focus on my ice and storm, unable to figure out what has become of Remme aside from hearing the sound of metal in conflict.

I am unsure how long I will be able to keep up or how long it will take for the alps to find my true location. I can see some of the army are shielding themselves and still marching north. I try to increase my storm but I’m exhausted already. I let the squall move north towards the pass and block any further alps from making it though.

I am burning but frozen. This is more than I have ever done and I feel my storm weakening. I’m afraid I’ll either fall out of the tree unconscious if I continue or burn myself out. My insides are molten but my skin is ice. The sweat running down me freezes within seconds. I am also losing focus but I can’t stop. I won’t let myself stop.

My vision is full of ice and blood, surrounded by the green of pine in the periphery. I can’t discern figures anymore, just large patches of color. I can’t see the army but the shadows in the gap between mountains seem to be dissipating.

A cool breeze blows against my neck. A relief from the heat. It is so hot.

The breeze again, this time a bit colder. A bit of frost, then a swirl of snow. My vision is blurry but I can see a snowstorm surrounding me, pulling on me.

I come back to reality as I let my storm subside. Chuta. The army is advancing, though diminished. I can’t see Remme or the kings but there is a large snowstorm in the middle of the valley where they were moments ago. I scramble down the tree and attach the snowshoes again. We have got to get out of here now.

I let Remme wrap me in the small snowstorm he created and move as quickly as I can towards him; the storm lifts me so I’m practically gliding across the snow. This is the absolute worst idea but maybe I can convince him to leave.

I weave around the army and practically crash into Remme as he brings me into his storm center.

“We have to leave now. I’m unable to do anything more and there is a whole army behind that pass.” I grab him from behind and try to back him towards his sled. I can see now he has some of the alp kings frozen in place, the others lay gutted in the snow. I turn my head from the grotesque scene.

“I've never been happier to see an ice storm.” He smiles at me but I can see he is in pain.

“You can hold the compliments until we survive this.”

We back towards his sled once he is confident the kings are no longer a threat. We get in just in time to distance ourselves from the approaching army.

“I don’t know how long I can do this.” I murmur as I create a storm of ice to cover us as he lets his snow subside. My vision is already fading as he drives us away. I feel as if I am swimming, floating, in snow and ice.

“Hold my hand. Focus on the reality of my hand.” I do what he says without question. His hand is the only thing keeping me from drifting away into the storm. His hand is becoming so cold, I must be freezing it.

I’m losing my focus. Think of the mountain. We are grounded to the mountain. Until an avalanche takes us away. Even my thoughts are worthless swirls now.

“We have to make an avalanche.” My words tumble over themselves.

Remme laughs mightily at this as if it is some dirty joke.

“As we get up to the top of this crest, let's use it to our advantage to keep them from advancing further.”

I can no longer make ice. I let my storm settle in the valley below and drop. I let my eyes drop and all I have is Remme’s ice cold hand. I can feel the mountain groan and rumble then the horrible sound of crack and thunder, thunder and rushing so loud, then silence.