The walk home was rather uneventful. I saw more Lower Winter Sprites than before. That's mainly because they seem to be more attracted to me, more so than before. I can't have conversations with them, but I can agree and disagree with them on certain things.
I think the forest is beautiful, but the Lower Winter Sprites think of it as cozy. That's probably because this is their home. In that regard it's more like the world to me.The place where I live, and the place I fight to survive in everyday. Not exactly any emotional attachment here.
After I'm around 10 minutes out from my home, I start shoveling snow. After about 7 minutes I have enough snow to cover the elk. Before burying it I cut out the liver. I get home and start eating. Out of every part of an animal, my favorite is the liver. Why? I don't know. I just like it.
After finishing my meal my eyes quickly find the fur. I waste no time as I grab the fur.
"Alright, how do I make this into a skirt? Two of them turned vertically and should wrap around my waist. How am I gonna tie them together? Using intestines isn't going to cut it. Can I make something like intestines made of ice?"
My mind automatically goes to intestines instead of something like rope. Perhaps its because I have more access to intestines than rope. Either way ice is rigid and not exactly known for being flexible. But that does mean it can't be used as a belt.
"I can just form a ring of ice around my waist, form spikes that pierce into the fur, then put some rectangles on the end to keep everything together. Not to mention the spikes won't poke me then."
With a plan in mind, I quickly put it into action. I grab the furs, wrap them around my waist, and then I hold them in place. I don't even need to close my eyes as I start to form a belt of ice. After a couple seconds a ring is formed around me. I slowly extend spikes from it just enough for them to pierce the fur. I replace the tips with small rectangles before letting go of my new skirt.
My ice belt worked perfectly. I move around a bit and I end up hitting my head on the dirt roof. I only moved into here around a week ago. Despite that fact I'm already starting to outgrow it. It was never made for a big girl like me in the first place, but that doesn't make it any less upsetting.
"I need to move soon. I probably won't be able to find a home like this one. Perhaps a cave? I haven't seen a cave yet though. Should I make my own? I've never built anything. What would I even make it out of? Well there is a lot of snow around here."
I stop thinking about it and look for something else to do. For whatever reason I find it difficult to stay still. Its eat, sleep, or do something. Which brings my attention back to the bush. Unlike before, I can tell the bush doesn't just calm the Winter Sprites. It also absorbs them. It's more accurate to say they become a part of it.
I crawl over to the bush and touch it. As I touch it I can feel the Lower Winter Sprites flowing through it. It's not like when they turn into snow or ice. In the bush they aren't exactly whole. The bush refines them into something called essence. Basically a Winter Sprite in its purest form. I let go and lena against the wall.
"This is all so complicated. In their natural form they just float around, when in snow or ice form they are in a more dormant state. Now they go into this bush to be refined into a purer form. The only problem is the fact that they become a part of the bush. This also means that yesterday I ate some of the Lower Winter Sprites. Figure it would've done something."
I don't feel bad about eating them. It's not like I killed them or anything. As far as I'm aware it's impossible to truly kill a Sprite. Me eating them probably changed me in some way I don't know. Which is weird because I know basically every change in my body. The only real exceptions are slow gradual changes.
"No harm came from last time so it should be fine this time."
With those words I take a leaf off the bush and eat it. With that done I yawn. It's not that late in the day but for whatever reason I'm tired. I'm not one to skimp on my sleep, so I get the last piece of fur and set it down. I lay my head on it and get comfortable before closing my eyes. In a matter of minutes I'm off to dreamland.
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3rd person
Instead of the usual peaceful snowy scenery, things were more tense this time. Night has fallen and explosions can be heard in the distance. Fires blazed and lit up the night. Beasts rushed away from the explosions, but they weren't able to get far. A fireball hit the center of them and all of them died in the ensuing explosion. No longer a little girl, but not yet a woman, she stood with light gray skin, dark blue eyes, long white hair, and fierce look in her eyes.
"#####! How did you come to this world? All entrances to your world have been barred for over 2000 years. "
A man floating in the air. All snow evaporated into mist and trees burnt to ashes due to his presence. Despite this his figure seemed shrouded in a cloud of thin mist. His features were hard to tell, but his red skin was hard to disguise.
"#####, you are the daughter of the current ##### right? Your strength is only that of an Evolved Beast. I'm already close to Transformation. Don't fight and hand yourself over. At least that way you can save at least this part of the forest."
The girl didn't say anything. Lower Winter Sprites and Winter Sprites, which are one step above their Lower variants, seemed to surge around her in a rage. Despite that they were powerless against the man.
"Even if I can't win, I need to at least try. As a member of the ###### race I can't just back down."
The man didn't say anything.
"Stalling are we? Even such an attack won't be enough. Prepare yourself."
As the man rushes at her everything fades into black.