Bad Things Happen Bingo – Prompt Fall Through the Ice

Character: Marielle Valeroyant

It hadn’t looked that hard. But something had changed. The land had changed. Even something was different with the aether after the great dreadwyrm had crossed the skies in fiery rage.

Svitlana had expected a chilly but green Coerthas. Not the winter storm she was flying through now. Coerthas had always seemed so green from the edges of the Dravania. Not this. Nothing but ice and snow for miles. A shiver when over the young dragonet’s body.

If she had waited much longer to run, it would be harder to avoid the Ishgardians. She was just nearly to her adolescence. Her size would soon make it much harder to hide without using glamor. But to travel this distance looking like a spoken? She would surely die to these cold temperatures.

Her wings felt so tired. This cold was much harder to deal with then she would have expected. After all snow like this? Unheard of in Dravania. The small green and gold dragonet had finally had enough. Setting down on a patch of ice that looked safe enough. A part of her just wanted to take a nap but she knew that was a bad idea. She just needed a few moments of time.

There was the sound of a crack. Like a tree branch. Or she thought it sounded like a tree branch. Tilting her head as she listened more noise. Another crack. Looking down now as she realized the sound was beneath her feet. But not quite quick enough to move in time.

The ice gave way beneath her as she panicked. If only she hadn’t panicked she might not have fallen into the freezing cold waters beneath the ice. Swimming would have been easier if she had been calm. Everything was just chaos as she flailed her feet and wings in an attempt not to drown. Just as she thought she had her chance to get away from this war and the ever present threats of death by Ishgardians… This was the way her life would end? Barely lived. Her body just felt so tired.

Suddenly there was air. Bitter cold air. Svitlana coughed and took gulps of air. Not realizing there were Spoken hands holding her. Someone had rescued her from death. But she was just too cold to care even as a blanket was wrapped around her. Fighting to try and keep her eyes open wasn’t working.

“Shhh now, little one.”

The touch and voice was calming. Svitlana shut her eyes and let herself drift off.

~*~

Groggy purple dragon eyes blinked when she finally woke once more. Looking around at the warm cozy cottage she was in. Hearing the sound of the howling wind against the window nearby. Svitlana tilted her head as she looked over at the Spoken woman sitting in the chair by the fire. Continuing to look around and take note of an impressive set of armor and a spear near the door.

So she was still alive. Sleep had done good to heal her body but what situation was she in now. Svitlana closed her eyes and focused. Remembering what she had been taught about glamor. This Spoken might not understand dragonspeak. Speaking to her in Spoken tongue might be easier. With a rush of power and aether, Svitlana took the glamor of a naked duskwight woman. Younger than the woman in the chair but similar in appearance. After all she needed someone to use as a model for this trick still despite practicing on the Spoken at Tailfeather. Her hair retained the colors of her dragon scales.

“Cold.” Svitlana shivered and pulled the blanket around her shoulders. The woman by the fire looked both startled and surprised at the sudden woman where the dragonet had been before.

“Halone have mercy…” The prayer was muttered before the woman shook the surprise from herself. “Little dragonet?”

“Cold.” Svitlana repeated as she hugged the blanket tighter. This earned her another shake of the woman’s head as another blanket was retrieved and placed around Svitlana’s shoulders. “Thank you.”

“I’m not surprised you’re suddenly cold. You went from scales to a naked woman. Younglings.” The woman seemed warm enough as she went over to what served as the kitchen. Bustling about to make something hot for her guest to eat. “If you can speak our tongue, what in the Halone’s name were you doing out in this blizzard?”

“Scared. Of the war. Please don’t kill me.” Svitlana shrank back into the blankets as she watched the woman with wary purple eyes.

“Kill you? After I saved you? Nah. Not worth the trouble. I gave up fighting for Ishgard a long time ago. Getting too old.” The woman pointing up towards her graying hair and wrinkles. “I just wanted to live out my days in peace. Just happened to be passing the spot you fell through the ice. What is your name, little one?”

“Svitlana. I seek safety and peace as well.” Marielle curiously watched as the woman began making a stew. Sniffing the air at the smell of food cooking.

“Pretty name. Though if you’re seeking safety you’ll need a less… Dragon name. Do you like Marielle?” Leaving the stew to heat as she leaned against the counter and looked towards Svitlana. “My name is Roselle.”

“Marielle…” Svitlana tilted her head as she tried the name. There was silence for a moment before Svitlana nodded and looked hopefully towards the stew. “Marielle. I’m hungry, Roselle.”

Roselle just laughed, earning her a happy smile from Svitlana. No. Marielle. It was the name she would have to get used to if she wanted to survive. Hopefully she could learn enough from Roselle to be able to manage that.