//------------------------------//
// Equilibrium 
// Story: Scroll of the Thorn of the Frozen Star 
// by Sanxa 
//------------------------------//

After the seventh day, the leader had returned to the village, leaving Ivory to the care of some kirins willing to check on her from time to time.


Ivory was more used to her new powers, and only felt a little dizzy now.
Weirdly, she noted her spells were stronger the night. She would have not noticed it if her leader didn't told her to use her spell at that moment, before leaving her with some advices.


Before her departure, her leader had insisted on the link between the balance of kirin emotional state and the strenght of their power. And the need for Ivory to control her frustration and anger.
Some kirins could easily use their anger without losing their mind, using this power to fight... well, even if kirins didn't really fight for many generations.
Even the leader before didn't have examples to explain the concept, only the tales in the scrolls and the knowledge of the book.


The little kirin had only nodded, listening.
Because on one side, there was the natural abilities of all kirins, but she had also the cosmic force to help her if needed.
"Don't worry! I've got this under my hoof," had smile Ivory.


And after the departure of her leader, she had tried to use her powers under the various emotions.
Her frustration was the easier to use, as she kept conscious of her actions.
Anger was more difficult to control. But she felt something more dangerous and more powerful beyond anger... wrath. And she felt that she would not be able to control herself under that emotional condition.


Days after days, she gained confidence in using her emotions, and she experimented her new strenght in various moves.
Moves that she never had expected to perform before.
Strenghter flames allowed her to repel the frost and cold wind, giving the inhabitants of the grove short but welcomed pauses under the periodic blizzards.


But as the days became weeks, she realized that she had to go back to her village soon.
That she had to go in the mountain.
That she had to meet Zuriak.
To confront him...


She didn't know how it would go. She wanted to speak to him again.
If only he listened and agreed to meet the kirins... maybe...


The scenery had changed. The pond was now full of water, thanks to the melting snow.
The pond had been most welcomed, as it allowed her to get water more easily.
As it also had relieved the kirins from bringing water to her.


The snow was still there, and the cold wind could be heard above the canopy.


She went to train a bit farther than usual.
She knew she was a bit far of the shack, and tired. She decided to find some shelter for the night.
A squirrel went to her, and waved at her. Surprised, she followed and found a little haven that many creatures of the forest were sharing for the night.
They made a place for the kirin. It was a warm night.


As Ivory woke up, she noticed it was still the night. She got up quietly and left the creatures to their slumber. A fawn and the squirrel noticed her leaving.
She smiled to them, as the fawn went back against her mother, and the squirrel waved goodbye, before going back to protect his own family from the cold before daylight.
As she looked to the scenery, she felt the anger coming at her. She let the flames come to life.
For a moment, she consumed her emotions into heat, melting the snow and relieving some plants of the weight, as she walked towards the shack of the pond. She felt satisfaction along the way and her flames slowly dropped.


She felt ready. She was not only protecting her fellow kirins. She was protecting the grove as a whole. She sighed, looking towards the sky...
The moon was still visible, and began to move away slowly, leaving place to the rising sun.
The green trees had already lost most of their colors, preparing for the unnatural winter as quick as they could.
Each day, a little more orange, brown or naked, covered in their mantel of snow.


As she passed near the pond, a ray of red light blinded her.
She closed her eyes, stepping away. The light was coming from a ray of the sun through the canopy into the pond.
There, it reflected in the red ice pikes she casted three weeks before, as if frozen in place and time.


Her eyes were focused on the ice pikes, humid, pincing her lower lip.
The pond was not that cold. Only little ice chunks could be found to its banks. But most of the water was liquid, even if really fresh.
It was a strange sight, but she realized what could happen if...
She closed her eyes.


She rose up, looking back to the clouds around some of the pikes.
She closed the door of the shack, and let her head rest there against it a moment.
Then moved away, trotting back in the direction of her village.


A new wind was now coming in parts of the grove.
Even the pond had ice appearing on it.
Birds flew over the pond, hurtling to find a shelter.
Life still was fighting in the grove.
She left the shack behind her.


She met her father on the way back, near the village. They nuzzled. And shortly after, her mother and some friends met them. They nuzzled and laughed a little, to chase the fears.
The grove near the village looked greener, but how long could the niriks prevent the damages of the precoce winter?
They went to the central place, where the leader met them.
No words were exchanged. Only eyes in the eyes. Two short nods, sad eyes closing. Determined ones opened.


Dark clouds were approaching at the distance, adding more shadows to the grey sky.
Shoving through the snow and winds, Ivory Frost left her village to ascend the Peaks of Peril.