I was frozen solid. Ice sickles decroaded my eyelashes, I couldn’t move my toes. “This is fine.” I said as my breath became visible in this fridged air.

I had lied, this wasn’t fine. I was used to the hot and humid weather of the country. Not this. I had been so eager to volunteer to go on a trip to the artic, not sure why no one else wanted to go, now I understood why. If only I had gotten the message that everyone was trying to send to me when they told me not to go.

I looked around myself, nothing but a white canvas for miles, a cold white canvas. With danger lurking around each corner and frostbite, I definitely won’t be going on this trip next year.

I slowly started to walk forward in the direction of the camp, with each step I got colder parts of my body freezing even more. A fridged gust of wind blew past me sending a shiver throughout my whole body. I miss the hot country.

Who on earth would want to spend there winter holidays in Scotland. It’s not even a winter wonderland like mum promised, its just slush and fog. I knew it was going to be cold but nobody warned be it would be below negative freezing. If someone had I would have packed and actually coat instead of just cropped jumpers. I was fine with staying in the Canary Islands, you know, where I actually live. That’s what we’ve always done for Christmas, me and my friends are always together. Also it’s the only time of year I’m aloud to see dad, besides my birthday. Mum said it’s because my great aunt Shelly is getting old and is probably gonna kick the bucket soon, so we should spend the holidays with her because it might be her last. Which doesn’t make sense because I didn’t even know I had a great aunt Shelly until two weeks before we left. I think mum’s just using her as an excuse because she doesn’t want me spending anymore time with dad.

“I have custody over you, not him!” She tells me, for the hundredth time. It’s not like I’m asking her to hand over custody I just want to spend time with him. But no we have to fly to what feels like the other side of the world and freeze our bugs off in Scotland. I was promised snow, I was promised chestnuts roasting on an open fire, I was promised bagpipes (whatever those are). Instead what I’m given is a pull out sofa and blocked roads so we can’t even go Christmas shopping. And this great aunt Shelly lady doesn’t look anything like me or mum, she could be for dads side but mum has vowed to never speak to anyone from the side of the family again. I’m like 80% sure she’s an actress mum hired to play a part just so she could have a reason to leave home for the holidays. I don’t want to be here, I want to be in the sun and lying in the sand not huddled underneath a mountain of blankets. I want my dad I want my friends I don’t want scarfs and burst pipes. The only upside of being here is Edinburgh, apparently the Christmas market is suppose to be amazing, but the roads are ice so we can’t drive down.

I tried to call dad to tell him I won’t be there for the holiday but I just got his voicemail. I’m terrified that he’ll be sitting at the dining table waiting for me to knock on the door and sit down for dinner with him. Outside in the warm air surrounded by the native mosquitoes instead of freezing my tits off in a strangers house. Christmas is supposed to be about family and being together but I’m not even in the same country as most of them. Christmas this year is really gonna suck.

“You alright?”

“I’ve never seen anything like this!” Wren gasps, twirling around like some little ballerina. “It’s so white… what is it?”

“Snow.”

“Snow? Like the black stuff that falls from the sky sometimes?”

“Black stuff… are you not thinking of ash?”

“Nah, Mum says it’s snow. Says it’s too evil where I’m from for it to be white. That’s why I’m here.”

“So is winter cold?”

“Hm? Nah.” She gazed up at the sky, wonder written clear as day upon her face. “It’s maybe a little more windy, but it’s not cold.”

“Honestly, are you from hell?”

“I hope not.”

The wood planks groan with each step as I make my way across the front porch. I halt on the first stair and watch as a cloud of perspiration builds with each breath. A cold breeze blows my soft blonde hair across my face, lightly kissing my icy cheeks. Peering out over the front yard, I shield my eyes as the sun deflects beams of light off the white blanket below. Taking my first step, I feel my feet take on a life of their own, going in opposite directions of my body. I quickly grab the banister and brace for my life as my feet continue to slide down the steps.

When I reach the bottom of the stairs I slide my foot across the pavement, feeling for solid ground to stand on. I find a dry piece of land and decide it is my best option. I push myself off the banister and settle into my new territory. Examining the winter wonderland around me, I lean forward and push my hand into the sparkling snow, leaving an imprint of my identity. I then scoop up a pile with my hands and watch as it turns to liquid, mesmerized by its fragility.

I slowly fall back, using the snow as a pillow and smile up at the soft flakes falling above me. I stick out my tongue, drinking in the sky and wish for a long winter. I don’t want this fairytale to end.

Emily dropped her book on the floor - the thud made her roommate Kari jump - and darted over to the window. She pressed her palms to the glass, leaning up onto her tiptoes.

“It’s snowing!” she squealed. “That’s snow!”

“Yeah, it’s finally cold enough.” Kari swung down from the bunk bed. “Just little flurries, though.”

Emily’s breath was fogging up the window. She wiped it clear again with her sleeve. “It’s beautiful.”

“You’ll get sick of it after a week or two.”

“Nuh-uh. Never gonna happen. The world is a fairyland now and I am here for it.”

Jeanna’s chest tightened thinking about leaving her warm secure cabin on the river barge to set off into a land of ice and danger.

Back in Kaldura, her life was built for the hot, coastal landscape. Homes were open and airy to let the breeze in, a single story on stilts, and cooking domes outside to keep the heat away from our beds. Kaldura was paradise.

But even mild Kaldurian winters could be utterly miserable. How on earth could people live with a true Lioran winter? From what she’d read, your extremities could blacken and fall off from frostbite and you could die from being out in the cold. Living like that just didn’t seem natural.

A knock on the door startled her out of her musings.

“Everything a’ite in there Miss?

We’re here”.

She opened the door to a blast of bitter cold, finding the second mate with a large bundle tucked under one arm. He shoved the bundle into her arms “here’s your kit Miss, cap’n sorted it all at the last stop as requested. Should keep your toes all in one place”, he grunted and closed the door in her face again. “Thanks” she muttered to the door.

Wrestling with the complicated layers of new gear, she finally stood sweating and ready to go, facing the door once more. Time to leave. Reminding herself what was at stake, she squared her shoulders, stepped out and walked up the steps, bracing herself for the biting misery.

….

…The sky was sparkling. The river, smooth as glass, had crystals lining the banks and trees and hills in the distance were topped with white. The deck had a light dusting of snowfall. Tilting her head back the soft little bursts of cold landed on her cheeks and eyelashes.

Still snug in her furs, the cold air and snow flakes on her exposed face was rejuvenating. Wow.

“First time in Liora then?” the captain chuckled. She nodded mutely, still staring at the white world around her. He spared a grin and a comforting squeeze to her shoulder, then walked off to continue roaring directions to his men.

She’d heard of snow of course, and Jeanna had come prepared. She’d read and all about the dangers of exposure and how to stay safe. Her Keeka told her repeatedly it was a daily grind just to live and travel with the stuff, and how lucky she was to live in a land of summer. She had all the books she could get her hands on about avoiding frostbite and exposure.

“No-one mentioned it was keelin’ magical.” she murmured to herself.

“Ah… Miss…are ya ready? We’ve sent your bags on ahead”.

“Oh yes thanks!” Jeanna replied, snapping back to reality.

She was as ready as she could be. Time to go save her baby brother.

The hot summer days of Ziironie do not nearly compare to the winters of Yance. I think I might have died the second I stepped of aircraft, but if Zufu could cope with this for her entire childhood I think I could cope with the cold for a week. A week. It wasn’t that long was it? I just had to get The Last Phoenix and bring it back to Ziironie. Then all would be well. Easy.

I took a deep breath, reached for the steel bannister and took my first step down the familiar steps. How many times had I boarded The First. The hefty price of machinery glides on wind, floats in water and hovers of ground. A maze of concrete rooms and steel walls and yet on the outside it seems a shiny, brass plate. Ahhh what wonder. It’s beauty would never fail to impress me.

I heard me footsteps eco around me as a strode off The First and over the vast wear-house floor. Seas that I have sailed, skies that I have flew and all the mountains I have hiked and yet nothing would prepare me for what I was about to face. Snow. Oh snow… things of picture books, looks quaint from a distance, soft and white, but when the huge, warehouse doors swung back with a clatter I would not ever recover from the blizzard I saw. The general Ziironie breeze was one thing, it raging sun another, but boy I had never seen Yance’s wondrous snow.

With the winter olympics going on, I have never experienced a real, cold Canadian winter. This was my first time competing in the olympics and first time leaving the great state of Hawaii. I didn’t know what to expect. As soon as we entered Canadian Airspace, I stared out the window and saw all the beautiful mountains that everyone always talked about. When the plane landed, I gathered my stuff and hopped off. As soon as I stepped outside I was in for a serious shock. Holy bloody hell it was so cold outside!! I was freezing but at the same time, I was amazed at the beautiful the city looked with the snow. It was literally a winter wonderland. I got a taxi and went straight to the hotel, looking out the window and was amazed.

I got to my hotel, warmed up some hot chocolate, and wrapped myself in warm blankets.. admiring the snowfall outside. I’m looking at the itinerary to see which games I need to cover. Looks like I’m heading to Halfpipe snowboarding. I put my jacket on, and my hat, but holy was I still so ever cold! I head out to the venue and my hands were freezing. I saw everyone wear these red mitts and wanted one!

(Rushed sadly)

Into the snow And away goes the heat The frost comes in And I get beat

The heat got beat And now I’m frozen It’s like the ice Made me chosen

I am too tired to write anything so let’s just pretend that i did it. 🙏