//------------------------------// // Cleansing Water // Story: Cold Confrontations // by Dapper Guy //------------------------------// Fat flakes of snow drifted in the winds, covering the land in a white blanket. The wind howled, kicking up ice in its invisible claws. A lone reindeer made his way down the stone steps of the Buckland High Courts, a small sway in his steps. Slowly, he trotted out past the front and onto solid ground, making his way past the city. They actually elected me? Skepticism written all over his face as he continued to trudge forward, I walk in there without hardly a care and yet here I am about to play messenger fawn to a bunch of ponies, what was I thinking? Walking listlessly down the stone road, he kept his head pointing down at the ground not even caring as to what or who was in his path. Well, Vanhi said I could do it and I did, somehow, making his way down to the middle district. I’ve got one night and then I’ve got to be on a train to buck knows where, wincing as the odd rock struck into the bottom of his hoof on the uneven roads. Passing the fountain where he had meet Vanhi the day before, he paused to look up at the pony statue, taking in its finer details. Besides the obvious lack of antlers, the two did rather similar despite the difference in build. Maybe I’m just over thinking this, if were on good enough terms to form a trade route, they probably can’t be all that bad, right? trying to reassure himself. His inner monologue was cut short as bumped into somedeer. “Oh, sorry about that,” righting himself. As he got back up, his eyes stared directly into a wizened old muzzle with rainwater grey eyes. His antlers dulled with age, some points broken off with dull nubs at the ends. “Oh, hello there, it certainly has been a while, old buck.” Whap! Cold recoiled back from the sudden pain. Squinting through his eyes, a walking staff was clasped tightly in the old deer’s hoof. The gnarled wood was splitting from the seasons but clearly still durable, several engraving running up along the shaft. “Manners, young one. It’s elder to you, keep that in mind,” his raspy voice rung out. Forgot how spry he is for such a crusty old buck, rubbing the swelling cheek with a hoof. “So what do I owe the pleasure of meeting you here, elder?” hastily adding the older deer’s title as the staff began to rise up. “I usually don’t see you no further than the lower districts.” “I heard a call last night, young one,” a sliver of joy hidden in his voice. “It drew me in and ever since I’ve been chasing after it ever since, like an itch I couldn’t scratch.” “They have ointment for that.” WHAP! Shut up, Cold. Just shut up. “As I was saying,” leaning up against the staff once again. “I needed to find the source however, this one seemed very strange.” Rubbing the staff against his antlers, the older deer’s misty eyes darkened as they looked at Cold. “I needed to find the one, as fast as these old hooves could bear. Not a very good omen. Tell me, have you had any strange dreams lately?” “Can’t say I have,” slightly put off by the elder’s question. “Seeing faces you’ve never seen before? Conversations within your dreams as if they were truly there? Feelings of nostalgia as you slumber?” Uneasiness took over his mind as Cold’s recent dream from the night before. The giant forest deer stood towering over him. The scent of pine wafting in the air, tickling his nose as he lay sprawled out on the ground. “Yes, I think I remember something like that.” “Well then, young one, would you mind if I accompanied you then?” he asked, leaning so close towards Cold that he could see the small wisps of his breath. Another knee jerking chill of the wind made the old deer quiver; his scrawny form withering from the harsh elements. “These old bones of mine need a quick rest before I am to return to my own home.” “Of course, it’s this way,” jerking his head down the road. Tying the staff to his back, the elder walked alongside Cold at a brisk pace, a slight hobble in his step. Never really dealt with elders that often, wonder if any of those rumors are true? The pair walked in silence as they made their way down the road, the harsh sting of the icy gale surrounding them. “So young one, I must ask, do you feel lost?” His tone was strong even though he kept his muzzle pointed forward. “You look rather lost though you’re hooves tell you where to go,” casting a sideways glance as Cold’s face seem to drop a little. “No, I’ve just got a bit much on my hooves than I usually do,” as a lump formed in his chest. Who am I kidding, I feel like a lost pup in the middle of a blizzard. Ever since I left this pain in my chest keeps getting worse and worse. “You can lie to yourself, but I’ve weathered many seasons, young one. I can hear the disharmony in your voice,” pity lacing his words. “There is no reason to not trust me. I’ve face my trials in this life, yours have just begun.” Fan-tas-tic, that just made my whole day seem so much brighter. “I got a job.” “Good, it’s nice to see young ones going out to find themselves in this strange, ever changing world,” chirped the elder. “So, why do you carry your head through the snow?” craning his neck to face Cold. “No one finds themselves in the first go, it’s a common lie we all like to believe.” “I didn’t think I’d get it, elder,” the words flowed from his mouth, pure and true. Why am I telling him all of this? I hardly know him. Heat erupted in his cheeks as he drew his cloak tighter against his form like a shield. “I thought I was going to fail and just move on.” “You wouldn’t have succeeded if you hadn’t wanted this, you shouldn’t be surprised,” said the elder. Shaking off the clinging snow on his back, he pressed onward as Cold led the way a good distance in front of him. “You could have easily walked away from this. No deer can force you to do anything. It is rather childish to think like that.” The elder’s words starting to gnaw at Cold’s mind. “So what if-“ A small, rough hoof shot out, pressing firmly against Cold’s lips before he could finish. The elder stood there silently, an unseen energy radiating off his slender form. Slowly, he withdrew his hoof from his mouth and dragging it against the ground. His falcon like glare never left Cold’s eyes, keeping him transfixed before he could continue. “There are a lot of ’what ifs’ but not enough ‘what I will’ in this world,” the old deer said, raising his voice over the wind. “So, again, I ask why do you have such childish thoughts?” Facing the ground, Cold tried to muster something to say, some feasible defense to say anything but his thought were too muddled. “I don’t know…” “Nothing is ever easy, young blood, and you shouldn’t expect it to ever be so simple. Come now, let’s continue on our way,” grabbing Cold by his shoulder. A small snow devil breezed through the street in front of them, dancing madly around them as they trekked onward. “I may have a solution to your problem,” said the elder. Solution? Cold mentally steeled himself as he heard the word solution come out of the old reindeer’s mouth. “Elder, what kind of solution are you referring to?” Elders were widely respected for their vast wisdom, some even as high as the prime minister for their sagely judgment and ties with other races in the north. However, their ‘eccentric’ behavior did leave room for others to pause for thought; this ‘solution’ was undoubtedly going to be painless. A small chuckle escaped out of the elder’s lips, “Nothing you can’t already handle, young blood.” -Warm Hart’s Café- The small chime of a bell rung in a doe’s ears as a pair of hoof steps entered from the front of the store. Pulling out a tray of freshly baked cinnamon rolls from her oven, Sweet Hart brushed off any flour that still clung to her body before shuffling her way to the dining area. A warm smile grew on her lips as Cold made his way inside however concern took over as the other deer made his way in. “Oh, Elder Tuhka, what a pleasant surprise,” keeping a rather stoic grin on her face. “I am honored an elder has graced our home.” “I hope you’ll excuse my abruptness, dear matron,” bowing deeply as his antlers scratched the wooden floors. “Your, son-“ “Nephew,” corrected Sweet, wincing at the grating noises of scuffed wood. She’d be sanding out the scuffs left behind later. “Yes, nephew, is having some difficulties with himself,” hobbling over to a coat rack and hanging up his attire and leaning his cane against the wall. Working some kinks out of his back, he pulled out a small stool to sit on, “Forgive my intrusion on your hospitality, but I require some herbs for a brew to help with you nephew’s condition.” Sweet leered at the old reindeer before clearing her throat. “Yes, well, I’ll be happy to help.” “My thanks,” bowing deep again, causing several new scratches in the woodwork. “I require some plants from your stock. Dried moon flower petals, a small bushel of arctic frost berries and the cap of a white spotted mushroom.” As Sweet left the room, Tuhka walked over to his cloak and began to fumble through several pockets lining the sides of it. A small tink was heard as he withdrew a small, dusty vial with a clear, swirling liquid inside. “So, what is this going to do for me?” Cold’s eye leered at the bottle in Tuhka’s hoof. Sweet reemerged into the room with a small porcelain bowl of the herbs that the elder had asked for. Uncorking the small container, the liquid seemed to leap out and splash around in the bowl. The plants inside began to wither and dry as if they were set ablaze, crumbling into a small pile of ash. A small hiss issued followed by a small plume of steam shot out until the contents of the bowl withered down to a small, syrupy grey puddle. “Drink,” offering the slightly steaming bowl to Cold. “What is this?” Cold asked, looking down at the vile brew that settled at the bottom of the bowl. “It will allow you to gain the clarity that you need.” Clasping the bowl in both hooves, Cold lapped up the concoction. A sharp sting of what tasted like liquid burnt bread washed into his mouth. It seared the top of his tongue and felt like hot coals had settled into his stomach as it trailed down his throat. “Cold?” Sweets voice called out to him, echoing as if he was underwater. Sweat began to pour out of his head while his hooves began to feel numb. His vision began to fade, mist gathering around his eyes. Time slowed to a trickle, watching as the world seemed to stop until a haze grew over his vision. He could feel his body falling out of the chair yet for some reason, it felt like he was falling through the floor. Tuhka watched as the the young reindeer collapsed onto the floor, his aunt rushing to his side. I hope you will overcome this trial safety, Cold, as he rose from his seat. “Do not worry,” he said, placing a reassuring hoof on Sweet’s shoulder. “He will come back to us.” “What have done to my nephew?” grabbing the elder by the scruff of his neck and thrusting him against the wall. Damn the consequences, elder or not, no one comes into my home and attacks my family. Tuhka smiled as Sweet’s warm breath washed over his face. “Like I said, do not worry. I merely reunited two old friends.” -???- Cold, blood freezing cold. He couldn’t remember when he regained consciousness but now the only thing he could think of was the intense feeling running up his spine like an electrical current. Cracking open up his eyes, he was greeted to an endless plain of white, sheets of snow falling down burying his body. Stretching out a hoof, he began to clear away the flakes that had gathered in front of his eyes. Closing his eyes, he opened them again as he stared at his foreleg. Pawing at it with his other leg, the snow still clung to his hair, almost as if… I turned white? His fur had bleached to a pure white. Checking both of his forelegs, each had turned purely white, all of him purely white. What’s happened to me? Getting up, he began to walk forward as the ferocity of the wind bore down on him yet he couldn’t feel its wrath. Okay, if I can find some kind of constellation then I could at least get my bearings, as he looked up towards the sky. He dropped to his rump in disbelief as he saw nothing but an endless sea of white covering the sky above. Fwish. The ground beneath him gave way sending him face forward, a small trickle of blood running from his nose. Pulling himself up, he peered down at a small pool that had formed in the middle of the snow. A clear reflection stared back at him, shock etched into his face at what he saw. His entire body was white, his eyes a deep blue with no pupils but the most drastic change was his antlers. They were clear, almost diamond like, sprouting from his head but still retaining their original shape. As he continued to investigate his new appearance, a bubble emerged from the small pool before him. Soon another followed, and another until it began to froth and gush upward. Small shards of ice beneath the snow began to splinter apart, several chunks flowing over the top of the snow. Cold began to back up as more of the ice began to give way, realizing that he was standing on a sheet of pure ice. Fwoosh! A small geyser erupted upward, followed by another on Cold’s side. Mist stung his eyes as a great tremor made him fall to his hooves. Fear rooted him to the floor as he began to stumble backwards, tripping over himself. His heart raced, beating like a festival drum as something far beneath the ice began to surface. He could feel it coming; the sheer force of it surfacing could be felt beneath his hooves. FWOOSH! With the roar of thunder and the force of a cannon, a beast covered in scales and splinters of ice shot out from underneath the ice. Cold lay splayed out, half buried in snow, as the beast broke through the frozen barrier and made its way onto the solid surface. It began to wrap itself in a large circle around him, coiling itself around Cold, towering over him with its massive size. Opening his eyes, he came face to face with a creature that was rarely even seen in the northern wilds. A sea serpent, one that made the ones in his books would look miniscule in comparison. Aquamarine scales with a pearly sheen covered the top while its pale blue underbelly was exposed beneath. Several barbels extended out from its lower lip, a silver orb hanging from the end of each appendage. A large sapphire was embedded into the hollow of its throat with several pearls surrounding it. Its deep purple eyes looked down at Cold but not with ravenous hunger but oddly with motherly concern and sadness. “Young child of the north, what ails you?” came a soft, caring voice. Small wisps of frozen air shot out of its snout, the dorsal fin on top of its head retracted back as it began to lower its head. Cold tried to retreat backwards but was blocked by the wall of scales. “I-I-I…” “I can feel your despair, young child,” came the voice once again. “What makes your heart ache?” Cold’s vision was now engulfed by the serpentess, he was sure it was a female. “Tell me, do you remember my name?” “Can’t say I remember meeting a sea serpent before,” choking out his words. The sudden feeling of dread began to fade away yet a primal fear was latched onto his mind. A small chuckle arose then a hearty laugh as the serpent threw back her head giving Cold the unpleasant surprise of several rows of razor sharp teeth lining its maw. “So honest and innocent but always dead serious with your answers now,” it replied with mirth. “Allow me to re-introduce myself, Cold. I am Puhdasta Vettä, but you may call me Vettä. I am she who shifts the tides and dances with the moon, swaying her body with a hint of pride. Tell me, do remember ----?” “Who?” Her voice went silent yet he could hear a faint whisper, but muffled as if she was talking from far away. Her lips moved but no sound could be heard coming from them. “I see, it has been a very long time, but you shall remember along the way. For now, I will guide you through this trial and overcome your burden, young Cold.” The great serpent drew back her while still keeping her eyes on the small reindeer she was coiled around. “My burden, what burden? What are you talking about, and where am I?” A small harrumph came from the sea serpentess, “You are within the realm of water and ice and all that dwells within the endless depths. An endless ocean covered in icebergs and islands covered in snow. Where else would expect the spirits of water to reside?” “To answer your other question, it is rather simple. Like each of the realms of the spirits, you’ve left your body behind and sought my counsel. Those who come seeking guidance are often burdened, and as one of the nature spirits, I will impart my teachings onto you,” her tone growing stern and becoming sharp as the weather itself. “Tell me Cold, do you know why the ice beneath you began to break?” “You emerged from beneath the ice?” feeling rather foolish as to how fast he responded. “Look beneath you now, Cold,” she said, unraveling her and laying out her sinewy body on the ice field. Peering down, the ice beneath Cold looked like a shattered mirror, spreading out beneath him. “How did you do this?” looking up at the spirit, the feeling of the cracks driving deeper into the ice through his hooves made his heart race. “Despair, despair is weighing you down,” shaking her scaly head from side to side. “Soon you shall drown in it and you will be at the mercy of my brother. Before Hukkuminen Epätoivo can claim you, you must let go of whatever dark thoughts cloud your mind.". ”If not, you will drown in the dark depths like so many others before you.” Water began to pool around Cold’s hooves as the ice swayed beneath him, Vettä’s words sinking in with even greater weight. ”What do I do?” Cold watched as the serpentess wrapped a pearl up in one of her barbels and pulled it free from the center of her throat. Placing the pearl in front of him, Cold stared at a glossy but distorted reflection of himself within the pure white orb. ”Take this and pour your thoughts into it,” coiling herself up and looming over the white reindeer. ”Your despair will be given form and when it manifests, be prepared to confront it. And remember Cold, if you fail, you will be lost to Epätoivo’s realm. He lords over the darkest recesses of this realm, where even I dare not swim.” Grasping the pearl within his fore hooves, Cold closed his eyes as he tried to think back on what had happened so far today. Despair? What’s there to be upset about really? Maybe this all a dream, trying to shrug off the whole experience but the weight of the object in his hooves destroyed all doubts about that thought. Vanhi, is that where my despair stems from? A sudden chilling pulse shot out from his hooves, causing him to loosen his grip on the pearl. Opening his eyes, it laid buried in the snow and ice however, several black lines began to form on the surface. Picking it back up in his hooves, Cold resumed recollecting his thought as the water spirit continued to watch over him. Okay, so uncle is part of the problem, or wait. He did make me do this whole thing. Another jolt ran down his fore hooves but he still clamped down on the pearl to not let it slip out of his grasp again. At least I’m on the right track. Do not lose yourself Cold, confront your problems and overcome them. A sudden lancing pain came from the sea serpentess’ tail, her pupils turning to slits as she began to search for the intruder. Something dares to intrude on my realm? No, this is much more sinister, nothing on the material realm can make me writhe with such pain. Vettä scales prickled with anxiety, casting her eyes down below the reindeer. He was here, following the scent of fresh blood. Watching, waiting, he was as cold and calculating as she was serene and caring. His long lithe form swam beneath them, a predator encircling its prey before moving in for the kill. I don’t know what’s bothering me so much, Cold sat in silence as the wind howled in his ears. A small voice rose up in the back of mind, or maybe you know but you choose not to accept. His eyes opened up, looking around for the owner of the voice. “Cold,” Vettä’s voice struck him as he looked up at her. “Now is not the time to let petty concerns obscure your judgment,” she said with finality. Shutting everything out, the white reindeer pressed the pearl onto his forehead, locking it between his antlers. Alright, time to stop prancing around the fire. I...I’m in despair because I can’t figure how I can possibly get through this whole ordeal without letting uncle down. The pearl rung out an ear shattering blast, deafening Cold as he was thrown backwards, landing head first into the snow several yards away. Drawing himself up, the once white pearls now hovered in the air, now completely black as blue smoke hissed from the multiple cracks that formed on the surface of it. Cold watched as he heard something shatter like glass from within the small blue nebula, receding inwards and taking on a form. Soon, the smoke grew denser; solidifying until in its place was a familiar form. It looked like a photo negative of himself, albeit slightly larger with icy blue glyphs inscribed into his body. Its black fur a stark contrast to his now white coat, the antlers a dirty dull grey. Its form shimmered in and out as if it was still wasn’t completely solid, like a ghost trying to retain a corporal form. “Your despair has been given form,” Vettä’ began to recoil herself around the two reindeer. “Face this part of yourself, Cold. I will assist you with this trial. With my blessing, you will be able to draw upon the power of the water spirits without cost.” Staring down his doppelganger, Cold advanced towards it with mild curiosity. What am I supposed to do here, yell at him? ”He-” ”Pathetic,” the voice was dull but full of sadness. ”Excuse me?” Cold snapped back, a small sting in his hide painfully reminding him of the harsh elements bearing down on him. ”Where do you get off on calling me pathetic?” stamping down a hoof. Ice suddenly encased his right leg, growing over it like a living thing. ”I’m a part of you, that part of you that sees the truth you don’t want to,” as it started to walk towards him. The voice of the dark Cold sounded sorrowful, a bizarre contrast to its rather bored expression. ”How is it that you continue to move forward and yet always take several steps back at the same time?” The closer the copy got, the bigger it seemed to grow, surpassing Cold’s height until it had to lower its neck to meet him eye to eye. ”So what exactly is this truth I’m not seeing?” staring back with defiance in his eyes yet he could feel the ice crawling up both of his front legs now. ”You tell me, we both already know the answer. You keep pushing everydeer else away in some sad attempt to keep your fears in check,” it said, circling around Cold now at a lazy pace. Cold’s head turned to face the floor, noticing that several more cracks had grown and branched out. His forelegs were covered up to his knees with grey ice. Uncertainty slithered its way into his stomach, clamping down on his lungs as the feeling of despair began to grow more and more. With each passing moment, he could see the ice beginning to encase him until finally he would fall through the ground beneath him and into the depths. ”I don’t think I can actually pull this job off,” he muttered to himself. ”That’s right, you will fail like you always do.” Cold picked up his head to meet the doppelganger’s face. Horror ran up his spine as he saw that it had grown again, a cocksure smile on its face. ”You’re given an opportunity and yet you keep stumbling around like an adolescent fawn,” it continued on with the same distraught look. ”Doesn’t mean I shouldn’t do nothing at all.” The doppelganger stopped dead, flinching as it had been struck by an unknown force. “What did you say?” turning back to face Cold. “Well, I better start doing something because it’s better than listening to you talk,” confidence starting to build up, albeit slowly. The copy’s eye locked with his but now it was nearly once again eye level with him. “Now that it’s all out in the open, sounds kind of stupid to worry about what could happen right?” A comforting warmth spread throughout his body once again, the ice cracking off his legs until it was only above his hooves now. A sudden shift in the ice caught Cold off guard as he fell down. Small pin pricks of shattered ice nipped at his belly as fell unceremoniously to the unforgiving ground. Staring through the ice, he could make out a faint shape. Something swam underneath, so close to him but yet it didn’t dare to rise up through the ice. He could feel small shifts in the icy floor, bending and cracking as the creature continued to lurk beneath him. “You have no clue as to what you’re getting into,” shouted the doppelganger, its voice now coarse and harsh as it stood over him. “The only reason you got anything is because your uncle continues to waste his time on you.” “That’s not true! Vanhi knows I can do this.” “But you honestly don’t believe that do you?” replied the doppelganger in a condescending tone. “If you honestly had any kind of faith in yourself, I wouldn’t be here.” Pointing a grey hoof at itself, “How many times do I have to repeat it, moron. I’m a part of you.” “Enough!” roared Cold, stamping a hoof. Ice shot up around the doppelganger, its hoofs locked just like his were moments ago. “I’m sick and tired of all of this despair tearing away at me.” Another stamp of his hooves, more ice began to entomb the doppelganger, trapping it inside of a growing prison of solid ice. “I made a choice but at least it was one I made on my own.” Locking horns with his doppelganger, Cold stared down at the now fearful looking copy of himself. Letting out a held breath, Cold felt an invisible weight lift off his shoulders, “I’m not going to fail.” Walking away from his doppelganger, Cold felt a new sensation growing from within. Somehow he felt lighter, like he could literally walk on air. “No, it is not that simple, Cold.” A sudden bang, followed by a large chunk of ice striking the back of his head made Cold lose his balance. Turning around, the doppelganger’s icy prison began to crack as it began to swell in size again. “There’s a difference in saying, Cold, and doing.” Its growing body burst out of the ice, the glyphs on its body began to glow brighter than before. “Can you put those words into action? Or like always, are you just all talk?” towering over the white reindeer. Vettä pulled herself away from the two reindeer, knowing full well what was about to happen. You’ve rid yourself of the despair in your mind, Cold. But now, you must gain the strength to fight off the lingering thoughts that remain behind. Be prepared Cold, now you must fight for your life. The doppelganger reeled back onto his back hooves and slammed them into the ground. Cold barely managed to dodge an icicle shooting up from the ground like a spear. Falling to his side, his doppelganger lowered his head and began to charge. Cold remember, as long as you are here the water spirits will come to your aid, Vettä’s voice giving his some small modicum of reassurance. Throwing his head up, a wall of ice erupted between him and his oncoming attacker. The wall held up, shattering the doppelgangers horns in the process, fragments of his antlers falling to the ground. Pressing his advantage, Cold stamped down feeling a pulse of energy running through his hooves. A large hiss came from the ice and a torrent of water burst forth from underneath, sending the doppelganger careening backwards. Feeling the power churning inside, Cold poured more energy through his hooves, the strange sensation feeling oddly familiar. Regaining its footing, the doppelganger stood up, white cracks trailing down its head. Blue ichor ran down its face, small droplets mixing into the snow. A small cackle came from the doppelganger, its face contorted in pain. “Drown,” it said with a devilish smile. The ice beneath Cold gave way, the water rushing up to grab him. As soon as his hoof touched the surface of the pool, he could feel something grabbing a hold of him and drag him down into the deep abyss. His body began to grow numb, an overwhelming pressure wrapped around his body and squeezed out any air still in his lungs. His nerves screamed out in pain as he continued to sink down deeper. This can’t be how it ends, not like this. Cold struggled to move his limbs, trying to call out to Vettä to help pull him up from the water. Opening his eyes, he could see something swimming towards him. It almost looked like Vettä, but if gave off an aura of mind numbing despair. Ice clung to its ebony scales with its iron grey underbelly. Soulless eyes stared at Cold as he continued to plummet downwards. “So little one, you have failed in the end,” it’s voice sounded exactly like his doppelganger. “You have fallen prey to despair like many others before you. Vettä was truly a fool to believe that you could have succeeded in passing this trial,” the sea serpent’s sad tone almost sounded like pity to him. “It is only a matter of time, so let me formally welcome you to the realm of Hukkuminen Epätoivo. Not even my dear sister shall find you here. Any final words you wish for me to tell her?” Cold stared back at the beast and closed his eyes. “No.” “Are you sure? It would be a pity to not watch my dearest sister writhe in misery,” he said with exuberance. “Oh how I do enjoy the small things in life.” “I’m sure, because I’m not going to stay here, Epätoivo. The sea serpent shook his mighty head. “And what does that mean?” shoving his giant, scaly head in front of Cold. “I understand where I am now. This is the realm of the water and ice spirits.” “Yes, how very astute of you to realize that fact,” mocked Epätoivo, his voice bristling with cold rage. “So then different rules apply to me in this realm since I'm a spirit, right?” Epätoivo stared at Cold, a storm raging in his black, pupiless eyes as they stared back at him. “What are you getting at, child of the north?” hissing through clenched teeth. “In this realm, like the other realms, we don’t actually have a physical body. Everything here is governed by the spirits that live in it,” Cold stopped dead in the water. Everywhere he looked was dark, not even the tiniest sliver of light could be seen. “So that means it isn’t about what my body can do. Rather it’s all about what I can think I can do.” The pain left him, and air filled his lungs again as he began to move upward. “If I chose to accept despair, then I will drown. When the ice beneath me gave away, I let it overwhelm me because I thought I lost at the moment.” The water churned as he began to rise even faster, “It’s all in how I think in this realm, if despair clouds m judgment then I will continue to sink until it will crush me like the ocean.” Epätoivo roared with anger as his prey left him, lunging at the white reindeer in vain. “But if I chose to not give into despair, then I will prevail.” Cold felt himself rocket upwards, the sudden turbulence forcing him to shut his eyes as continued to ascend. “I think it’s time that I got over my despair, don’t you?” Vettä remained on the surface of the ice, silently weeping as she continued to stare down where Cold had been claimed by her brother. His doppelganger stood still, a triumphant look on its muzzle. Krick. Vettä opened her eyes, her pupils expanding as she listened to the sound of the ice shifting. Kra-shoom! Pillars of ice shot up, towering over even Vettä herself, her scales bristling in awe as she watched in bewilderment at such a feat. The snow stopped falling, a calm in the everlasting storm within her realm. Ka-thoom! A small, horned form destroyed the ice floor before Vettä, rising out of the water like a sea serpent itself. Icicles shot up across the ice, impaling the doppelganger’s body, locking it in place. Cold stood tall on the ice before Vettä, his eyes looking back at her with a hardened resolve. Ice formed at his hooves, mending the destruction he created upon his entrance. Turning his attention towards the doppelganger, he walked up towards the embodiment of his despair. The doppelganger stared down at Cold, its blue blood flowing down in small rivulets from the icy spears piercing through its body. “So, what are you going to do now?” it asked. The glyphs on its form snuffed out, the antlers gone and its eyes were empty of color. “You’ve conquered your despair, haven’t you?” “You’re right,” Cold replied. “But I can’t honestly say it’s all gone,” lowering his head so that his antlers interlocked with his doppelganger. “For now, I mustn’t worry about how I can fail.” “Despair has consumed many before you Cold,” came Vettä’s motherly voice from behind him. The sea serpentess slithered across the ice, stopping a small distance away from him. “It’s not as easy a task as some may think, but you have prevailed over it,” lowering her head down on the ice floor. “I have watched over you since you’re arrival and I find you worthy of taking up the druidic oath.” Extending her barbels out in front of her, she began to weave them through the air. Small motes of water began to form in the air and began to cluster together in the center until it formed a near, invisible orb. Wrapping it up in her appendages, Vettä presented the orb to Cold, “With this, you will be able to call for water’s aide so long as you are willing to offer your own assistance to my realm’s needs.” Pulling up his hoof, Cold ran his hoof against the orb. As soon as he had made contact, he could feel the water churning inside, like a whirlpool. “If you chose to accept this task, the tether to the realm of water will be made. If you ever abuse this trust, I shall sever the tether until you repent for your actions, do you understand?” Beneath him, the ice seemed to rise and groan, emphasizing how poor a choice it would be to enrage the sea serpentess. “I accept.” Water gushed out of the orb and began to pool around Cold. He watched as the water began to wrap around his body and seep into his skin until nothing remained. Blue, wavy lines began to rise up on his hide, soon covering his whole body. Running up from his hooves to around his muzzle, Cold’s entire body was now covered in icy blue tattoos. “The pact has now imprinted itself on your body, an evident display to all that you have my blessing.” Bowing deeply, Cold uttered his thanks. “Now dear northern child, I believe it is time for you to return to the material word.” Vertigo overtook him as some unknown force flung him into the air, soaring towards the white sky. “Never forget what you have learned here,” called out Vettä, watching Cold’s dwindling form leave her realm. The spirit of the water stared at the sky a little while long until she could no longer feel Cold's presence. A rueful smile spread across her maw, elated at his success, however it was short lived as she cast her eyes on the doppelganger. The broken black reindeer’s head rose to meet her eyes, staring back with a disinterested look on its muzzle as if it was oblivious to the shape of its body. “I know you can hear me brother. Why did you intervene in the trial of Cold Hart?” snapping her jaws violently. “Were you afraid of him like the coward you are?” putting her face directly in front of the doppelganger. The doppelganger laughed, small trickles of blue blood dripped from its muzzle and onto the ice beneath it. “Coward? I prefer to call it being witty, dearest sister.” The imitation reindeer wiped the blood away from its muzzle, “Don’t misunderstand my actions, dearest sister. I was merely trying to protect you from him.” The sea serpentess hissed, the sound grating the air and splintering the ice around her. “I will not be swayed by your ludicrous lies, brother.” The doppelganger only laughed in response to Vettä’s outburst. “Be gone,” lashing out her tail at the doppelganger, turning it into a black smear on the ice. Diving through the ice and back into her realm, Epätoivo’s words still haunted her mind. Protect you from him. Was this another of Epätoivo’s ruses, to sever the bond that she had forged with Cold? Or was there something that her brother knew about the young reindeer that she was woefully ignorant of? As she swam against the mighty currents of the ocean, she couldn’t make any sense of Epätoivo’s words. He is a coward, depraved, the embodiment of doubt, passing by a school of a scared witless great white shark as she continued to swim further. But of all of the things that Epätoivo is, he is always brutally honest.