IF I WAIT any longer, there's no chance Jovanna will make it.

Outside, the storm reaches another crescendo, the winds alone pelting against the cellar windows with a ferocity that threatens to shatter them all. Trembling, I stand up, my heart pounding in my chest. Each breath I take is shaky, but the feeling in my stomach is undeniable.

She's still out there, and I have to find her.

For a quiet moment, I am stricken with grief. Does Aunt Elora have anyone who would be able to reach her in time? Has she taken to putting on my father's snow leopard pelt for warmth? She'd be with Solaris, I know that at the very least, preserving warmth together, if the cold hadn't gotten her yet. I reach for a thick blanket, wrapping it around my shoulders before I pass the huddled villagers, towards the stairs, and I hear their voices rise in unison, their shouts carrying through the air as they realize.

"Kaia, stop. Wait! Don't let her leave, her head- she still needs-" Eustace yells after me, pausing from treating Circe, but it's too late.

I burst through the door and I'm back into the chaos of the storm.

The first thing that strikes me is the sound. The howling wind, the snapping of branches, the thunder booming so loudly it makes my ears ache. As painful as it as, I can steel myself against it, but there is nothing I can do to keep my thoughts from Aunt Elora. The air is bitterly cold, whipping my clothes against my skin like needles. I can barely stand against the force of it.

"Jovanna!" I scream into the wind, my voice almost entirely lost.

My eyes begin to adjust to the darkness, searching every shape and silhouette for a glimpse of her. That red hair I'm so sure even now I'd still be able to spot. I call out her name again and again, each time my voice fainter than the last. The storm seems to mock me, drowning out my cries.

So I go out further.

As I stumble through, I work my way over to the other side of the square, where the crumbling remains of the once- proud church now lie. This would be the building she'd have been closest to. I veer towards the side, thinking that Jovanna might have taken shelter there.

My hands shake, clutching at my tattered dress and blanket as the fabric nearly rips from me, as if dragging me deeper into the heart of the storm. The wind comes like a relentless beast with a ferocity that steals the breath from my lungs. There's no rain, just the raw force of nature, tearing through everything in its path. The thickness of the blanket wrapped around me feels paper thin in the icy fingers of the storm.

And then, in an instant, it changes. The biting cold that follows is unexpected, like a wall of ice shards. Just as suddenly as it began, the wind carries something else - something soft, something delicate.

Snow.

I've never seen it before, never felt its touch. But there it is, falling from the sky in a flurry of white. I only recognize it from my father's stories, pictures I've seen in books, paintings of worlds far removed from our tropical sea fishing coast. For a moment, I forget about the storm raging around me, lost in the wonder of this unexpected gift from the sky. But the spell is broken as a sudden gust of wind whips through the square, driving the snow sideways and stinging my face with its icy bite.

I blink against the cold, and press forward.

As the snow falls, it quickly begins to cover the ground in a pristine blanket of white. My eyes scan the area frantically, searching for any sign of movement or a flash of red hair. The church looms ahead, its ancient stones a stark contrast against the white of the flakes raining down. It would be just mere minutes, and any bodies left outside would be buried.

My legs burn with the effort to push through as the snow piling up at a pace that could threaten to swallow me whole. With each step, my sandals sink into the snow, sending shivers coursing through my frozen feet. Never before have I felt such intense coldness, the icy grip of winter seeping into my bones and chilling me to the core. I recall a word my father used in stories of when he was tracking the Daenara.

A blizzard.

And then, through the thick veil of falling snow, I see it.

A flash of red hair, barely visible against the white landscape.

My breath catches in my throat as I lurch forward, each step heavier than the last. The cold seeps into my bones, but I ignore it, driven by the sole purpose of reaching her. As I draw closer, my eyes widen in horror. Jovanna lies motionless on the ground, her body partially covered by the rapidly accumulating snow, trapped under a pile of debris. Panic surges through me as I drop to my knees beside her, brushing off the snow to reveal her pale face.

Her skin is cold to the touch, her breathing shallow and labored. Panic rises within me, threatening to consume me whole. I gently shake her, calling out her name in a desperate attempt to rouse her from unconsciousness.

"Jovanna, please," I plead.

Tears mix with the falling snow as I cradle her in my arms, trying to shield her from the biting wind.

The storm rages on around us, uncaring and relentless.

Her eyelids flutter slightly, a sign of life amidst the desolation of the storm, but her body stays limp. I stand and begin to attempt to lift the debris, my muscles screaming in protest, straining against the weight as I try to clear the wreckage trapping Jovanna. Each breath feels so cold it's become a burning fire in my lungs, but I refuse to give up. Even with a final burst of adrenaline-fueled strength, I still can't manage to shift the largest piece of rubble off her.

My heartbeat pounds in my ears, a constant reminder that time is running out.

Then suddenly, a shadow falls over us, casting an eerie glow in the blizzard. My heart skips a beat as I look up, expecting to see another piece of the crumbling building about to collapse on us.

Instead, standing before me with fur the color of molten gold and eyes that shimmer like precious gems, is Solaris.

"Ha!" An exclamation of joy leaves my mouth at the sight.

Her breath steams in the icy air as she lowers her head, nudging Jovanna's still form with a gentle touch of her nose. Her antlers seem to glow against the white landscape, emitting a faint warmth that melts the snow around them like magic. With a powerful thrust, Solaris pushes against the debris, her strength undeniable as she lifts it effortlessly.

Stolen story; please report.

Solaris kneels down, her massive form creating a protective barrier against the howling winds. The pelt of the Daenara, draped over her majestic body, glistens in the ethereal lightning filtering through the storm clouds above. Its a striking garment, with silver-white spots that seem to shimmer with an inner glow. The headdress adorned with the Daenara's icy blue eyes stares at me with an otherworldly intelligence, the merciless gaze of a true predator.

My throat closes when I realize why Solaris is here.

Who else could have put the pelt on Solaris and sent her out again to the village to find me?

Who else would sacrifice their only heat, in the worry I might need it?

The idea that Aunt Elora might already be dead, chills me more than the storm ever could. Despite the ache of my wound still throbbing, I violently shake my head at the idea just to get it out.

Solaris's fur is a welcomed warmth beneath my trembling hands as I strain to lift and settle Jovanna onto Solari's back, her body cradled in the curve of Solaris's powerful neck. I climb on behind Jovanna, wrapping my arms tightly around her to keep her secure. Her body is limp against the massive doe, Joanna's red hair a stark contrast against the glow of Solaris's fur.

I take off my blanket and wrap it around Jovanna instead, and then wrap the Daenara pelt around my shoulders, where it is large enough to cover us both.

Solaris rises smoothly to her feet, her hoofbeats muffled by the newly fallen snow. With a graceful movement, she lurches forward, her powerful legs foraging a path through the swirling white landscape. The wind howls, but Solaris remains steady and sure-footed, her golden eyes scanning the path ahead with unwavering focus.

I cling to her fur, feeling the warmth radiating from her body seep into my bones, thawing the icy fingers of fear that had gripped me moments before. Jovanna's skin against my own makes my teeth chatter.

With each step Solaris takes, the snow beneath her hooves glows faintly, leaving a trail of warmth in our wake. As we move, the headdress shifts slightly, and I can almost sense the Daenara's spirit still residing within it. As if the eyes are still vigilant, scanning the surroundings for signs of both danger and opportunity. Their frozen depths seeming to hold secrets of the wild, stories of moonlit hunts and silent footsteps through the snowy expanse. And then, in a blinding flash of lightning, everything changes. Solaris rears up, a powerful surge of energy coursing through the air. I'm thrown off balance, my grip slipping, my senses reeling. But in that split second of illumination, amidst the chaos and the storm, I think I see something - someone - by the water's edge.

A man, standing tall and defiant, his form outlined against the crashing waves and the roiling sky. He seems out of place, a solitary figure in the midst of the storm. But as quickly as he appeared, he's gone, swallowed up by the darkness once more. Was he real, or just a trick of the light? I can't be sure.

Something about him lingers in my mind, the flash so violent I blink to his silhouette against my eyelids. Could it have my father?

My grip on Solaris' fur is unwavering as she lands back on her front feet and continues racing.

As we near Circe's family's shop, I can see the faint glow of lantern light spilling from the cellar windows. Relief floods through me at the thought of reaching shelter, of knowing that Jovanna will soon be safe and warm. Solaris quickens her pace, sensing our proximity to our destination.

We finally reach the back entrance to the cellar, a large and heavy rounded wooden door partially buried under a mound of snow. With a powerful nudge from Solaris, the door swings open, revealing the warm glow of firelight. The villagers rush forward, their faces etched with concern and compassion. It's shut behind us, but not before a gust slips in, sending snow scattering across the ground by the door.

They immediately spring into action, helping us dismount Solaris and carrying Jovanna to a makeshift bed by the crackling fireplace.

The cellar is only just big enough to hold the monumental Solaris, but she does need to duck as she enters, awkwardly shifting to her head to fit in the twisting expanse of her golden antlers.

Eustace helps me to sit, handing me a glass with water, and wrapping a blanket around me before rushing to Jovanna. There is nothing else that I can do for her, but I can't help as my chilled fingers twitch beneath the warm fabric for her as they come back to life.

Quickly, Solaris finds herself tucked into a corner.

The few children and some adults, familiar with the being as my father's loyal companion, excitedly welcome huddling into her fur for warmth.

I move closer to Jovanna's side, her face pale against the sea of blankets that cocoon her fragile form. The villagers work frantically, doing everything in their power to bring back color to her cheeks and warmth to her limbs.

Watching as Jovanna is carefully tended to, blankets piled high on top of her still form, I can't help but notice the gaze of others drifting upwards, to meet the Daenara's instead of my own. I can feel the weight of their thoughts pressing down on me, a mix of curiosity and awe for the ancient divine spirit in the headdress. It's as if the eyes of the Daenara are not just watching over us, but judging our actions, silently assessing the intentions of each villager bustling around in a flurry of activity.

Amidst the chaos, my mind keeps drifting back to the man I saw by the water's edge. Was it a figment of my imagination, a trick of the storm? Who else could have been so close to the ocean except for my father?

With Jovanna's condition stabilizing, I slip back to the side door of the cellar, where our bursting entrance has left one of the windows unburied beneath snow, which must be over two feet tall now. The windowpane is etched over with a detailed lacing of white that I don't have a name for, but melts against my finger prints as I study it. I brush aside the curtains that obscure the window, peering out into the night beyond. The storm still rages, the wind howling like a banshee and sending flurries of snow dancing in the air. The village is shrouded in an eerie darkness, broken only by sporadic flashes of lightning that illuminate the landscape in stark relief.

And then, just for an instant, I see him again. The mysterious figure by the water's edge, his silhouette cast against the tumultuous sea. He's roughly the height of my father, with the muscular build to match.

And then I realize it doesn't matter if it's my father or not. There's a man out there who needs help, and with Solaris and the Daenara pelt, I might have time for one more rescue. Another 20 minutes of snow like this, and we'd be shut in completely. Who knows how long the storm will take to stop, if ever? Would the snow landing right now ever melt?

"You need to lie down," Eustace appears next to me suddenly, wiping his hands. "Circe has only just now been made stable. You've been bleeding from your head, and I have not had the proper time to dress it."

I shake my head in defiance, eyes gleaming as I turn back towards the window. "I think my father's still out there."

"Then allow someone older to handle it, Kaia," He snaps, his concern evident in the furrow of his brow. But the volume he's used has made Solaris stand.

Solaris's sudden movement startles Eustace, who takes a step back in surprise.

"You'll never make it on foot, and I am the only one who can ride Solaris. She will not leave my side, even if I asked her too." I shoot back.

Eustace hesitates, torn between his concern for me and the urgency of the situation outside. He knows that my stubbornness runs deep, like my father. He can not stop me.

Solaris kneels. She understands enough to know he must be out there.

I swing myself onto her back without a second thought, feeling her powerful muscles tense beneath me. Without hesitation, I urge her towards the door, the weight of Eustace's warning lingering at the edge of my thoughts. The storm lashes against us as we burst through the blinding wall of snow and the door slams behind us in finality. The howling wind nearly silences my own thoughts. The pure volume leaves a harsh ringing that bounces between my ears. The frigid air bites at my cheeks, but I press on, clinging tightly to Solaris's thick mane as she gallops through the snowy landscape.

The snow swirls around us in a frenzy, obscuring my vision and forcing me to rely solely on Solaris's instincts to navigate through the relentless storm.

Each stride of her powerful legs propels us forward, closer to the figure by the water's edge. She is legendary for her speed, and now I experience it for myself. Without reason, I suddenly become increasingly aware of the weight of the pelt, the heaviness of it on my shoulders and crown.

There is something familiar about the way the figure stands, something that tugs at the edges of my memory. There is no one who reaches the same height as my father in our village, no one else with his unmistakable presence.

It has to be him.

Solaris charges forward, her hooves pounding against the frozen ground. I am so close to where the lightning has been striking, all I can smell is the singed air and feel the voltage strong enough to vibrate in my teeth.

In another flash of lightning, I catch a glimpse of his profile illuminated.

And it's not my father.