[Nivalis Silverfrost]
It has been two weeks since their encounter with those two adventurers. This small family has been traveling north this whole ti to ensure they aren't being followed anymore. Luckily, there have been no signs of any pursuers so far.
Silvia gradually returned to normalcy after what they had been through. Nivalis watched as her daughter beca more and more cheerful with each passing day, smiles returning to her face, laughter ringing from her lips once more. Her voice, which was once quiet and trembled like a leaf, now rang clear and true, sounding like a bell every ti she spoke to her little brother. Once pale from not eating well, her face was now filled with color, her cheeks rosy from the cold. It was a relief to see her daughter slowly recovering from the trauma that had scarred her so deeply.
As the nights fell, however, Silvia still had terrible nightmares. Nivalis often woke up to the sound of her daughter's screams, her little body shaking in her sleep. Her face was drenched in sweat, her chest heaving as she fought for air. Nivalis would gather her daughter in her arms and cradle her, whispering soothing words until she cald down and fell back asleep.
The only thing that helped Silvia was sleeping with her mother... completely naked. Nivalis had no explanation for it, but whenever Silvia would wrap her arms around her naked body, she finally got so proper rest without screaming or crying in her sleep. It was strange but effective, and Nivalis didn't question it. So, eventually, they developed the new routine of sleeping naked together, skin to skin, warming each other with their body heat.
Silvia also nursed regularly due to easy access to her mother's breasts. Having her mother's nipple on her tongue gave her comfort and allowed her to drift into a peaceful slumber without any problem. Even Nivalis slept better when her children drank her milk throughout the night. It was strange, but it worked. And Nivalis didn't want to lose that.
Nivalis couldn't help but notice the changes in her body as she gazed down at herself, seeing how her breasts had grown even larger, stretching the fabric of her clothing to its limit. She even had to modify her clothes to make them looser; luckily, she was good at sewing. Maybe it was due to the stress and exhaustion she had been experiencing lately, but she started to produce so much milk that her nipples had beco almost constantly engorged, hard, and sensitive. The constant pressure of the liquid inside and the friction of her clothes against her nipples had caused her milk to flow freely, dripping down her body and staining her clothes. As a result, she had to rely on Silvia's help more than ever. She had to ask Silvia to nurse at every chance she could, even during the day, only to relieve the pain. And it was the only way for her to stop leaking all over the place, causing Nivalis great discomfort.
Silvia was more than happy to oblige. She would latch on her mother's nipples every ti they stopped for a quick rest. Aster was never far behind, greedily sucking away at the other breast simultaneously. Both of them drained her mother's nipples, relieving the pressure on her breasts. But because of the constant stimulation, her breasts swelled painfully, so they needed to be massaged thoroughly after each feeding. Otherwise, they would have hurt beyond her limits. So, Nivalis was in an endless cycle of nursing, massaging her breasts, and then again nursing.
As strange as it sounds, It felt like a natural part of their lives now.
...
The following morning, as usual, her steps were heavy and sluggish as she pulled the sa old sled. She was covered in sweat, her pale skin flushed red from exertion, her long silver hair plastered to her face. It was her usual state now — a constant battle against fatigue as she struggled to keep going. Despite feeling sore, tired, and cold, she couldn't bring herself to give up.
Although they were in the middle of nowhere, away from civilization, it looked like they had managed to escape Haldor's grasp, and Nivalis felt like she could finally breathe freely. Two whole weeks of freedom. This thought gave her the strength to keep pushing forward despite her exhaustion. Today, she decided it was ti for them to head east once again instead of further north, where nothing but vastness and dangerous frozen tundras awaited them.
As they ventured east, just a few hours later, a strange forest ca into view, blocking their path. An ancient place, a forest was so thick and dark that it seed to swallow up all light. Its towering trees cast eerie shadows that whispered secrets of tis long past as if calling to her, luring Nivalis into its depths. And the terrifying silence, the kind that made her heart race in her chest. A stark contrast to the pine forest they've been through. This one felt alive, as if sothing evil lurked within its depths.
"I don't like this place," Silvia comnted quietly. She was sitting at the front of the sled, holding her younger brother Aster in her lap.
— " neither, sweetie," Nivalis admitted truthfully. "Let's try to walk around it," she said with a smile.
"Okay," Silvia nodded in response.
Sensing potential danger, Nivalis decided to avoid entering the forest and planned to go around it, a choice that seed wise considering the unknown threats within.
But unfortunately, Nivalis soon found that there was no way to avoid the forest. It stretched far and wide, seemingly unending. They traveled for three whole days, trying to find a way around it, only to realize that the forest was simply too large as if stretched out forever. Nivalis cursed silently in frustration. There was no other choice — they couldn't simply turn around and head back the way they ca.
— "Let's go in," Nivalis said, sighing.
"Is it really fine?" Silvia asked as she looked up at her mother. Her petite fra was hunched over as she hugged her baby brother in her arms tightly, protecting him from the cold wind blowing through the trees. Her silvery-white hair flew wildly around her face, dancing in the wind like a thousand silver strands of silk.
— "I think it's fine, sweetheart," Nivalis reassured her daughter calmly, looking ahead.
"I don't want to go there..." Silvia shivered visibly at the sight of the scary forest in front of them.
She reached out, her fingers gently brushing Silvia's soft cheek, stroking it tenderly.— "We don't have a choice, sweetheart. We'll be alright, I promise. All we need is to be really quiet there, alright?"
"Okay," Silvia nodded in response. "I'll be quiet," she whispered under her breath. She tightened her hold on her little brother even more.
Nivalis nodded in response, the corners of her lips curling upwards into a faint smile, trying to reassure her daughter as best as she could.— "It'll be fine, sweetie. Trust ." Nivalis replied softly, kissing her daughter's forehead.
"Alright..." Silvia answered timidly. She glanced nervously at the dark woods.
Nivalis took a deep breath and stepped forward. She entered the forest with her daughter and son behind her in the sled she pulled. The atmosphere around them imdiately changed drastically. The air felt heavy and oppressive. Trees were much taller and thicker, their gnarled branches reaching up towards the sky, blocking most of the sunlight. It was strangely silent, so much so that Nivalis could hear every little sound made by their footsteps echoing through the forest.
Suddenly, the creature let out a high-pitched shriek that sent shivers down Nivalis's spine, causing goosebumps all over her skin. Silvia whimpered in fear, clinging to her mother desperately as she buried her face into Nivalis' bosom, her hot tears falling from her cheeks. Yet, she tried to remain utterly still and quiet, not giving away a single sob, obediently following her mother's instructions. Aster, too, stayed silent in her mother's embrace. Nivalis' heart raced as she watched in sheer terror, unable to move a muscle, her instincts screaming at her to run while the creature got closer and closer to the sled.
The creature slowly approached the sled, its body shuddering and shaking as if gliding over the ground, its movents almost srizing to watch. It stopped before the sled, sniffing the air, tasting it. Slowly, it lowered its massive body, looking down at the sled. The body shifted from side to side repeatedly, staring intently at the unfamiliar object before it, studying closely.
Nivalis held her breath, praying silently as she watched the creature inspecting their possessions, unable to move her eyes away, willing this nightmare to be just that — a bad dream they could wake up from with a startle. Suddenly, the creature rose, lifting the sled high in the air. It held the sled in its jaws, shaking it roughly like a dog with a bone and chewing on it. The creature snarled a horrible, guttural sound that echoed through the forest.
Nivalis watched in horror as the creature tore their belongings, ripping and shredding their possessions. "No... No, no, no!" Nivalis's thoughts scread desperately in her head, panic rising within her. But she kept herself quiet, still, frozen in place. She could feel Silvia's fra trembling violently with terror. Nivalis used gentle gestures to comfort her daughter as silently as possible.
The winter wind seed to hold its breath as the creature turned around sharply, facing in their direction. This little movent was enough for him to beco alert. The glow in its eyes intensified as it studied its surroundings, scanning for any sign of a living creature. The sled was now on the ground, forgotten by the beast. It took a step forward, then another, each one bringing it closer to Nivalis.
And then...
A bone-chilling howl rang out from sowhere deep in the forest. The sound pierced through the silence, sending another wave of goosebumps up Nivalis's spine. She recognized the sound imdiately — as if a wolf howling at the moon, but much more ominous than normal.
The creature stopped abruptly, its eyes darting wildly around, trying to locate the source of the sound. It let out a low growl, almost a warning as if challenging the newcor. Nivalis's heart thundered in her chest. She waited, not daring to breathe. Suddenly, the creature turned away from them and darted straight towards the sound. And with frightening speed, completely disappearing back into the darkness.
Nivalis let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding as she watched the creature retreat into the forest. She stayed where she was, not daring to move. The wind whipped past her face, causing her long, silver hair to flutter in the breeze. Her breath was visible as she exhaled heavily, and the sweat on her brow cooled quickly. Nivalis only now felt her nails digging into her palms. She felt the sting of pain as she slowly released her fists.
Ti seed to have slowed to a crawl. It felt like they had been sitting there for hours, but it was only a few minutes. Silvia and Aster were right in her arms, their eyes still closed tight. Nivalis finally gathered her strength and managed to break free from her fear-induced paralysis. She gently touched Silvia's face and brushed aside the silver strands of hair covering her beautiful features.— "Silvia..."
Silvia lifted her tear-streaked face from Nivalis's shoulder, her wet, golden eyes eting Nivalis'.
— "Are you alright, my love?" Nivalis whispered, her gaze fixed on Silvia.
Silvia nodded, tears still streaming down her face. Nivalis gently wiped away the tears with her thumb as she cradled her daughter close. Silvia clung to her desperately, trembling uncontrollably as she sobbed softly into her mother's chest. Nivalis held Silvia close, trying to calm her down, but she couldn't continue holding her own tears.
— "Let's get away from this place," she said softly as she rose up, trying to hide tears from her daughter. She listened attentively for any unusual sounds or signs of danger but didn't hear anything. "Don't worry, sweetie. It's gone now," she murmured reassuringly.
It took them so great courage as they returned to the sled. Nivalis sighed and shook her head sadly at the sight before her. Everything was destroyed. The blankets they slept on every night were ripped apart. Food was scattered all over the place, trampled by the feet of that beast. Most of their possessions were missing, probably eaten by the monster. The sled itself was broken beyond repair, with only a few wooden planks remaining intact.
Despair. Nivalis felt completely hopeless. She bit her lower lip. Nivalis was desperate and angry. She wanted to curse, to scream, to run after the creature that destroyed their lives and ruin it. But she knew that if she did that, she would get her head bitten off. So, she fought back her tears and began to collect every little item she could, trying to find sothing useful among the wreckage and gathering them into a pile.
The wind whipped at her face as Nivalis knelt in the snow, her hands and fingers numb from the cold, but she continued to work with determination. Her eyes scanned the area ticulously as she worked, searching for anything that might have been overlooked. Even every little scrap of torn cloth was precious to her. She gathered a considerable pile of items that could be useful for their survival. With every piece she picked up, she imagined how it might help them endure another day despite their state. She even was able to salvage so of their blankets, though many were torn beyond use.
The last item she found was a bow that had miraculously escaped unbroken. The sa one that she took back in the village from their barn. A Haldor's one, made from an ancient elven tree. Maybe this is why it survived. But unfortunately, almost all the arrows were broken. Only two of them remained. Even though she had never been taught how to wield it properly, it still could be useful for hunting with so practice. So Nivalis carefully put the bow away safely on top of their ager supply pile.
After a short while, Nivalis managed to gather all the things she could salvage. There was enough food for a few days, maybe a week, if they were careful. Everything tallic survived, though many of them were dented. But without the sled, traveling would be nearly impossible. It would be difficult to carry the weight and keep moving through the deep snow.
Nivalis bit her trembling lips. She tried to keep herself together, to remain strong for her children, but she couldn't help it. Tears burned in her eyes, stinging the corners of her eyelids. She blinked them away, her vision blurred. She took a deep breath, willing herself to focus. She couldn't afford to cry right now. Instead, her eyes darted around, trying to find a solution.
Nivalis used a few remaining blankets to hold their ager belongings as makeshift bags. She stuffed them with what remained of their supplies and tied them with rope to ensure they wouldn't fall out. She then used branches and the remains of an old sled to construct a crude makeshift one that resembled a wooden raft.
She worked furiously and very fast. The urgency was palpable; any mont could be their last if they stayed where they were. She used her hands and knife, cutting the wood and tying the knots with the remnants of torn blankets to tie the wood together. Minutes passed like an eternity, and soon enough, a functional sled lay before her — an awkward masterpiece crafted from necessity.
It wasn't perfect, an awkward-looking raft-like structure, but it would suffice. With a new sense of purpose, she rose to her feet. She looked at Silvia, who had been watching her work silently this whole ti, with her little brother in her hands, her golden eyes glowing from wetness. Nivalis collected the two remaining blankets and covered her children with them. She placed her hand gently on her daughter's shoulders and kissed her forehead, whispering words of reassurance. She reached out to her daughter, waiting for her to grab her hand.
— "We need to leave, honey. Quickly." Nivalis said with a firm resolve, her voice betraying no weakness despite the fear she felt deep within. As she t her daughter's gaze, she forced a smile onto her lips, hoping it would mask the tension and assure Silvia that everything would be alright, a lie they both understood was necessary.
"Okay," Silvia said quietly as she nodded slightly and tightly grabbed her mother's hand. Nivalis helped her daughter up on the sled, ensuring she and Aster were comfortable. They now have to sit on top of the supplies instead of lying on the sled like they usually do. But this was better than nothing.
They left in haste, moving quietly through the forest. As Nivalis pulled the rope attached to their makeshift sled, she kept glancing over her shoulder as her heart hamred in her chest, half expecting to find the beast chasing after them.
Fortunately, it didn't. They managed to make quite so distance before nightfall, and they were fortunate enough to find shelter beneath an ancient tree, right in its roots, offering protection from the wind. The following night was cold, like any other before. The lack of insulation made it worse, so they huddled closer to each other as they shivered from the cold, their teeth chattering as they struggled to stay warm. They still couldn't make a fire and risk drawing attention to themselves. Nivalis wrapped herself and her children with everything she could find in their belongings, including all their clothes from the bags. In the morning, feeling completely sleepless, they ate so of the bread, just barely enough to keep them going.
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