• Memory • [Murk Pass] Dark, Cold, Damp (Graded)

[Kori'än]

3rd of Zi'da, 702
Murk Pass, near Anther’s Ettyne

It was cold, so cold. Bundled up in a heavy blanket, Kori was shaking, hiding his face and hands and shuffling as close to the fire as he could without burning the fabric. His mom was away, it had been so long now. He had cried and begged her to stay, and she had told him she needed to get some food for them. He didn't like this. He would rather be in his dad's house, warm and cozy and away from the wind and the snow and the cold. But every time he said that, his mom would look so sad, almost ready to burst into tears, and he hated that more than he hated the cold.

So he tried not to say it anymore. But it was still true.

Sniffling, he tightened his grip on the blanket, looking at the cave's entrance. It was really dark, the stones illuminated only by the fire, casting shadows on the walls that reminded him of giant wolves and boars and bears. The loud howling of the wind outside sounded like the howling of wolves, making him whimper and curl tighter around himself each time. He kept counting the trills, losing count and starting all over again, watching the flames dance and shivering under the freezing feeling of his tears against his cheek.

Where was his mom?

With each passing bit that felt like the longest break, Kori'än felt the fear grip on his chest. He closed his eyes tight, breath shallow, and did his best to picture his mom next to him. Wrapping strong arms around his shoulders and pulling him into a warm embrace. Maybe the heat he was feeling was coming from a fireplace. Kori didn't remember the feeling of his father's hugs, but he assumed it would be just as warm as his mom's. He couldn't remember his voice, either, but he remembered his face, and it was enough! He pictured him there as well, the three of them, in front of a fireplace. Even Miiri was there, her soft white fur tickling his cheeks as he kissed her belly. She was such a sweet cat. Kori wondered where Miiri was. His father never took care of her, it has always been him and his mom.

He hoped she was alright.

Suddenly, he heard a howling. Long and loud, and it wasn't like the other times, this
wasn't the wind.

No. No, it had to be. Kori covered his ears with his hands, trying to drown out the
sound, kept his eyes closed. Think of dad, of mom, of Miiri. Only their faces and
warmth had dissipated, leaving only the cold, the howling, and the shadows on the
walls.

"It's not real..." he whispered to himself.

Then, the howling again, and he couldn't take it anymore. He stood up, and he ran.

[Kori'än]

He ran towards the entrance of the cave, tears falling from his eyes. Kori didn't know where he was going, nor did he know where his mom was, but he was scared, and he was alone, and he didn't know what to do. He just wanted her.

His foot caught on the blanket, and he tripped, falling face down on the snow. He instantly felt his face freeze up, the biting and painful cold. Water sipped into his clothes, wetting them and making his teeth chatter loudly enough that he could hear it above the wind. "Mom! Please, come back! Mom!" he screamed, but there was nothing but the howling of the wind, and the whiteness of the snow. Kori got to his feet again, feeling the freezing cold of snow through his mittens as he pushed himself up.

His skin was prickling, but he didn't care. He needed to find his mother. She had to be near, she wasn't going to leave him in a cave in the middle of nowhere.

She wasn't, wasn't she?

Sobs were now escaping his lips as he looked around trying to see anything that wasn't white. If he thought it was cold inside the cave, now the wind hit his face with a vengeance, and his body began to feel stiff, almost numb. The wet clothes touched his skin, making his sobs grow louder. But Kori had to keep moving. He had to find his mom.

Trying to take a step, his legs wobbled. His nose was hurting, so much. With a weak sob, he covered his face with his hands, the wetness hurting a little, but at least it was better than when the wind was hitting him in the face. Kori tried to walk again, but it was hard, everything felt stiff, the tears still falling as he turned back to the cave, taking one step at a time, slowly, painfully slowly.

He had just stepped inside when he fell down again, his legs no longer answering his commands. Kori curled up in a ball, hugging his knees, his entire body trembling from cold and fear and...

"Kori!" His mother's voice made him look up, slower than he wanted, but his neck
was also feeling stiff. It hurt. "AmabiXanthea: mouse, Kori, what are you doing outside?"

He could hear the tears in his mom's voice, and when he looked up at her, he saw
the absolute terror in her face. His heart thumped in his chest, and he let out a
small whine, his own fear mixing with the pain of hurting her. "I'm sorry!" he
sobbed. "You were gone, and I was scared, and it was so cold! But it's fine, mom,
it's fine. I'm starting to get warm again."

Somehow, for some reason, that only made her cry harder, and she grabbed him,
pulling him up and carrying him to the back of the cave.

[Kori'än]

As soon as his mother laid him down, she grabbed some clothes from one of their satchels and started to undress him.

"No, mom, no!" he sobbed, trying to get her hands away from him. "It's cold! What are you doing?"

"We need to get you into dry clothes, Kori," she whispered back, not stopping for even a trill even with his struggles. "The wet will make everything worse. Please, amabi, work with me, alright?"

Her voice was soft, and although she had left him in the cave, she was there now. Kori didn't want her to leave again, but he also trusted her, and so, he allowed her to undress him. Just like he imagined, it became so much colder and so worse, but soon, she was drying him up and redressing him with truly warm clothes. "Ok, Kori, ok. You'll be fine, amabi. I promise." She pulled her own spare fur coat, warping it around him before she placed a blanket on top of everything. "Now, hang on tight to this, ok? I'll just heat some water up. Hold it on top of your face, ok? Get it really warm."

Kori looked at her for a moment, before slowly nodding. His nose was kind of warm already, but his cheeks and his forehead and everything else were cold, so he did what he was told, tightening the furs around him. His skin was starting to tingle, and he didn't really like that feeling, but his mom had told him to hang on tight, so he had to do it. Getting her out of his sight made him panic for a moment, the fear of her leaving again passing through his mind. He could hear the clank of their metal pans, though, and she was talking to him, constantly talking. While Kori was suddenly way too tired to pay attention to what she was saying, the sound was comforting, and it made him sure he wasn't alone.

Then, the pain began.

"Mom?" he called, voice filled with fear. "Mom, it's hurting! My nose, my hands!

"It's alright, Kori. I know. It's alright. Be a good boy and hold on for a few bits, alright?" He mumbled a yes in answer, biting his lip and trying to still his tears, without much success. At least, it wasn't getting worse, just that constant throbbing.

Before long, she was back by his side, unwrapping him just enough to take his hands. "Kori, listen to me. I need you to be brave and be still, ok? Can you promise me that?" Kori nodded, and his mom smiled, gently taking his hands and submerging his fingers in the warm water.

At first, the pain didn't fade, but it also didn't increase. And then, little by little, he could feel the warmth seeping in, and it was almost like he was burning, the pain searing through his fingers. He screamed, trying to get his hands away, but his mom kept him firmly in place. Kori cried, sobs returning full force, as he pulled and pulled without success. He couldn't even focus on his mother's face, his mind swallowed by the agony that was travelling through his body.

"Mom! Mom, stop, please! You're hurting me!" he screamed.

She didn't stop.

❅ ❅ ❅

Kori had lost count of how much time he had screamed until his voice was hoarse, his mom's calming words doing little to soothe him. Eventually, though, the pain did pass, and she hugged him over all layers of clothes and coats and blankets. This time, he didn't shy away, instead burying his face against her chest and sobbing

"Shh, I know, I know..." she whispered, one clothed hand running on top of his head. Or where his head would be if it wasn't covered by so many thick layers. As it were, Kori could barely feel her touch. "I'm so sorry, Kori. I'm so sorry. I'll never, ever leave you alone like this again. And tomorrow, when you are better, we're going to go to Ettyne, and we will stay there until Ashan comes, and then we can travel a bit more."

"I don't like this, mom..."

"I know, amabi," she kept on whispering, holding him close. "And I'm so sorry. I
promise I'll never do that again."

He didn't have the strength to keep talking anymore, every bit of his body tired
― no, exhausted. So Kori didn't answer, but he believed her. Even now, he would
believe in her always.

So when she started singing a lullaby against the top of his head, Kori'än let his eyes
flutter close, and, little by little, sleep claimed him.

[Pig Boy]

Player Name: Kori'än

Points awarded: 10
Magic xp: none

Knowledge:

Endurance: Fighting off the cold
Fieldcraft: Keeping warm to avoid frostbite
Fieldcraft: Getting wet worsen the effects of the cold
Fieldcraft: Caves: Protection from the wind
Fieldcraft: Wind worsen the effects of the cold
Discipline: Harsh actions have consequences

Renown: 0
Loot: none
Injuries/Overstepping:Superficial frostbite on fingertips of both hands and nose: Around 90 days of increased sensitivity to the cold, numbness and pain, and needing further treatment (rewarming of the skin). from 3rd of Zi'Da
Permanent damage: Light pain on tip of the nose, and numbness on fingertips of the right hand.
Wealth Points: n/a
Consequences: Injuries incurred above.

Skill Review: All Skills used appropriately to PC's level

Notes: OOf, I don't recommend camping in the Videnese Wilds during Zi'Da. Kori's mom must've been very desperate indeed to have taken her child out for a journey in such a season, in such inhospitable conditions. It's really not a place for a six-seven year old to live, but then you relayed the consequences of such a misadventure well, so i can't complain.

This was wonderfully written with such detail and realism. His fear was palpable as the howling winds began to shift and make a different howling sound. One that might've meant wild dogs or even wolves. I can't help but wonder what his mother was thinking, leaving him alone in such conditions. Without the background information on just why these two are out in the wilderness, I can't determine if this is a case of willful neglect of a child or not. It certainly seems that his mother could've done better than to leave him totally alone in a cave, unattended.

That said, she seemed to know her stuff when it came to the treatment of his frostbite, and survival skills in arctic weather.

The emotional impact of this piece was heavy without being gratuitous against the child Kori. Still, ouch on the permanent damage.

Great writing and enjoy the rewards.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns regarding this review, feel free to PM. Enjoy your rewards!