#16 The Earth Beneath the Snow

Saoirse was no stranger to physical hardship. In fact, comforts were more alien to her. A childhood on the Pacific Ocean was not as picturesque as one would assume. Slicing hands and feet on sharp coral, desperately fixing the boat in the middle of an enormous typhoon, going weeks without seeing land- Saoirse had endured tough conditions.

However, cold was a new devil to her, and one she decidedly did not care for. Saoirse was wearing thin gloves- she couldn't stand the lack of mobility afforded by thick mittens- but they did little against the cold. They even got wet as she dug through the snow, chilling her fingers to the bone.

Saoirse discarded the gloves and flexed her bright red fingers as she worked. She grit her teeth against the pain as she pulled out one good handful of fluxyweed, and then a second one. Just in time, too, because the pain of incoming frostbite kicked in.

Saoirse shoved her ingredients clumsily into her pockets and stood quickly, shaking out her hands. She mumbled and cursed under her breath as she made her way back to the castle as quickly as possible, making a beeline for the common room fireplace.

[Exit]