- Elias. Her voice echoed heavily in the home, she paused a moment before approaching her son with a more soothing tone. There's been strong winds since this the sun rose, it's been snowing non stop --

   - It's colder than usual and the air feels damp. Elias cut her with a pout, his eyes drifted back and forth between the ground and his mother.

   - So you know a blizzard is coming. She stroke the tundra's mane, there was a hint of pride within the gentleness of her touch.

Elias stayed put for a few seconds before resuming his aimless roam. Every now and then, he'd look at the exit of the lair with ill-concealed impatience. Mabel observed him for a while before waving a paw at him, boredom finally left Elias' eyes when his mother motionned for him to lay down next to her on the stacks of fur that was their bed.

He immediatly jumped on it with glee, earning a surprised laugh from Mabel in the process. His mom only asked him to join her so soon if she wanted to tell him a story.

   - Are you gonna talk about the tale of the Thousand Current pirates ? Or, or the one where the wind went missing ! You never told me the end of the rogue Mirro –

Elias’ restless jumping  stopped when a heavy paw laid on him, pinning him down on the rough bedding. He turned around to lay on his back, holding onto his mother's furry silvery paw, that was his most favorite listening position.

   - Have you heard the blizzard's gaoler one yet ?

   - No. Elias blinked with newfound wonder.

Mable pulled her son towards her, he gnawed on a few of her numerous locks of fur before she took an ominous tone.

   - Everytime a blizzard occurs, you will find with it a young gaoler. Wether he comes with the blizzard of the blizzard follows him, we don't know.    His fur is white as snow, his mane and his horns are so heavy and thick he leaves deep pawprints that shine in a yellow, dim light in the snow everywhere he goes.

   - So that people know how to follow him ! A smile appeared on the boy's face as he threw a wild guess.

   - No. Her mother booped his nose with a careful claw. So that people know not to follow him.    He hides in the blizzard, trying not to be seen because the moment he enters someone's line of sight – even for a second, their mind is not their own anymore.    The gaoler is the only thing that remains for them, you want to follow him despite everything, the hours, the distance, the frostbite. Until you eventually disappear in unknown circumstances.

Elias tightened his grip on the paw.

   - That's sad.    - That’s his curse. His mother replied. And he's just a teenager on the verge of adulthood, condemned to hide eternally.    - Why was he cursed?

She leaned in, closing the gap between her and her son until she could whisper in his ear.

   - I've been told he was a young boy just like you who wandered too far off during a blizzard, and that he got cursed because of that.

Elias blinked before trying to push his mother away with his paws, but it only resulted in him rolling off of bed. He springed back on fours, trying best he could to hide his blend of amusement and fear behind an upset expression.

   - You're mean ! He doesn't exist, you just want me to not go outside !

He walked back to bed slowly, concealing his eagerness to join his mother back with hesitant steps.

   - Now now, why wouldn't he exist ? I even know his name.

Elias laid down and burried his face in his mother's fur.

   - What is it ?

She put a paw on his face, shutting his eyes close.