Outside the Winter Cabin - The call

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The call

As the snow storm raged outside the tiny hunting cabin, pushing fiercely against the doors and rattling the windows with a chilling chime, the inside remained generally quiet. A low burning fire crackled away, casting a warm and buttery glow across the very simple interior. Romero, her oldest friend and the only human she’d come to call a friend, lounged by the fire in the plush recliner. Stretched out, he looked rather at peace, his eyes closed. He wasn’t sleeping; instead, he hummed softly under his breath. It was an old song, a sailor’s shanty, that bled with the mournful howl of the wind and the rattling windows. How he was so at ease Lorelai had no idea.

She was, by her very nature, restless. Her elven blood kept her bound to the earth and that night all she felt was its unease. Something was amiss.

Romero cracked an eye open, pinning her with a bemused look. “You’re going to wear a hole in the floor, then you’ll let the cold in.”

She stopped pacing, looked at him, exasperated. “You don’t get it. Something doesn’t feel right.” She spun around. “Sometimes I wish I was human.”

“So, you could be ignorant of how the earth is feeling?” He said archly.

She cast him a withering look. “I wasn’t calling you ignorant. I’m just tense.”

He laughed and both eyes opened. The wind gave a sudden surge against the door, blowing it open. Cold air rushed in. Romero jumped towards the fire whilst Lorelai sprinted to the door, grabbing it firmly with both hands. She slammed the door shut, pushing against it with all her strength, then slid the lock home. With a shuddering breath she slumped against the door and looked to Romero, whom had already started to rekindle the dying fire. He looked at her, smiling and relieved.

“Well, wasn’t that dramatic.” He got up to his feet, dusting the ash from his hands. “So, you don’t suppose you know why the earth is so pissy this evening?”

She shrugged. “It’s been upset for some time. I thought coming out to this place, which is right near a ley line that I might be able to get a better read. It’s stronger here, the pain but I can’t sense why.” With a scowl she slumped down onto the other chair. “Some earth elf, aren’t I?”

“Oh, don’t start the pity party. We haven’t got enough booze for that,” he said, waving her off. “You do a great job. We’ll figure it out.”

She peered at him from beneath her lashes. “We?”

His brow lifted. “I’m not completely useless.”

She hummed a noncommittal response and got to her feet again, restless. Sensing she was drawing into herself Romero said he was off to be. She was dimly aware of him walking off, then the door closing behind him.

The wind stopped suddenly. The world suddenly went eerily quiet, broken only by the soft crackle of the fire. Something tugged in Lorelai’s chest, drawing her to the front door. She slid the lock and carefully opened the door; as she did the tugging in her chest rapidly tightened, then a song began in her ear. The earth song, the one her people used to sing – back when there was plenty of her people. Now, they were scattered, rarer than anything else, so to hear the song growing louder made her heart lift with excitement.

She stared out across the winter forest, blanketed with snow, with more snow falling gently down. Whirls of snow swept up in a silent wind, gathering in a strange arch several metres away. She stilled as a figure emerged from the swirling snow, clad in a silver cloak and a pale green uniform. It was one she knew well. She didn’t move as the stranger advanced, then stopped at the bottom of the step. Pale hands emerged from the folds of the cloak and pushed the hood down, revealing someone she knew well. Her brother, Othello. He looked as troubled as she felt.

“You’ve been summoned home, sister.” He held out a hand, his golden ring – the signet of his role as a Summoner, the one to herald home those outside their realm – gleamed. She stared at it for a second, then looked up, as he studied her carefully. “Do you answer the call? The earth is in danger and you have been called to assist.”

She glanced behind her. Did she tell Romero? He’d been her friend for so long and she trusted him a lot. The problem was his mortality and if she was being summoned, her of all people, the rebellious elf, then it was desperate times. Dangerous times, which meant it wasn’t safe for Romero. She’d be devastated if anything happened to him. With a deep breath she turned back to her brother and took his hand.

“I answer the call.”

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