Wolf's at allowed their family to last just enough to survive the storm. The weather started to get warr, the sun peeked through the clouds more often, and the wind no longer howled with the sa ferocity. It was such a relief, and they celebrated the blizzard's end with a small feast, eating freshly caught fish and filling their bellies to the full.
As the weeks passed by, the storm beca nothing but a mory, and life slowly returned to normal. Nivalis resud her daily routine and happily fell into a rhythm of survival, focusing on providing for her family while Silvia and Aster played together, keeping each other company.
The rest of the winter had passed without any more trouble. Nivalis had spent most of her ti hunting and fishing to refill their supplies, barely getting enough rest.
It took so ti for their bodies to recover and fully return to a healthy state. Their cheeks were still a bit hollow, and their bodies were slightly thinner, but it wasn't anything to be too concerned about. They had survived and made it to the spring.
As spring arrived, the snow began to lt, and the weather got much warr, which made Nivalis even more occupied, preparing for the following winter. First thing first, Nivalis decided to build a wooden door for the entrance of their cave. The project took her quite a while, but the result was worth the effort.
Its design was simplistic. Several large branches were tied together and leaned against the cave's entrance. The door was heavy, difficult to open and close, and had small gaps on the sides, but it served its purpose and provided them with a much-needed sense of security. It allowed them to sleep without worrying that wild beasts would appear suddenly and kill them all.
The next concern was food, and they needed more of it, much more. The blizzard they experienced was a close call, and they couldn't risk running out of food ever again. Nivalis had only a few months of warm weather and needed to prepare accordingly.
She planned to hunt and gather as much as possible and stock up on preserved food so they could go through the winter without having to go outside. She would leave their cave early in the morning when the sun was still low on the horizon and return before sunset, spending most of her ti outdoors.
However, her daughter Silvia didn't like it in the slightest. After such a traumatic experience this little girl experienced, she was scared to be left alone with Aster in the cave, even during the day. The re thought of her mother disappearing and never returning terrified her beyond belief. But the worst part was that Nivalis couldn't stay inside their cave, no matter how much she wanted. It wasn't possible.
Nivalis tried to take Silvia with her whenever possible, even if Silvia did nothing but carry her brother around and quietly watched Nivalis work. However, they were still far too young and fragile to accompany her every ti. It was also dangerous, and there was no way Nivalis would allow her to be exposed to unnecessary risks.
So, instead, Silvia had been spending most of her days in the cave alone with Aster, trying to occupy her mind with anything possible and not worrying whether her mother would return.
The next few months were difficult for all of them. Nivalis barely found ti to sleep. All her ti was spent hunting, fishing, collecting herbs and mushrooms, and drying at. She would have loved to take more ti for herself and spend more ti with her kids. However, survival was more important than anything else. They were already so lucky to have survived the winter and had to be prepared for whatever the future would bring.
Silvia felt down due to her mother being outside all the ti, leaving her alone in the cave with her little brother. Although she loved Aster very much, he was still a toddler and didn't provide her with much entertainnt. The lack of attention made her feel sad and lonely.
As for Aster, he felt a deep sense of sadness and helplessness as he watched his sister and mother struggle so much. He wanted to help them, but he couldn't do anything. He is still just a child, and there is not much he can do other than stay with his sister, trying his best to lift her mood and be there for her.
Only when winter ca, everything changed back to normal. Nivalis started spending her ti mostly inside the cave, caring for her children and simply relaxing. She no longer had to worry about the food and finally had the opportunity to rest and spend ti with her loved ones.
As frosty winds howled beyond the cave's entrance, for the first ti in a while, they had nothing to worry about. After everything they went through, after so much suffering, they were finally able to relax and live a peaceful, simple life. They didn't need anything else other than each other.
Days blurred into weeks, and weeks turned into months. Another sumr season arrived and passed, marked by the sa busy routine of hunting, fishing, collecting food, and doing their utmost to survive yet another approaching winter. Were those tis uneventful? No, not at all. They were far from it. Those were the most fulfilling and exciting monts in their lives, the tis when they were genuinely happy.
The tis when Aster started to grow, learn new words, explore more about the world around him, and just enjoy his ti with his beloved mother and sister. The tis when Nivalis was able to raise her children and show them how much she loved them. The tis when Silvia was no longer afraid or in despair. She didn't have to face the terrifying monsters that lurked in the shadows, nor did she worry about the worst monsters of all - humans. Instead, she could enjoy the childhood that the little girl had always deserved, surrounded by her loving family.
Over the next three years, Aster's and Silvia's relationship grew even stronger. Despite still being children, their love for each other is as deep and unbreakable as it could possibly be. They are inseparable, rarely leaving each other's side. Together, they sleep, play, explore, and learn about the world around them. Aster loves his big sister deeply and would do anything to make her happy. Silvia also loves her little brother equally and always tries to be the best older sister she can only be, always putting his needs above hers.
And seeing all this makes Nivalis the happiest mother in the whole world. She is no longer the broken, desperate woman who struggles to survive. She had found her true purpose in life - her children. Her heart is full, and her soul is at peace.
Everything she went through to get to this point was worth the effort. Seeing her children grow and enjoy their ti together was sothing that made her wish she could stop ti. Unfortunately, ti doesn't stop for anyone.
...
[Aster]
The weather was cold and dreary, with dark gray clouds hanging low over the treetops. It had been snowing heavily the past few days, and the snow had reached nearly waist-high. The wind howled and moaned, and the air was thick with the scent of pine needles and freshly fallen snow.
Inside the cave, it was warm and cozy. There's a fire burning brightly, casting a soft orange glow onto the walls and ceiling. Nivalis is sitting on a nest of blankets, with her long silver hair cascading down her shoulders. She patiently watches as her daughter struggles to read a simple sentence off a piece of bark that has letters drawn on it with charcoal.
Aster is lying on his stomach beside her, resting his head on his mother's soft thighs and silently watching Silvia practice her reading, his legs lazily kicking the air behind him.
His silver hair is as long as his sister's and mother's, reaching all the way to his lower back. He once asked his mother if it is normal for boys to have such long hair, and she explained that elven n and won have the sa hair length, and it's considered beautiful and attractive if you take care of it properly. So, since he didn't mind the long hair and enjoyed having his mother and sister take care of it for him, Aster let it grow, and it looked good on him, too.
It would be hard to tell the difference between him and Silvia if it's not for the height. Even their facial features were almost identical, with only minor differences. After all, they got their looks from their beautiful mother, except for the eyes. Aster and Silvia have golden irises inherited from their father. And the fact that he has to wear her old hand--downs due to the lack of other options didn't help it either. He could probably pass as her twin if they weren't separated by five years of age.
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