#fendrich

Aria’s POV

The wind howls through the sky as I trudge through the snowy forest, looking for any sign of movement. Mother hasn’t come back for nearly 6 hours and father is worried for her safety. My brother wants to help search for her but father is forbidding him from going out into the cold at his age. He knows that I am old enough to trust not to go out into this type of weather, but perhaps this time, he should have watched me as well.

I call out into the night hoping for a response “Mother! Mother, where are you?!” It’s hard to be heard over the wind but I’ll keep going! “MOTHE-!” I freeze looking ahead of me, a dark lump lays still on the ground not far from where I stand. maybe it’s just an animal? it’s hard to tell with the fog. I slowly approach the object as it becomes clearer the closer I get.

I wish I hadn’t. I wish I ignored it and kept going

“mother...?” I squeak out at the sight before me

it’s her alright, if it weren’t for the hair she’d be beyond recognition. blood had mis-coloured it and was slightly frozen into it, along with her coat and the snow around her. I take a couple of shaky steps closer, just noticing the claw marks on her stomach area. She was attacked by something.

“m-mother... p-please, please wake up...” I stutter as I lightly shake her body, waiting for any sign of movement. Nothing. Her eye’s staring ahead blankly at the forest, without the usual sparkle in them “please, PLEASE WAKE UP! DON’T LEAVE US!!!” I start to yell, tears falling down my face “DON’T...” I fall beside her, curling up and letting the tears flow freely “don’t leave me...”

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It’s warm when I wake up. I glance around at the surroundings to see where I am. I’m... back home? was everything that happened just a dream?

“you’re finally awake, I see” I jump at the sudden voice on my left and turn to face them. It was father, but he seemed to be a mix of both relief and anger, with a little bit of... sadness in his voice? what is going on?

he stands from where he was sitting on his chair and walks towards me, taking a seat again on the opposite side of the couch I was on, seeming to think about what he is going to say “Aria Bransteina…” he started “what you did earlier was reckless and dangerous, you could have died out there and we’ve would've lost two members of our family in one day! I expected better from you being the oldest!”

I’m startle by the quick tone change and shrink back (he’s never been this mad at any of us befor-) my attention snaps back to reality when arms wrap around me pulling me into a tight embrace. “what you did was stupid, but I’m glad your ok at least...” he mutters almost silently. I return the hug, both of us sitting in silence (wait, he said two, does that mean...?)

“father?” “hm?” “you said earlier you would’ve lost two family members today, does that mean...” I ask with worry crawling up my spine. He pulls back slightly and sighs “yes. I’m afraid we’ve lost our snowbird” I fell my tears renew again as I cry against my father.